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He glanced at me with wide eyes, and the tips of his pointed ears went pink. "Oh, um. Yes. Preferred the fresh air and all."
I narrowed my eyes at him, smelling a rat. "You're a terrible liar, Jasper. If you're going to keep all of your dear lord Bach's secrets, you might want to work on that." I sat back and arched a brow. "Spill it."
He shifted uncomfortably in his saddle and threw a furtive glance back behind us, toward his precious employer, before he spoke. "I wasn't supposed to say anything."
I sighed. "He sent you to spy on me, didn't he?"
Jasper shook his head adamantly, his expression earnest. "No! Nothing like that, my lady, I promise. I was just to keep a lookout. To make sure you were safe, and you didn't need anything. That's all."
I snorted. "He made you sleep outside because I was throwing a tantrum. I'm sorry, Jasper. You should have told me. I would have sent you right back inside. At the very least, you could have come into the stable. It was warm and dry, and completely devoid of arrogant nobles." I cast a look behind us myself as I finished my sentence, narrowing my eyes at Bach.
The highborn leader of Raven team just stared back, unfazed.
"He didn't want you to know," Jasper said forlornly. "I couldn't tell you I was there because I promised. He said not to upset you. He just wanted you to be safe."
And he hadn't come himself or sent the others, because he knew I'd murder them on site. Smart man, for such an idiot.
"Oh!" Jasper exclaimed, pointing off to the right of the path. "Did you see that? I've never seen a squirrel so big."
I couldn't help but smile at the traitor, accepting his not-so-subtle attempt at distraction. "Dire squirrel," I told him fondly. "They're all over in the mountains. Mostly harmless, as long as they aren't cornered. Just don't steal their nuts."
He blinked at me, probably trying to figure out if I was teasing him or telling the truth. "Truly?"
I grinned. "Truly. You've never been to the mountains before, have you?"
He shook his head. "I meant what I said the other day. I had never left my little fishing village until I got lord Bach to take me on. He came there to talk to someone on one of the ships about some trade thing, and I sold him some smoked fish. Hounded him mercilessly until he finally gave up and said I could come back home with him. Since then, I've lived with him, and we've been to Trireme and Zora, and Astra, of course. But never further north." He got a look on his face that was some combination of dreamy and scandalized. "I've heard stories, though! Is everything they say about the north really true? Will we see trolls in Larkwood? Are the winters really so cold that your breath freezes in your lungs and your balls crawl up inside your body 'til spring?"
I laughed and told him all about my home territory. He drank it all in with the eager wonder of youth, even when I crushed some of his hopes by telling him he most likely wouldn't experience frozen lungs or trolls. Probably. I didn't comment on the balls…he'd find out after his first winter in Larkwood that he should probably invest in some well-charmed thermal underwear.
The day passed pleasantly, and we camped at a small waystation designed for travelers and maintained by the rulers of Elfhaven for just such trips.
The guards slept outside around a large firepit, and Jasper joined them. I dreaded the idea of spending a night inside the little cabin with my mates, especially after my outburst the previous night. I was standing beside Balefire, staring at the cabin and wondering if I could just sleep outside in a bush somewhere, when Mirri approached.
Since leaving civilization behind, the unusual male had stopped hiding his wings. Today he wore a cotton shirt that was tailored specially for him, with an open back that wrapped around and tied to accommodate the appendages. His wings fluttered a few times, then settled as he came to stand before me. A nervous tell? If his wings really indicated what he was feeling, I would need to learn to read him. If only the others were so easy.
"Good evening, Kat," he said with a soft smile. "I hope your ride today was pleasant?"
I gave him a suspicious look. "Jasper is good company. Unlike some others I could name. Did you need something, Mirri? Or…did you come to ask me to find a stable to bunk down in again tonight?"
He sighed. "I came to tell you we've decided to camp outside with the guards. The cabin is all yours. It only seems fair, after…everything."
I just stared at him in surprise. "You're giving me the cabin to myself."
He nodded and took a step closer, but didn't try to touch me. "You were trying to tell me about the spell the day we left the palace, weren't you? And I didn't even give you a chance to explain. I let my wounded pride get in the way, just like the rest of my friends. I'm sorry for that."
I gave him a wry smile. "So, this was all your idea. Of course it was. I'm pretty sure you're the only one of your teammates who has a heart."
Mirri looked at the ground and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. It was hard to tell in the fading light, but I thought the tips of his pointed ears might have gone a bit pink. "I may have started the discussion." He looked up then, his eyes sad and pleading. "But the others were all in agreement. One of them would have suggested it if I hadn't. We've had a rough start, but things don't need to continue to be hostile between us. And…regardless of our feelings, you are our mate, and you deserve to sleep in a bed tonight. With no one around to annoy you."
I huffed a laugh and shook my head. "I think what you really mean is that you're all willing to admit that you've been assholes, but none of you really want to hang out in close quarters with me yet."
He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Some of us are a bit more…stubborn than others."
I barked a bitter laugh. "Really? I hadn't noticed."
I glanced around the camp and found the other three members of Raven team watching us from a distance, standing by a half-set up pile of bedrolls. No tarps tonight since the weather was fair and clear. They'd be sleeping under the stars. And if the death glare Fife was sending my way was any indication, he was not happy about it.
Mirri touched my arm, drawing my attention away from my glaring contest with the cleric. "Someday I hope you'll understand us all a bit better and maybe forgive our…flaws. But for now, will you take the cabin? Please?"
