Rise of Fire (Reign of Shadows #2)(10)

“We don’t aim to hurt you,” another voice volunteered, still male, but decidedly lighter and younger than the voices of the other two men. “We’re a convoy returning home from Relhok.”

They came from Relhok? Just this admission gave me a small measure of hope. If they came from there, then I could get there.

He continued, “I’ve lived all my life in these parts, and I have to say you haven’t the manner or speech of a Lagonian.”

Lagonian? As in the country of Lagonia? I knew enough from studying geography with Sivo to know that Lagonia bordered Relhok. Had we drifted so far east that we crossed into the neighboring country?

For a moment, my chest lightened. The kill order on girls was a Relhok edict. It was not a Lagonian law. If we were in Lagonia, I was safe from that threat at least.

The moment the thought entered my mind, I shoved it out. I was never safe. Not even here. Especially not among these three strangers. Soldiers. Even worse. Soldiers were a rough, brutal sort. I knew they had to be to survive, but I still wanted no part of them. Astonishingly, I would rather be back in my tower with my loved ones. I’d taken them for granted.

“We mean you no harm,” the soft-spoken one continued. “How about you share a bit of your meal with us and we’ll provide you escort into Ainswind.”

We must be fairly close to the city if he was offering escort into the capital.

“What makes you think I need an escort to Ainswind?” I snapped, doing my best to keep my voice deep. I still couldn’t reveal my gender. Even if these were Lagonians, we weren’t far enough from Relhok for me to announce that I was female.

They doubtless knew of the decree. By their own admission, they’d just journeyed from Relhok City. My head would fetch a nice price for them no matter their country of origin.

“Oh, you don’t want to go to Ainswind, then. The nearest bit of civilization . . . safety . . . is there. Why wouldn’t you want that? People are dying, truly dying, to get in its walls.” He paused, and tense silence stretched between all of us. After a few moments, his smooth voice continued, “I’m only suggesting a trade. Our escort for a bit of that delicious hare. It’s just the two of you, yes? And your friend looks in bad shape. We can help you. My name is Breslen. What’s yours?”

It was tempting to believe Breslen. Fowler needed care, and I might not have it in me to give it to him. I might not be enough.

“We’re stronger in numbers,” he coaxed, his easy tone suggesting I already knew that. It was reasonable. Logical. Weeks ago I would have agreed with that logic even though Fowler had never believed that. He thought the bigger the number, the greater the target you were.

Only what choice did I have? There were three of them, a nearly dead Fowler, and only one of me.

I lowered my knife, deciding that aggression would get me nowhere. I would have to figure my way through this. I motioned to the ground like it was some fine table before us. “Have a seat. There’s not much, but I’ll share it.”

“Good lad.” The three soldiers sat near my fire and fell upon the hare. I waited, not demanding anything for myself. I doubted I could eat anyway. My stomach was suddenly tied up in knots. I was too tense, essentially alone and defenseless in the company of three strange men.

I fixed a neutral expression on my face. So much to hide, so much to guard against. Keeping all my secrets was exhausting. I was a female. Blind. The one true heir to the Relhok throne. And now I had Fowler’s secrets to keep, too. My temples pounded.

“Relax, boy. Here. Take this.” At Breslen’s offer, I held out my hand, smelling the bit of steaming meat being stretched out to me. Even though I wasn’t in the mood for food, I accepted it and forced myself to chew, clinging to my armor under the crawl of their gazes.

Never far from my memory was the last strange man we met. He tried to kill me for my head. These men could try to do that to me. Or worse. There were other things to fear.

I picked at the greasy meat, forcing down another bite. My lack of appetite didn’t escape their notice. “Eat. We’re not so inconsiderate that we would eat all your food,” Breslen encouraged. “Go on, boy.”

With a tentative nod, I forced another bite down my throat.

“Take some more.”

Grudgingly, I accepted, almost wishing the soldier wasn’t so generous. The meat was hot enough to singe my fingers, but I didn’t drop it. I brought the roasted hare to my teeth and nibbled, my stomach still too knotted to consume much more than that.

“What’s wrong with your friend there?” one of the deeper-voiced men asked. Kurk, I thought. He was bigger, too, constantly shifting his large girth in the small space, brushing against the rock wall. “Don’t tell me it’s your cooking?” He guffawed at his own joke.

“No,” I said softly, still holding my voice at a deep pitch.

“Dweller get him?” Breslen asked. For one so young, he was perceptive. I’d already gathered he was the leader of the three. Not the brawn, but the brains.

I nodded.

“Shame,” Kurk said around a mouthful of food. “Nothing to do for it. Great deal of suffering ahead for him. Kindest thing to do would be to stick a knife between his ribs and put him out of his misery. I’d be willing to oblige you if you haven’t the stomach for it.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, understanding what he was saying, but no less horrified. Even if he was right, if it was the merciful thing to do, I couldn’t do it. I could never do that. And right then I knew. No matter who he was or what he had done, I still deeply cared about Fowler. I still wanted him. Even if his father was evil and responsible for everything bad in my life. Even if I had no room in my existence for such tender feelings because I had a tyrant to kill and my country to save. It was weakness in me, to be certain, and I would not let it get the best of me. I would crush it beneath the pulse of obligation buzzing through me.