Page 76 of Shadow Wings
Dyter looked back atme.
“We haven’t seen the emperor at all in the last two days,” I said, my eyes narrowing. “Not since before enteringZivost.”
“You think that means he’s not here in some capacity? His Druman are a direct extension of the emperor himself,” Tyrrik replied, facing me now. “You think he won’t have guessed the Zivost was our first stop and Gemond oursecond?”
What Ithoughtwas that Tyrrik should still be using Dyter as a conversationalmiddleman.
Crossing my arms, I turned to the Drae with a sniff. “You’re not strong enough yet. What if we come across the emperor on the way to Gemond? What then? You probably couldn’t fight off a Druman rightnow.”
Tyrrik’s eyes flooded with inkyblack.
“He’s right, my girl,” Dyter said, clearing his throat. “We’ve stayed too long in one place, and it makes us sitting prey.” Dyter stood and grabbed all of our possessions—his pack and the water skin. “I believe Kamini and Kamoi will take control of the Phaetyn in time, but we risk too much by lingering. The queen’s supporters may decide to come afterus.”
“Fine, let’s go. Who cares if we encounter the freakin’ emperor? Or Druman?” I stood abruptly, and fear spiked my gut when I spoke of Jotun’s kind. The thought of encountering more like him made my heart race. Cheeks flushing, I strode for the edge of the rockyoverhang.
Tyrrik caught my arm as I passed him, halting me. He frowned as he studied me, and his thumb caressed my arm. “You know I’ll protect you,Ryn.”
Oh sure. Now he’d speak to me and act likeIwas the unreasonable one. I yanked my arm free and started down the rocky hill. I resisted the urge to kick at the patches of scrub on the way down, muttering to myself about stupid old men and stupidDrae.
The sun had only peeked over the horizon in the last hour, and its rays were still tentative as they stretched into day. Rain had fallen overnight, and the once-packed dirt between the rocks and shrubs was mud and puddles of clear water. I reached the bottom of the hill, realized I didn’t know where I was going, and turned to wait for Dyter andhim.
Dyter lifted a brow and pointedright.
I rolled my eyes and waited for them, inhaling the strong pine smell with the undercurrent of charred wood from our meager fires that must’ve settled in the valley of trees. When Dyter took the lead, I asked him, “How long until we get toGemond?”
“On foot, two weeks. If we were flying, aday.”
“Then why aren’t weflying?”
I picked after Dyter through the forest. Only the trickle of a stream disturbed the silence, a reminder of what Tyrrik and I were from the absence of animal sound. Of course, the creatures of the forest sensed our presence, and they knew to make themselvesscarce.
That’s how I felt about the emperor, but I still preferred to risk flying to Gemond. Besides the speed of travel, I wanted to scout the area. Kamini’s sister could be right under ournoses.
“Tyrrik is not strong enough to carry me,” Dyter replied. “And he thought you might not feel comfortable flying withme.”
The Drae was right, but I wasn’t going to admit it. Instead of answering, I remained mute, which still felt like an admission.Drak.
We continued picking our way through the underbrush, and I became painfully aware of Tyrrik walking behind me. What was he looking at? As we began to climb the next mountain, I was convinced he was staring at my butt. As I pushed up and over a large boulder, I glancedback.
Totally staring at mybutt.
He smirked when he caught my gaze, and I turned up my nose, facing the front. Didn’t our argument two days prior bother him? I couldn’t think of anything else. What had he meant with his parting remark? Not knowing was driving memad.
I panted as we climbed, but it wasn’t because I was out of shape. “I hate corsets,” I said. “I’m pretty sure I dreamed of aketons last night.” An aketon and my usual ankle-length skirt or trousers. I’d even take an aketon without pants at this point. “Dyter, why didn’t you pack anotheraketon?”
Dyter turned and said, “If you remember, we were in a bit of a hurry when we left Zivost. I’m sure we can find you other clothing inGemond.”
I thought of the mountains we’d have to climb between now and then. “I’ll die before we getthere.”
“Then take it off,” Dyter snapped without lookingback.
A menacing growl rippled over my head before I’d fully processed Dyter’sresponse.
“She’s not taking anything off,” Tyrriksnarled.
I ignored the big lizard stalking behind me. I already knew his aketon was in a bunch. “What’s blocking your pipe,Dyter?”
He threw a scowl over his shoulder, taking a moment to let his disapproval settle first on me and then the Drae behind me. “You two have frayed my lastnerve.”