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“Alright, nowI’mthe one that’s impressed,” I said.
Valerian had a sly grin for me as he began working on the next fish. “I learned at an early age that it pays to be prepared.”
“So, you just happen to have some kind of portal cupboard thing full of useless stuff you might need one day?”
“Not useless, clearly.”
“I thought you said you were okay to eat raw fish.”
“I am. But it’s better cooked.” He handed a raw, but clean, fish over to me. “You can have this one, if you want.”
I tentatively picked up a piece of cooking fish and turned it over, so both sides would cook. “No, I’m happy to eat these. You wouldn’t happen to have salt and pepper in your magic cupboard, would you?”
With his foot he nudged over two small pots which he had presumably picked up earlier. I opened them and seasoned the meat, sprinkling salt and pepper over the cooking fish. It already smelled delicious. My stomach rumbled, and I realized, I hadn’t properly eaten since I arrived at the village of the Moon Children.
A lifetime ago.
We ate in silence, savoring the meal and devouring every last piece of food we had simply because we didn’t know where the next meal was going to come from. It wasn’tmuchfood. Maybe if I had been a better hunter, we would’ve been enjoying a heartier meal. But I had, at least, hunted once, and that was something to celebrate.
Even if I had to celebrate it quietly, and alone.
“Thank you,” he said, breaking the silence.
“For what?”
“For getting us out of there.”
I shrugged. “You saved our lives. I still don’t know what you did, but whatever it was, it drove the shadow thing away.” I paused. “How did you know what to do?”
“I told you. I had a hunch.”
“I’m not buying it.”
“You’re going to have to…” he trailed off.
“Why?”
“Because you don’t want to know what I know. Or, at least, what I think I know.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not sure I follow your meaning.”
Valerian looked at me. Even in the dim light of the candles, I could tell the color had returned to his cheeks. “Knowledge is a burden. I don’t wish this burden on you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. Let’s just finish up and plan our next move. We can’t stay here forever.”
I shook my head. “No. I want to know what you know. I’m sick of people keeping important information from me like I’m some spoiled brat who doesn’t deserve to be told things. If you know something about what that creature was, or why it was after us, you have to tell me.”
“I don’t have to do anything.”
“Okay, then please; I’m asking you. Don’t leave me in the dark like my parents did.” My hand flew up to my mouth, gently, but abruptly. I hadn’t meant to say that, but it had happened anyway, and now I couldn’t take it back.
Valerian watched me for a long moment. He lowered his eyes, then looked up at me again. “Alright,” he said, “I’ll tell you. But you may wish you didn’t know.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
“Idon’t know what they call it,” said Valerian, keeping his voice low enough that it wouldn’t bounce off the cave walls all around us.
