Emberhawk - Jamie Foley Page 0,20
until you tumbled down a hill like an idiot.”
Kira’s fear-laced expression rekindled into rage. “Then make me a bleeding brace and be on your way.”
Ryon shifted his sling, which was already cutting uncomfortably into his neck. “Even with a brace, you’ll be eaten if you try to hobble home by yourself.”
She snorted. “I thought you just said going home would be my best option. Did you get dropped as a baby or something?”
Ryon nodded at her leg. “You won’t be fast enough now, unless you can suddenly walk again.”
“I can take care of myself, thank you.” Kira stood, grabbing a thick branch for support. She slowly touched her swollen foot to the ground. Even in the meager light, Ryon could see her face blanch.
So that’s a no. He selected a fallen branch on the ground and picked it up. “The predators in this area can smell blood. Did you get cut when you fell?”
Kira didn’t respond for a long moment. “You’ve got blood all over you. I don’t think I’ll be at the top of the menu.”
“D’hakka don’t bother those with Phoeran blood.” Ryon embraced his element and started a small flame at the end of his branch, holding it aloft for light. “They’re afraid of fire, and they can sense creatures with high concentrations of the element. Trace cats as well.”
Kira glared at his makeshift torch. “I wonder why they’d be afraid of fire in the middle of a drought,” she growled.
Ryon barely reined in his annoyance. “Look, if you’ll quit digging at me, I’ll escort you to Jadenvive.”
She huffed a laugh and gave him a bewildered look. “Why in the tails would I go to Jadenvive? Even if my ankle wasn’t busted—”
“Because you can get a carriage ride to Navarro from the trade route. And I’d make sure you didn’t get killed by something.” Ryon raised an eyebrow. “Except your own immaturity.”
Kira’s snarl sounded like that of a trace cat cub. “You’re exactly the type of stranger Mother warned me about.”
Ryon chuckled, bowed, and flourished his cloak. “Yeah, just your typical road bandit out for plunder and glory.”
Kira chuffed. “Is that sarcasm? I’ve lost count of the things you’ve stolen or destroyed!”
“Wow, so much judgment from the girl who shot me and invited the world’s nicest soldiers to play poke-the-owie.”
“Well, it’s not like you trespassed on our land or poached our flock or anything.”
“Guess you never realized I was snatching jam from the root cellar too.” Ryon swallowed the last of the honey drop, wishing it were that chunky cherry jam instead. He’d lost count of how many jars he’d taken over various assignments during the past few months. “Guess you’re too rich to notice.”
Kira’s small frame shuddered as if it were about to explode. “If you don’t leave, I swear by the seven tails of the goddess I will kill you.”
Ryon shrugged and turned. “I’ll leave you here to die then, since that’s what you want. May the creator not hold this against me.”
“Wait.”
Her voice was softer this time. Weaker.
Ryon paused but didn’t turn around.
“Just go get my brother Lee and tell him where I am.”
Ryon snorted. “Yeah, I’m not going back there, Princess.”
“Then, just . . .” Her voice faded out for a moment. “Stay here. But, like, far away. Just close enough for your element to scare off the d’hakka or whatever. Then I’ll go back by myself when my ankle’s better.”
“I’m not waiting around to get an infection.” Ryon gave her a sidelong glance over his shoulder. “You’re either coming to Jadenvive or you’re on your own.”
Her full lips pursed. “Give me my knives back.”
“So you can try to kill me again? Yeah, no.”
“So I can have protection from a strange young man who wants me to travel with him.”
Ryon realized her implication with a sliver of unease through his gut. Did she really think he was that kind of guy? Well, she didn’t know him. And he’d said something weird about tasty chickens.
He did his best to cut the insincerity out of his voice. “I swear on my father’s memory, I will not touch you.”
Kira watched him warily. “I didn’t know your father.”
Ryon considered his words. “He was the most honorable man I’ve ever known.” No one in the Emberhawk tribe would describe him that way, but it was true nevertheless.
“Everyone says that about their father.” Kira eyed Ryon as if he were a wolf tied by a cord of questionable strength. “Are you married?”
“No, just . . .” Ryon released a frustrated