Vorik shrugged, as if the attack hadn’t surprised him. “They must have figured out that which I’ve tried to keep hidden.”
“Your… allegiance to the Freeborn Faction?” Syla hadn’t believed that story before, but as blood trickled from Vorik’s wound, she started to wonder if he’d told the truth. Maybe itwasn’ta ruse.
She couldn’t deny that those men—and especially that gray dragon—had tried to kill Vorik. They’d glared at him with even more hatred in their eyes than when they’d looked at her.
“Yes. When I return, I’ll have to tell Chieftess Atilya. She’ll be disappointed to learn that my cover has been blown and I can’t be a spy for her anymore, but…” Vorik shrugged again. “I figured that would happen anyway when I came here to protect you.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Just tell me where I can find more of those fabulous blackberries.”
Syla blinked. That wasn’t what she’d expected him to have on his mind right now. “If we find an oven, I’ll bake you a cobbler with them.”
“Really?” His ears perked, and an expression of wonder and delight stretched his lips, almost startling on the face of such a savage warrior. But, by the moon, he was striking when he smiled. “I’ve heard of such things but never had one. They’re sweet, yes?”
“Yes. It’s a dessert.”
His smile turned a little sad. “My people don’t have desserts.”
It was ridiculous, given the situation, but Syla had the urge to hug him. His people had just decimated hers and killed her family. Feelingsympathyfor them—even for Vorik—would be ridiculous. But… he kept saving her life. She couldn’t help but feel… something.
It didn’t hurt that he was handsome—veryhandsome—with those keen emerald eyes and cheekbones that couldn’t have been more perfect if a sculptor had carved them from marble. And the strong, muscled arms that had so easily caught her when she’d dropped? Though it was undoubtedly unwise, she longed to step closer to him rather than drawing away.
Lorengarth has warned me,Agrevlari said, letting Syla hear his words,that he intends to return with more riders after he’s reported to his superiors about the princess’s whereabouts and your betrayal.
Vorik nodded. “We’d better not stay here. Your Highness, my faction leaders would like me to bring you to their hideout, the better to protect you?—”
Syla shook her head and stepped back, her hackles rising. She wouldn’t let anyone lock her in aroomagain, not her own people and not his.
“—but you look like you were packed for a trip?” He cocked his head and waved at her pack in the grass.
“I…” Syla wasn’t as suspicious of Vorik as she had been twenty minutes ago, but she dared not speak of the shielders to a rider.
It would be safest to tell him to leave her be and that she would go her own way. But, logically, would she survive another day without a protector? If those dragons returned with new riders, they would be looking forher, and she didn’t have the power to stand up to even a rider, much less a rider with adragon.
“I need to visit my aunt,” Syla said.
That wasn’t a great kingdom secret that she couldn’t let out.
Vorik raised his eyebrows at her vagueness.
She groped for an explanation that would satisfy him without giving away anything important.
“Does she have an oven?” he surprised her by asking.
Syla almost laughed. “Yes.”
“Then please allow Agrevlari and me to escort you to her kitchen.” Vorik bowed and extended a hand toward the dragon.
Syla looked toward Agrevlari. He wasn’t rolling on his back in the grass now but watching her intently.
If she got onto the dragon’s back with Vorik, she would essentially be his prisoner, helpless and unable to escape. Even though she wasn’t as suspicious of him as she had been, her gut warned her not to put herself into a situation from which she couldn’t extricate herself.
But when Vorik cheerfully added, “I’ll gather more berries for the cobbler,” and jogged to the bramble patch, Syla snorted, again almost laughing. The night had been far too grim for laughter, but, thanks to Vorik, she was still alive, and she could pursue her mission to save the kingdom.
Maybe it was foolish, but she walked toward the dragon to get on.
13
