What was happening now?
Chapter 12
DION
We pulled up at the small creek, a trickle in the vast harsh lands. The women descended, yawning and stretching in turn. I felt a pang of sympathy for them, sleeping in the saddle was never comfortable. I’d done it many times with Roman, but then I remembered what we had to talk to them about. We needed the truth. The sympathy turned cold, just as the night had been.
I took the horses to drink at the small creek, I didn’t need to tie them off, they’d stay with the water. The land was too brutal if they left. I opened my saddlebag and took out the rolled poster, heading back to the base of the large gnarled tree Roman had made our camp.
He passed around the dried meat and bread we purchased at Kadaar. He squatted down and began eating his food; this was my battle. I let the girls eat, handing over water bags as well. They ate greedily and hungrily, unaware how much more travel we had before us.
But we were all keeping secrets.
“Last night,” I began. It brought their faces up, I looked at Feyra for a time before continuing on. “We killed over thirty of the Lady Skol’s guards. As you might’ve guessed, we had help, but as far as Lady Skol is concerned, it was usfour. Because of that, soon we will all be wanted criminals.”
The girls had stopped chewing, they were unsure where I was heading with this. That was good.
“It is a considerable burden for Roman and I. It will make things inconvenient for us going forward. But then, that isn’t all we’re wanted for.” I opened the poster, showing the women. “It seems there’s some truths you two need to explain to us. We’ve put ourselvesout there for you, now I think we’re owed the truth. Your supposed goal to find the lost city of Jebra is merely an escape?”
Both girls reached for the poster. I pulled it away, shaking my head. As they read, they went from curiosity to shock.
“What is this?” Feyra asked.
“A merchant’s daughter?” Agatha said, snorting afterwards.
“I believe that’s the question I was just about to ask,” I said. “Explain.”
“Explain what?” Feyra said. “I’ve never seen this before.”
I looked at Roman and he shrugged, looked back down to his bread.
“Well let's look at it with distance, you two came to the town of Moondaj wanting passage to a city across the Warlands. You wanted to travel as far from Lassig as possible. Now we know why.”
“I’ve never seen this,” Feyra repeated. She was serious. “Why would I kidnap my own friend?”
“And I am most definitelynota merchant's daughter,” Agatha said. She folded her arms.
A shadow of doubt passed over Feyra’s face though. I felt a surge of power within her, she was afraid.They weren’t telling the truth.
“Your friend doesn’t think so,” I said.
Feyra snapped her head back to me. Agatha looked aghast.
“Well, I mean–” she swallowed, tears welling up to her eyes. “Iamtechnically a merchant’s daughter.”
“So what else is true?” I asked.
“But he doesn’t even know she exists!” Feyra said. She stood up now, Matching me face to face. “He’s never had anything to do with her.”Fear turned to anger.
“He doesn’t even know I’m alive.” Agatha was shaking her head. “He had my mother killed and left in a ditch with me still in the womb. I was saved by Feyra’s aunty.”
The girls embraced, protecting themselves from me. Again I felt the power emanating from Feyra. Love pulsing from within her. Like the love I’d felt from her…
But I still wasn’t convinced.
“And have you ever reached out?” I asked.
“She doesn’t want anything to do with him,” Feyra snapped, letting go of her and facing me.
