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I didn’t have to reply, as Palla finally woke up and bolted out of the guest bedroom we shared when we stayed over.
“Ash!” She threw herself at me, and I braced. The hug lifted me off the ground, and I laughed.
“Palla, I’m okay.”
She set me down. “I missed you.”
“Me too.” She’d been my constant companion since we found each other in the desert.
I took a moment to catch her up and then continued my story but omitted the kiss. A kiss that even just the thought of brought a tingle. I couldn’t believe it happened. Kind of wished we’d done more.
“He locked you in your room but didn’t kill you,” Qynn confirmed.
“He wanted me to talk.”
“And thought he could force you to comply by leaving you in a luxurious room?” Kya didn’t sound convinced.
She had a point. “You think he had something else planned?” I wrinkled my nose.
“Most assuredly. The King is strict, but fair. He very much follows the letter of the law,” Qynn noted.
“Obviously not or I’d be dead.” Traitors to the crown were executed.
Qynn appeared serious as she said, “I’m thinking your disguise as a foreigner saved your life. You can’t exactly be a traitor if you’re not from here.”
“If he found out the truth, though…” If he realized one of his own people had been trying to get information and even influence his decisions, I’d be hung for sure.
“What I don’t understand was why he told you so much without being coerced.” Qynn paced the living space, her robe long and loose enough it whipped around her legs. “He was either surprisingly open with you or lying.”
“I don’t think he lied.”
“You said it yourself, he’s clever.”
Had he fed me fiction? “The one thing I didn’t get to ask was about that ifrit thing Jrijori was interested in. Although he did let slip that he thought the monsters were coming from the First Jewel.”
“Did he say how they’re being created?” Qynn asked.
I frowned. “You can’t make monsters.”
“Don’t be so sure of that. There are mysteries in this world that can’t be explained. Never forget the gods like to meddle.” A prim reply from my mentor.
“Why would gods make monsters that kill their worshippers?”
“Perhaps there is a divine plan.”
To that I made a face. “Their plan sucks. Especially since Jrijori says Ulkruuba has the most monsters.”
“Indicating the origin of the problem is here. We just need to find it.”
“We? I thought this was Jrijori’s mission.” After all, we were tizana, not warriors.
Qynn eyed me. “Are you really going to leave our fate in the hands of a man?”
“He has giants to help him.”
Kya snorted. “I’ve met a few. I wouldn’t call them an asset.”
“Oh, I don’t know. They seem to have valiant hearts, and they are handsome.” The blushed admission from Palla had us all eyeing her. She liked men but rarely showed an interest. In her defense, most men couldn’t handle her strength. They wanted their women soft and dependent.
