Page 49 of Black Crown
. . .Drak.
I was exhausted. My stomach churned uneasily as I thought of our camp exposed all night because I’d overextended myself with practice during the day.
“Do you require anything else?” the guard asked, gaze shifting to where other soldiers were trailing out of the trees, back to the main valley.
“What’s happening?” I mumbled, too tired to even properly fume over my mistake. I couldn’t wear myself out to this extent again. The potential weakness in the veil due to my familial bond with Draedyn was one thing, but if I couldn’t put the defense upat all—or couldn’t hold it because I was spent—we were all goners.I’ve got to do better.
You will, my love,Tyrrik answered.
I shot him a weak smile.
“Prince Zarad is running a drill,” the guard said. “If the emperor attacks, the prince wants us close together so it’s easier to spread your power of invisibility over the group.” The man’s eyes were round with awe.
Tyrrik coughed.
Power of invisibility, huh?I liked it. I nodded sagely. “Practice hard, soldier.”
He bowed low, and Tyrrik coughed again, not speaking until the guard had joined the line leaving the forest.
“You’re going to call your veil that from now on, aren’t you?” Tyrrik asked. He ducked us into our tent.
“Hmm, what?” I asked as he set me on top of a blanket, and I lolled there like a blob. “What are you talking about?”
“The power of invisibility.”
“Oh that,” I said casually. “Maybe. I hadn’t really thought about it.”
Eyes narrowed, he stared at me until I couldn’t hold my grin in. He snorted and dropped from his stooped position to sit by my side. I wasn’t sure who’d carried our tent and set it up, but I was glad for it. Really glad. Like, I would maybe show the person something from my hoard in return. Except I’d hidden it back in Gemond, so it would have to be anIOU one glimpse at my hoardkind of thing.
The tent ceiling was low, only to the middle of Tyrrik’s chest, and the tent appeared to be made of a quilted material. Whoever put it up had strung it between two trees and then stretched out either side before lining the interior with soft cushions and two thick blankets.
There were perks to being a Drae-Phaetyn with the power of invisibility.
“Aren’t you tired?” I asked Tyrrik, who was staring out the entrance to the tent.
“After my battle with the one-eyed squirrel? Exhausted.”
He blinked and picked up my legs, removing my boots. I groaned as he rubbed my calves.
“Sweet potato pancakes,” I mumbled. “Please don’t ever stop doing that.”
“I’m not inclined to when you make sounds like that.” He kneaded the muscles down, rotating my ankles before moving onto my feet.
At this rate, I’d be asleep in the next few minutes, but there was one thing I needed to do first. I handed Tyrrik the pouch of seeds and said, “Would you go scatter some of these outside. We’re going to need to eat tomorrow.”
I pulled up the two thick blankets covering the ground and pressed my palm atop the dried pine needles beneath.
“Are you sure that’s wise, my love? You’ve expended a lot of energy today already.”
I yawned and shooed him toward the door. “I’m no use against Draedyn tonight anyway, and growing stuff doesn’t take much energy. But food will keep the army’s strength up so they can fight.”
Does this help?Tyrrik stared at me, and a moment later, the tendrils of his onyx power extended toward me. He pushed the tendrils into me, his energy seeping through the warmth of the power swirling around me. I sighed as the black threads settled back with mine into our normal intertwining bond.
“Better?” he asked.
“A bit, yes. How . . . Did you know that would work?”
I didn’t feel great, but he’d definitely restored some of my energy levels. I felt stronger.