The Darkness Before the Dawn - By Ryan Hughes Page 0,34

in?

That’s a better idea than just walking on into the desert. If you hadn’t got us in trouble there in the first place, we—

Me? You’re the one who got us in trouble. You and your stupid cloud ray.

Jedra climbed shakily to his feet. I was looking for Sahalik, which I would never have had to do if you hadn’t chased him out of camp.

Kayan stood up, too, and though she only came up to the middle of his chest, she looked ready to take him on with bare hands at any moment. Oh, yeah? And what was I supposed to do, let him have his filthy way with me just so we could stay with your precious elves? Was I supposed to buy their hospitality with my body?

Jedra clenched and unclenched his fists. You could have let him down easy, he said. You didn’t have to humiliate him in front of the whole tribe.

I did, too. Kayan turned away and picked up her pack. Of course if you had been more decisive when he first showed up, maybe I wouldn’t have, but when he realized you were a pushover, he—

Oh, so that’s my fault now, too! Jedra grabbed his own pack off the sand and tied it closed, then swung it onto his back. He picked up the spear with its rag tied to the end and slung that over his shoulder, wincing at the sore spot where it had rested during the last march. Well let me tell you something, miss high-and-mighty ex-templar, I didn’t get us into this mess. You did. You and your—

Cloud ray, she said. Cloud ray, cloud ray, cloud ray. That’s why we got kicked out of the tribe. I had us living in the chief’s tent until you pulled that stunt.

Arrgghh! Jedra growled, an inarticulate bellow of rage. She’d twisted things around in a circle again. He stomped off with the rag end of the spear bent low in front of him, sweeping for sand cactus.

Where are you going? Kayan demanded.

Jedra stopped. He’d struck out to the north, he realized. Toward Urik, the only place he’d ever called home. But Urik was nearly twice as far away as anyplace else they could go, the entire distance through open desert. He looked toward the east, where the sky was just beginning to show the first glow of approaching dawn. Only hostile elves and the tablelands lay in that direction. The south was no better. Reluctantly, he turned westward and began walking. I guess I’m going to Tyr, he said.

* * *

One good thing about anger, Jedra thought an hour or so later—it completely overrode the exhaustion he’d expected to feel after their convergence. He and Kayan had already walked farther this morning than they’d gone in either of their previous marches, and the sun hadn’t even cleared the horizon yet. The last stars were fading before them, though, and it wouldn’t be long before the temperature began to rise.

Who would have thought there could be so much change in so barren a landscape? Hot enough to cook meat on a rock during the day, and cold enough to freeze it at night; full of vegetation and lizards and other small animals just a day to the east, but practically empty here. A person couldn’t count on anything in the desert.

Not even his companion. Jedra couldn’t believe how Kayan had turned on him. She’d kissed him less than half a day ago! She’d been all warmth and friendliness, and then she’d turned right around and accused him of causing all their troubles. What kind of a bondmate was that? Well, once they made it out of the desert, that was the last he would see of her. He didn’t care about their psionic powers, or about finding a master to teach them more. He didn’t want to share anything more with her anyway, not if she felt that way about him. Indecisive! Pushover! Hah. He’d fought an elf warrior for her, and killed a b’rohg. And even now, who was leading the way, braving the dangers of sand cactus and who-knew-what-else while she plodded along behind, safe from harm?

He increased his pace, eager to get out of the desert.

Hey, Kayan mindsent. You’re already going too fast. Your legs are longer than mine.

I thought you wanted to get to Tyr, he replied without turning his head, but he slowed down.

* * *

The sun had been up for a couple of hours before they spoke again. Your shoulders