AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Do I—" He shook his head and chuckled. "Helene would have us believe they don't exist. I believe they do. Imustbelieve, or what are we fighting for?"
"I have no idea," I replied dryly.
"Ah, I don't mean now, I mean all our lives. The struggle to be born, to grow, to live from one day to the next. What is it for if we have no life in the embrace of Hades after we die?"
I set aside my empty plate and rubbed my forehead with my fingertips. "It's too late in the day for deep and meaningful conversation." He did have a point though. Why work so hard to live, only to die someday?
He chuckled again. "I apologise. It has been a long day and this kind of talk is better done over several glasses of wine, and in more comfortable surroundings."
"Yes." That would be anywhere but here, on the hard ground, with the sun beating its last merciless rays down on the camp.
As the night before, we stopped beside water; this time a small oasis. Little more than a pond, it barely held enough water for the horses and a few sips for us, but it was the best place I saw since we left last night's camp. Or perhaps the least worst.
"We'll pass into the mountains in a few more days," Luther said. "It will be cooler there and have a lot more streams and rivers. We might even get to wash." He sighed at that.
"I thought you couldn't swim," I pointed out.
"I learnt," Luther said with a half smile.
"Let me guess, Helene taught you."
"Sweet Hades no," he replied. "Another of the hemitheos did. I didn't want what happened to Gallen to happen to me."
"I suppose not," I agreed. It wasn't until later I wondered if he meant drowning, or being killed by another witch.
16
Bain
Dex rubbedhis chin for the umpteenth time and regarded me over his desk. His eyes looked weary. "You're telling me this now?"
I stiffened my back and fought the desire to glance away. "Keeper, I—"
Kerina interrupted. "Had to tell you or I would have."
She wasn't spared from Dex's cool gaze. He looked at us both as though he hardly recognised us. "You didn't tell me any sooner either. Viva was taken weeks ago. Neither of you thought to come and explain. Or better yet, inform meat the time." He punched a fist into his palm with each word.
"Keeper." My eyes followed Dex as he rose and moved to the window. "We had to deal with the dragons, for the good of—"
I jumped as Dex turned and slammed a hand down on his desk.
"Idecide what is best for the Vault," Dex snapped. "Not you." He huffed out a furious breath. "Perhaps I am to blame. I have let you overstep time after time. I should have reined you in sooner."
"Yes, Keeper." I wasn't good at being meek. Dex would no more put me on a leash than he would put himself on one. I couldn't do my job efficiently if he did. Now, however, was not the time to point that out.
Dex grimaced, obviously not fooled for a moment. He perched on the side of his desk and crossed his arms. "All right, tell me again what happened."
I spoke with considered words, not wasting a single one. "When Kerina and I arrived back at the residence after the man in black spoke to us in the marketplace, I was approached by a woman. She confirmed that she and one other operative were in the residence. One was a man who cleaned your rooms. She insisted Viva travel with us to hunt the dragons."
"That was already planned," Dex said.
"Yes," I agreed. "I let her think I was reluctant to include Viva in the party. She was adamant. I'm certain she would have had the would-be assassin carry out his job if I hadn't given in." Or pretended to.
"So you sacrificed Viva for me?" Dex asked.
I met his gaze unwaveringly. "Not precisely, no. I chose each of those who accompanied us." I nodded toward Kerina. "They were told to watch for anything unusual." Before she could argue, I added, "Kerina already knew."
She scowled, but I ignored her.
