and maneuvered me back two steps. “You have to remember the five foot mark, and to restrain your temper around Davio.”
“I don’t have to restrain anything. I like fighting with him. It does my soul good.”
His lips twitched. “Yes, so I see. By all means, ignore my request.”
“I will, and Loveria and I wouldn’t even be fighting if you hadn’t have brought him here, or come yourself. You didn’t need to.”
“I came because I am driven to see to your welfare. We are soul-bound, and it appears I detest having you out of my sight.”
“Well, get used to it. I am from Dralion.”
Loveria coughed. “Right, since you two are back to fighting, I’ll head inside and set up somewhere for us to sleep, as far away from the warriors as possible. We’ll need our rest for tomorrow. That’s if we can get any.” He walked to the door and edged inside, fisting his hand over the hilt of his sword.
I doubted anyone would sleep well this night.
“We’ll join him.” Silas snagged my hand.
“Hey.” I bumped into his back as he stopped in the doorway. Around the perimeter of the room, four lamps glowed softly, just enough to cast a little light into each darkened corner.
Guy, in his brown rawhide pants and midnight-black shirt, heaved four mattresses toward one wall, and tossed a green woolen blanket over each. Maslin and Goldie stood, quietly conversing. Goldie raised a hand and beckoned me.
“I need to talk to Goldie.”
“As long as you understand you’re sleeping with me.”
“We’ll see.”
I joined Goldie and Maslin as Silas and Loveria shoved three mattresses against the wall where they’d have the greatest distance from the others.
“I can’t believe what’s happened,” I said to Goldie.
She rolled her eyes. “What’s unbelievable is that I’m going to sleep under the same roof as a Loveria.”
“I’d say it’s a day in history which will forever go unspoken of,” Guy said as he trudged across.
“Hell yes, to that,” Maslin concurred.
“It’s an awful situation, but we don’t have any choice. We’re here, so we’re going to have to deal with it.” Goldie eyed Maslin. “You know your way around, so you’re in charge of organizing all we need for this hike tomorrow.”
“No problem. The Sols always ensure this place is well provisioned.” He and Guy left to search the crates.
“Are you all right?” Goldie leaned in, her tone low as she continued, “Maslin updated me. Interesting to hear what he has to say about the Sols and mind-merge. We need the truth. I’m glad I’m here.”
“Me too. I hope I find the answers I’m seeking at the compound.” I slanted a look toward Silas. “I’m going to have to sleep over there. Silas is strong-willed and his decision about our sleeping arrangements made.”
“And you’re going to just toe the line?”
“For tonight. I hardly need an all-out war to start because I slept thirty feet away from where he would have preferred.”
“He’s out of his mind if he thinks he can snatch you away whenever he pleases. Stand your ground and ensure he knows what you will and won’t accept.”
“Oh, I will. I’ll go help Guy and Maslin.” I squeezed Goldie’s arm and headed to them. I crouched next to the supplies they’d laid out and took one of the backpacks and loaded it with a compass, flasks of water, snacks and loose fitting, hooded white shirts. “Is there food here for us to eat later tonight?”
“The crate to your right has plenty of dried food. Grab what you need.” Guy jerked his fisted hand over his thigh. “Being this close to those two is difficult. They hold my father behind steel, and I just want to kill them.”
“You can’t. My sister and I need them, and they won’t have your father for long.” My words rang with promise, even as quiet as they were. “None of our captured warriors should be imprisoned. We don’t take Peacians and lock them away.”
“Why would we want to?” Guy
“I don’t have to restrain anything. I like fighting with him. It does my soul good.”
His lips twitched. “Yes, so I see. By all means, ignore my request.”
“I will, and Loveria and I wouldn’t even be fighting if you hadn’t have brought him here, or come yourself. You didn’t need to.”
“I came because I am driven to see to your welfare. We are soul-bound, and it appears I detest having you out of my sight.”
“Well, get used to it. I am from Dralion.”
Loveria coughed. “Right, since you two are back to fighting, I’ll head inside and set up somewhere for us to sleep, as far away from the warriors as possible. We’ll need our rest for tomorrow. That’s if we can get any.” He walked to the door and edged inside, fisting his hand over the hilt of his sword.
I doubted anyone would sleep well this night.
“We’ll join him.” Silas snagged my hand.
“Hey.” I bumped into his back as he stopped in the doorway. Around the perimeter of the room, four lamps glowed softly, just enough to cast a little light into each darkened corner.
Guy, in his brown rawhide pants and midnight-black shirt, heaved four mattresses toward one wall, and tossed a green woolen blanket over each. Maslin and Goldie stood, quietly conversing. Goldie raised a hand and beckoned me.
“I need to talk to Goldie.”
“As long as you understand you’re sleeping with me.”
“We’ll see.”
I joined Goldie and Maslin as Silas and Loveria shoved three mattresses against the wall where they’d have the greatest distance from the others.
“I can’t believe what’s happened,” I said to Goldie.
She rolled her eyes. “What’s unbelievable is that I’m going to sleep under the same roof as a Loveria.”
“I’d say it’s a day in history which will forever go unspoken of,” Guy said as he trudged across.
“Hell yes, to that,” Maslin concurred.
“It’s an awful situation, but we don’t have any choice. We’re here, so we’re going to have to deal with it.” Goldie eyed Maslin. “You know your way around, so you’re in charge of organizing all we need for this hike tomorrow.”
“No problem. The Sols always ensure this place is well provisioned.” He and Guy left to search the crates.
“Are you all right?” Goldie leaned in, her tone low as she continued, “Maslin updated me. Interesting to hear what he has to say about the Sols and mind-merge. We need the truth. I’m glad I’m here.”
“Me too. I hope I find the answers I’m seeking at the compound.” I slanted a look toward Silas. “I’m going to have to sleep over there. Silas is strong-willed and his decision about our sleeping arrangements made.”
“And you’re going to just toe the line?”
“For tonight. I hardly need an all-out war to start because I slept thirty feet away from where he would have preferred.”
“He’s out of his mind if he thinks he can snatch you away whenever he pleases. Stand your ground and ensure he knows what you will and won’t accept.”
“Oh, I will. I’ll go help Guy and Maslin.” I squeezed Goldie’s arm and headed to them. I crouched next to the supplies they’d laid out and took one of the backpacks and loaded it with a compass, flasks of water, snacks and loose fitting, hooded white shirts. “Is there food here for us to eat later tonight?”
“The crate to your right has plenty of dried food. Grab what you need.” Guy jerked his fisted hand over his thigh. “Being this close to those two is difficult. They hold my father behind steel, and I just want to kill them.”
“You can’t. My sister and I need them, and they won’t have your father for long.” My words rang with promise, even as quiet as they were. “None of our captured warriors should be imprisoned. We don’t take Peacians and lock them away.”
“Why would we want to?” Guy
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