Page 17 of To Kill a King
He liked her father less the more he learned about him. “Why tell me?”
She glanced pointedly at his swords and bow. “I think you’re skilled enough to defend yourself from my father. Also, it doesn’t mean much, as I’ve only known you for about twelve hours, but for some reason, I trust you.”
Excellent. All the better to convince her to turn and help the elves bring down the king.
He smiled, stretching his lips and showing teeth. To his surprise, the unfamiliar expression didn’t feel uncomfortable. “Because I didn’t shoot you?” She shrugged, but said nothing, so he continued, “I understand it takes a lot of effort, but why didn’t you change your appearance earlier? Those soldiers wouldn’t have found you, then.”
She raised an eyebrow and studied him. “I did.” Gesturing at herself, she said, “I’m not stupid enough to wear my regular shape. There was someone there—a man, dressed in black with a red stone that did something to my magic. The king has a tattoo that lights up in the presence of mages, and I think that gem does the same thing.” Her skin went pale. “It can probably find me no matter what I look like.”
He blinked as his mouth went dry. Valek. The king had sent his Arcane Inquisitor after her. He was relentless, and completely loyal to Malkov. She would never be safe. At least, not in the human realm.
“Besides,” she continued, “it’s not like I can shapeshift on a whim. It takes a lot of energy. I also need to be well-hydrated.” She glanced at his empty canteen, discarded at his feet. “Without enough water, my body can’t make the change. I didn’t have time to buy any beverages.” She made a face. “And no one drinks the water in Lions Grove, it’s too polluted.”
He studied her, with her flawless skin. An ability dependent on access to water. That was a hell of a handicap in a pinch, especially in the human realm, where rivers couldn’t be guaranteed to be clean. His eyes followed her tongue as she licked her lips.
She shifted under his gaze, dragging her toe through the dirt. “Did something happen to someone I resembled? The elf?”
He glanced into the distance, tearing his eyes from her as he fought off a wave of homesickness. “No. At least, I hope not. I’m just missing my family, I guess.”
Tilting her head, she regarded him with a lifted eyebrow. “Where’s home?”
One side of his mouth curled up in a smile that matched the bitter taste in the back of his throat. “A mountain kingdom that no longer exists. Aeth Esari. Though that’s not my true homeland. I was raised by my cousins, the sun elves.”
He was a private person who preferred his own company and thoughts. But her eyes radiated such intense, innocent curiosity, he put the awkwardness aside. “Ask, Aliya.” He turned the meat again. The flames crackled.
“You don’t need to answer, but,” she swept a piece of hair behind her ear, “why did you run? With your parents, I mean?”
That was a loaded question. “It’s hard to explain. My family didn’t think I was safe in Aeth Esari. I’m…” He let his voice drift off as he hunted for the right words. “Different from other mountain elves.”
She raised her eyebrow and opened her mouth, snapped her teeth closed, and nodded. For the time being she seemed willing to drop the topic. They sat in pleasant silence as Elessan tended the rabbits. When their flesh turned light brown and tender, he pulled one off the spit and handed it to her.
Breakfast was surprisingly tasty, if he did say so himself. The fire lent a subtle smoky taste to the juicy meat.
“When you’re not lurking in the dark, waiting to rescue people, what do you do? Are you a courier for a noble house?”
Ha! And another loaded question. “I’m a messenger of the realm.” That was one way to look at it, at least. “I haven’t been given the honor of guarding my house, and I have yet to be blessed with a family. Beyond my parents, of course.” The lie tasted bitter on his tongue.
Aliya pulled the last bits of meat from her rabbit. “That sounds awfully lonely,” she mused.
“I’ve never minded. Truth be told, I like my privacy.” Until now, but he had no plans to tell her that.
He finished his breakfast and spent several moments debating if he should ask her why she was running, or if the question would scare her off. She’d said she trusted him. Maybe she would answer.
Eventually. If he didn’t push her too hard, too quickly.
The sun beat down on his back. The day was passing. They needed to get moving, or they wouldn’t reach the town in time to secure lodging and visit the market. Or for him to drop off his message. He would ask her later. Tonight.
“Come,” he said, standing. “We need to pack up camp and be on our way before the day gets any older. If we see any animals today, I’ll teach you how to identify their footprints.”
At least then when she was on her own, she’d have enough knowledge to not starve to death while she fled the Arcane Inquisitor.
The sun climbed higher, casting shortening shadows across their trail. Aliya had a talent for identifying rabbit prints, with their distinct hopping pattern. Deer weren’t too hard, either.
The rest of them, though…
She ran her hand over the top of her head, pulling her hair away from her face as she stared at the new footprints. “They’re badger tracks. See the two little back-toe indents?” She clenched her jaw and scowled at the gleam in his eyes.
It was almost like he was laughing at her.