Tiny lines fanned at the corners of his eyes, as if he heard her thoughts and found them funny. “The dragas, they say, were once many, and only became destructive when the Empire hunted them for trophies and glory. The Sun Maiden’s draga was the last of its kind.”
That was the element of the story she found tragic. “It must have been something to behold when it lived.”
“It’s still something to behold in death. Golnar’s bones hang as decoration in the empress’s chambers. They circle the entire room at least twice.”
She gasped. He’d seen the actual draga’s bones? Part of her only half believed in the story. No one she knew had ever seen one draga bone, much less an entire draga skeleton. They seemed more myth to her than history—until now. That made the story even sadder.
The dying flames from the nearby fire cast shadows that hollowed out the spaces under Azarion’s cheekbones and turned his bright gaze dark. “You told Halani you’d sleep with me?”
“Aye, though she offered her wagon to me for another night.”
“If you try to escape . . .”
Whatever faint truce existed between them for that transient moment died with Azarion’s implied warning. Gilene bared her teeth at him. “If I promise not to repeat several times a day how much I loathe you, can you do the same and stop threatening me? I’m aware I’m a mere woman and you are the great warrior who can catch me at any time.”
He didn’t mock her, and his expression turned intense. “I will return you to Beroe when I no longer need you, Agacin,” he said in an oddly fervent voice.
Her heart leapt at his words, yearning to believe him yet not daring to. His tone brought forth a vague recollection. She had asked him a question in the forest adjacent to Midrigar, and he had answered with the same fervency.
What if I had fallen or couldn’t keep up?
I would have carried you.
Had that exchange been real or a figment of fevered delirium? Her heart wanted to believe the first, believe that there was more to this man than threats, and violence, and relentless resolve. Her mind shouted down her heart, and she frowned. “Why should I trust you when you’ve lied so often?”
Azarion stretched out his hand as if to touch her, stopping when she drew back. “Because in this, I’m not lying.”
His declaration had no more substance than a puff of smoke from the nearby fire. And even if it did, there were ways of interpreting it that made the hairs on her arms rise in warning. “Then the question remains,” she said. “When you no longer need me, will you return me to my people dead? Or alive?”
CHAPTER SIX
They remained with the free traders until the wagons rolled up to the market square of Wellspring Holt. A thriving town populated by merchant farmers who dealt mostly in produce and livestock, it welcomed the caravan with its stock of unique goods obtained from the hinterland garrisons where free traders met and traded with each other in spices and dyes, wool and silk thread, copper jewelry and painted pottery. All of it was paid for via barter or the exchange of silver from the Savatar silver mines protected behind the legendary Fire Veil.
They had arrived during the height of the weekly market day, and people crowded the streets. Vendor stalls lined the main avenue and stretched into the side lanes radiating from the town square like the spokes of a wheel. Judging by the numerous shouted greetings and the large group of townspeople surrounding the wagons, Hamod and his folk were popular in Wellspring Holt.
Azarion walked next to one of the slow-rolling wagons, Gilene beside him. He held her hand, and to any who glanced their way, the two seemed like nothing more than an affectionate couple. None could see her fingers curled like a fist in his palm or that her nails carved half-moons into the skin there.
“You may as well give up,” he said close to her ear. “I’m not letting you walk freely. Not in this crowd.” She hissed at him and carved deeper.
He’d be a fool to take his hand off her; she would bolt the second he did. When she wasn’t throwing glares that threatened to flay him, her eyes traveled over the crowd, pausing to stare at the various gates leading into and out of the town, the small alleyways that disappeared into the cluster of buildings away from the teeming town square. She watched, noted, measured—hunting for the best avenue of escape, waiting for the right moment to take it.
He lengthened his stride, tugging her with him as they shouldered through the crowd to reach the lead wagon. Hamod rode as passenger, calling out greetings to various vendors as his driver, a woman named Ona, guided the oxen pulling the wagon through the street.
The caravan leader glanced down from his high perch, his stern features for once almost jolly. “Valdan, you’re welcome to camp with us another night.”
As much as Azarion wanted to say yes, it wasn’t to be. The free traders had been generous with him and Gilene, offering food, shelter, and nursing. The knife and crossbow Hamod took in trade paid for Halani’s care of Gilene but not much else. Azarion made certain his hunting skills and help with the wagons took care of the difference and bought both time to recover from injuries and distance from the Empire. They hadn’t come across any more tracking parties while they traveled. Such might have been luck, Agna’s blessing, or Hamod’s own wish not to be noticed by scouts working on the Empire’s behalf. He had his own secrets to keep, and that need for covertness played into Azarion’s wish to remain hidden.
He shook his head. “Our thanks, but we’re off to find lodgings with a cousin.” The lie fell as smoothly from his lips as all the others before it. “Gilene and I are grateful for your help. May the knife stay sharp and bow shoot true.”
Hamod and Asil each raised a hand in farewell. Gilene dragged her feet as Azarion guided her away from the wagon and into the crowd. “I want to tell Halani and Asil goodbye!”
A troop of Kraelian soldiers marched toward the square from one of the offshoot streets. Azarion hunched to make himself smaller and bowed his head. The beard he let grow over the past week obscured half his face, but he was a tall man, taller than most, and men of great height were always noticed by others.
“You said your goodbyes yesterday,” he muttered, and yanked her into a doorway. The troop marched ever closer. Azarion crammed himself and Gilene into the shallow space, positioning them in such a way that his back was mostly to the street while Gilene faced it. He cupped her face between his hands, glimpsed the shocked expression that widened her eyes and made her lips part, and kissed her.
As kisses went, this was a shambles of one—nothing more than the pressing of lips back against teeth. Azarion trapped Gilene in the unyielding cage of his arms and watched the soldiers from the corner of one slitted eye. Except for a few amused snorts, they ignored the passionately entwined pair in the doorway and continued their way through the square toward the main gate.