Fresh anger raced through his veins. Because she knew she’d deliberately taken advantage of his desperation.
“Leave the Na’Chi with us.” Vash gripped his wide leather belt. “She’ll only bring trouble. We’ll take care of her.”
As a Light Blade warrior, his first tenet was to protect his people from danger. Fleeing across the border with Annika would increase the threat of Na’Reish Patrols invading human territory.
Tempting as it was, the bargain he’d struck with her stood in the way of accepting the trader’s offer. To break his oath now would be dishonorable.
His shook his head. Damned if he kept his word, damned if he didn’t. And to think he’d been afraid for her when he’d seen Maren place his blade at her throat. His gaze slashed to her. She stiffened. Her eyes were yellow; the brightest he’d seen since meeting her.
“You’d let them kill me?” Her voice shook. Terror and indignation sparkled in her gaze as she glared at him. “I saved your life, Light Blade.”
Vash’s thick eyebrows lifted. “Is that true?”
“Yes.” Kalan couldn’t deny her claim as much as he wanted to. Lady’s Breath , what a mess. Everything inside him rejected the only solution to the problem. He forced the words through clenched teeth. “She stays with me. How long before we can cross?”
A long silence followed and for a moment he believed Vash would refuse them passage. The river-trader finally shrugged. “We can go now.”
“Good.” Kalan caught Annika’s arm in a tight grip, disliking the contact but there was no way he was giving her a chance to escape. Not before she answered his questions. Questions he’d delayed far too long in asking.
She gasped but made no move to jerk free. Ignoring the trembling in her muscles, he focused on getting them to the dock and the thought that in another half hour he’d be safe on the other side of the river.
“Go on board.” Vash issued several more orders that sent his men hurrying to untie the ferry, then joined the pair on the deck. Satisfied all was in order he turned toward them, jutting his chin in Annika’s direction. “What do I tell the Na’Reish when they come searching for her?”
“Nothing.” Guilt flared in Kalan’s gut. Annika wasn’t the only one hiding their identity. “We all have our secrets.…” His decision didn’t sit well with him, but, Lady forgive him his hypocrisy, he had no right to endanger himself more than he already had. Others depended on him. He’d deal with the consequences later. “I’m sure our passing this way is something you’ll want to keep to yourself.”
Vash shook his head. “You tread a dangerous path, Light Blade.”
Once they were aboard, Kalan left Annika by a stack of empty crates and retreated to the side, needing to distance himself from her. Leaning on the wooden railing, he closed his eyes and rubbed his hands over his face.
Merciful Mother , he was tired. He kneaded the shoulder that had taken the brunt of the fall when he’d dragged the Na’Reish guard off his mount then shivered as the morning breeze picked up strength. The cold made his whole body ache. He wished he dared stop for a bath, a solid night’s sleep, and a good meal, but until he made it across the river and out of Na’Reish territory, he wasn’t safe.
Around him, the river-traders called out to each other as they prepared to cast off. The ferry jerked then began to rock as it hit the rapids that gave the crossing its name. Rope hissed through the metal rings on the guide rails as the workers hauled on them. That sound and undulating motion as the ferry was buffeted were soothing.
“Traveling with her is a huge risk.” Vash’s statement was just loud enough to be heard over the rushing water. He leaned on the rail next to Kalan. “You said it yourself—she’s the half-blood daughter of the demon leader. Why take her with you? You’d be better off going on alone.”
Kalan grimaced and scrubbed a hand
“Leave the Na’Chi with us.” Vash gripped his wide leather belt. “She’ll only bring trouble. We’ll take care of her.”
As a Light Blade warrior, his first tenet was to protect his people from danger. Fleeing across the border with Annika would increase the threat of Na’Reish Patrols invading human territory.
Tempting as it was, the bargain he’d struck with her stood in the way of accepting the trader’s offer. To break his oath now would be dishonorable.
His shook his head. Damned if he kept his word, damned if he didn’t. And to think he’d been afraid for her when he’d seen Maren place his blade at her throat. His gaze slashed to her. She stiffened. Her eyes were yellow; the brightest he’d seen since meeting her.
“You’d let them kill me?” Her voice shook. Terror and indignation sparkled in her gaze as she glared at him. “I saved your life, Light Blade.”
Vash’s thick eyebrows lifted. “Is that true?”
“Yes.” Kalan couldn’t deny her claim as much as he wanted to. Lady’s Breath , what a mess. Everything inside him rejected the only solution to the problem. He forced the words through clenched teeth. “She stays with me. How long before we can cross?”
A long silence followed and for a moment he believed Vash would refuse them passage. The river-trader finally shrugged. “We can go now.”
“Good.” Kalan caught Annika’s arm in a tight grip, disliking the contact but there was no way he was giving her a chance to escape. Not before she answered his questions. Questions he’d delayed far too long in asking.
She gasped but made no move to jerk free. Ignoring the trembling in her muscles, he focused on getting them to the dock and the thought that in another half hour he’d be safe on the other side of the river.
“Go on board.” Vash issued several more orders that sent his men hurrying to untie the ferry, then joined the pair on the deck. Satisfied all was in order he turned toward them, jutting his chin in Annika’s direction. “What do I tell the Na’Reish when they come searching for her?”
“Nothing.” Guilt flared in Kalan’s gut. Annika wasn’t the only one hiding their identity. “We all have our secrets.…” His decision didn’t sit well with him, but, Lady forgive him his hypocrisy, he had no right to endanger himself more than he already had. Others depended on him. He’d deal with the consequences later. “I’m sure our passing this way is something you’ll want to keep to yourself.”
Vash shook his head. “You tread a dangerous path, Light Blade.”
Once they were aboard, Kalan left Annika by a stack of empty crates and retreated to the side, needing to distance himself from her. Leaning on the wooden railing, he closed his eyes and rubbed his hands over his face.
Merciful Mother , he was tired. He kneaded the shoulder that had taken the brunt of the fall when he’d dragged the Na’Reish guard off his mount then shivered as the morning breeze picked up strength. The cold made his whole body ache. He wished he dared stop for a bath, a solid night’s sleep, and a good meal, but until he made it across the river and out of Na’Reish territory, he wasn’t safe.
Around him, the river-traders called out to each other as they prepared to cast off. The ferry jerked then began to rock as it hit the rapids that gave the crossing its name. Rope hissed through the metal rings on the guide rails as the workers hauled on them. That sound and undulating motion as the ferry was buffeted were soothing.
“Traveling with her is a huge risk.” Vash’s statement was just loud enough to be heard over the rushing water. He leaned on the rail next to Kalan. “You said it yourself—she’s the half-blood daughter of the demon leader. Why take her with you? You’d be better off going on alone.”
Kalan grimaced and scrubbed a hand
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