‘Doesn’t begin with H, I’m afraid. And to think you’re supposed to be the clever one.’
‘I’m not in the mood.’
‘Just one guess,’ I wheedle. ‘Go on, it’s easy.’
‘Fine.’ Blaze half closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. ‘Fine. Horse.’
‘Incorrect.’
‘Hot spring.’
‘Nope.’
I almost cower beneath her glare. Sometimes, she really does remind me of Grandmother.
‘Oh, you want a word beginning with H?’ Her voice is ice. ‘How about hungry?’
Ah. I thought she might’ve moved on from our little spat this morning after I’d accidentally polished off the last of the food. It seems I was wrong.
Blaze isn’t finished. ‘Or how about horribly behind schedule?’
‘That’s three words,’ I point out.
A jet of cold water shoots straight into my chest.
‘How thoughtful you are, sister mine,’ I splutter, shaking my head like a dog. ‘I was melting in this heat.’
Blaze snarls.
‘All right.’ I hold my hands up in surrender. ‘All right, I’ll shut up.’
The next hour or so passes in silence.
‘How much further?’ Blaze asks eventually, flexing her wrists.
‘Not long now.’
‘Flint, are you sure we’re going the right way?’
I consult the map. We’re currently crossing Danath, which borders Isolla–the province sitting in the shadow of the Ridge.
‘Well,’ I say, squinting at the markings etched on to the parchment, ‘if my calculations are correct, I think we’ll arrive in Isolla by nightfall.’
‘And if they aren’t correct?’
I shrug. ‘Then we’re lost.’
‘Brilliant.’
‘How about you be the navigator, sister? I’m sure you could get us there no problem, what with your wealth of experience travelling the empire.’
Blaze holds up a finger.
I shake my head. ‘Shocking. Hardly the behaviour expected of a future queen.’
‘Flint,’ Blaze breathes suddenly.
‘I know, I know, youdon’t want to talk about it,’ I say, folding up the map and tucking it back into my satchel. ‘I get it. I do. It’s a big change and –’
