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“That is the point. You do not have to kill,” Alwar says. “In fact, I am betting on it.”
As he speaks, his face starts blurring. I close my eyes.
“You must eat.” A warm hand picks me up.
“I can’t. I’m too tired.” I just want to rest.
“You must eat if you are to save both our worlds. And do not forget that the Norfolks made a vow to proxy for the War People. I do not wish to see you taken by the No Ones.”
My eyes flutter open. “Who took this vow? Why?” A blurry translucent white form zips over me. “What was that?”
“Do not look at them,” Alwar warns. “They do not like it. And remember what I said about lies.”
“I remember,” I snap. “Stop talking to me like a child.”
Alwar smiles down at me, and I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him do it in a way that wasn’t menacing or sadistic. It’s a genuine smile, filled with affection or appreciation or—I don’t know.
“You look very handsome when you smile,” I mutter.
Tiago and Gabrio burst out laughing, clenching their stomachs with their free hands.
“Shut up,” Alwar scolds them, “or I will throw you down the never-ending well. And you know I mean it because we are on the No Ones’ Land.”
Both giants stop laughing and go back to their meals.
Alwar looks down at me. “I know you are weak, Lake, but you must eat, or you will die.”
I nod in compliance.
“Good.” He reaches behind him and messes with a small pile of dirt. He produces a chicken egg and holds it between the tips of his fingernails. “We found this on the way. It is baby food. Open your mouth.”
“You feed your babies raw eggs?”
Alwar tilts his head. “No. That would be unsanitary for an infant. This is a baby Flier. I cooked it in its shell. You will eat it. It is filled with many nutrients and protein.”
“I-I’m not eating that.”
“You will if you want to live. You do care for your people back home, yes? A male that you love?”
I think of Bard. “Loved. Once. But not like that. Not anymore.”
Alwar makes a strange face. Shock combined with intrigue. “Either way, you must eat if you want to return home.”
I don’t want this. But he’s right. I’m hurting. “Okay.”
With his large fingers, Alwar carefully pops the egg in my mouth, shell and all. I crunch down, praying it doesn’t taste like Flier meat.
Oh God. It’s worse. Rancid milk mixed with spicy yellow mustard and burnt popcorn. Fuck. Are those bones? Is that what the texture is? I press my hand over my mouth, trying not to gag.
“Swallow it. Quickly. Do not spit it out,” Alwar commands. “You must live.”
I pinch my nose and gulp, instantly feeling the urge to throw up. Alwar sets me down on my pile of leaves. I sit, and he hands me a nutshell filled with water.
I take it with my shaking hands and hold it to my mouth, gulping hard. “That’s not water.” I spit. It’s more of that sweet, nasty stuff Uhrn gave me at the palace.
“It is Flier semen. Very nutritious,” says Gabrio.
What the hell? I turn and start throwing up. I can’t believe I’ve been drinking that stuff. Master watches with fascination as I cough out the last of the egg.
“She is going to need human food, Alwar. Just like I told you,” Tiago says.
“I will go and bring it back for her,” says Gabrio, his tone ominous.
I sit up, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
“You? Why would you go?” Alwar chastises Gabrio. “You will be breaking a vow between the Norfolks and our people.”
“What vow?” I ask.
They ignore me.
“What use am I now?” Gabrio says. “I failed at keeping her safe. I no longer have your respect. And she is more important than me—a War man without a family, without a wife or children. My bloodline is gone.”
Alwar stares with a disapproving sneer. “Very well. You will run on ahead of us once we cross onto War People land.”
Gabrio nods and then looks at me. There’s a flicker of remorse in his eyes, but he hides it quickly.
I can’t stay awake any longer, but if I could, I’d be asking him what he intends to do. Because it sounds like he just agreed to give his life for mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
I’m in and out of a dazed state, the world around me a slurry of moments, smells, and sounds. I vaguely remember seeing the blood red sky, the strangest purple trees, and a group of Fliers circling overhead. Alwar said something about them being Benicio’s flock. I also recall Gabrio splitting off from us and saying goodbye.
Now, I’m in a warm bed covered in soft furs. Master is still with me. He whimpers occasionally, like he’s trying to speak to me, and somewhere in this dream, I remember eating. Soup. Chicken soup. Is it real? Am I dying and wishing?
