Page 41 of Henrikk’s Secret

They laughed and lapsed into a thoughtful silence, during which Henrikk took a swig of whiskey—one of the most precious items amongst his supplies—and handed it to Asher.

It caused a strange flutter in his stomach to see the general’s lips touch the bottle where his had—like the ghost of a kiss.

“I was greedy,” Henrikk announced, deciding to try and turn over a new leaf. “And terrible.”

“You are still those things,” Asher pointed out.

“Yes.” But I have no motivation to be those things anymore. Where does that leave me?

Henrikk opened his mouth, then thought better of it. He would not plague Asher with his doubts and hopes. Not when he’d robbed the man of a future.

I was foolish to think he wanted a future with me.

“Why did you bring me to this island, Henrikk?” Asher asked suddenly. “You’d already saved me. There was no need for you to bring me here, except…”

“The bargain.” Henrikk bit his lip. The dragon had wanted to speak to Asher, but seeing as that wasn’t going to happen any time soon… “The dragon wants Barbara for herself. And you know where she is. I know you do. All you need to do is tell us, and the dragon will send you back.”

Asher grew alert, brow furrowing as he processed this. “The dragon has the ability to send me back to Wintermaw?”

“Yes.” That had not been part of the bargain. A wishful part of Henrikk had deluded himself into thinking that Asher would stay here forever, willingly, with him. “Simply reveal Barbara’s location, and you can return home.”

Asher shook his head slowly. “I can’t. I don’t—”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know,” Henrikk said, his tone growing severe. “I know that you know.”

“Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

Henrikk’s eyes narrowed, calculating, reevaluating. “Someone knows. Someone else helped her escape.”

Asher didn’t answer.

“Who?” Henrikk pressed. “That is information we can use to locate her—”

“Enough!” Asher growled, rising and kicking a chunk of charcoal at the base of the fire. “Enough of your manipulation. I told you: no more games.”

He strode out of the circle of firelight.

Henrikk panicked but tried to cover it by calling after him in a knowing voice: “But life is a game. You cannot escape it.”

“This is no life. But I will escape you.”

Asher’s footsteps faded.

I will escape you.

Henrikk could not fathom another combination of words which could have hurt him more than those four that Asher shouted over his shoulder.

He slid off the trunk to lay beside the fire, the heat of it too hot on his face, and the truth of its intensity blinding.

I will escape you.

Chapter 8

THIEF

Henrikk

Six weeks since their arrival: