Emberhawk - Jamie Foley Page 0,38

odd flare of protest went off in his mind as the young man produced a knife and carefully cut through the strands over Kira’s face. “You shouldn’t be out here.”

“I should say the same to you, buck.” The old man poked Ryon in the forehead with his cane. “The d’hakka steer clear of those with Phoeran blood, but you seem to be running on empty. There’s an oil that lubricates their chitin plates, ya see. It’s highly flammable.” He knocked on his temple with his knuckles. “Nasty things are smarter than they look.”

Right. Ryon bit down on his annoyance. “I mean, you’re Emberhawk—you’re a long way from home.”

The young man glanced over his shoulder at Ryon, flicking a long lock of silver hair from his eyes. “So are you.”

Ryon glared. “I’m Katrosi. And these are Katrosi lands.”

“Seems like d’hakka lands to me!” The older one hunched over his cane, retrieving his snaggle-toothed smile. “Name’s Waelyn. Who’re you, Katrosi boy?”

Ryon pursed his lips. Even giving out his shortened name to these men seemed risky, since they already recognized his Emberhawk heritage. He’d only given his name to Kira after Tekkyn had earned his trust. But if he gave them a different name now, Kira would get suspicious.

“Ryon. And that’s Kira.”

“Kiralau,” Kira said in an emotion-choked voice. She tore silk strands from her face as if they were toxic. “Th-thank you so much.”

“Our pleasure,” Waelyn said. “Well, especially my grandson, Sylendrin’s. He jumps at the chance to meet any pretty young lady.” He poked Ryon with his cane again. “Eh?”

The old man’s wink made Ryon cringe. He almost denied being together with Kira like that, then wondered how a blind man knew Kira was pretty. Maybe he just assumed it from her youthful voice, or maybe he was just a kind old man.

“I’m not your grandson,” Sylendrin grumped.

“Good thing, too, because your brain’s the size of a joyberry.” Waelyn cackled and looked back up in Ryon’s general direction. “What’re you doin’ out here, buck? Not the most romantic place to go smoochin’.”

“We’re going to the Navakovrae border,” Kira said at the same time Ryon said, “We’re headed to Jadenvive.”

Waelyn’s hoarse laughter lifted Ryon’s spirit. “A lovers’ quarrel? Well, sorry, young lady, but we’re probably closer to Jadenvive now than Malaano lands.”

Wait, what? How far did that d’hakka drag us? Ryon looked around for his equipment and found nothing surrounding the stripped trees but drying bones. “Where are we?”

“Well, you’re probably right that the Katrosi lay claim to this place, but it’s no-man’s-land so far as logic is concerned.” Waelyn pointed his cane back in the direction they’d come. “Our camp’s not too far. Care to join us for dinner? I’m makin’ pitas.”

Unease swayed in Ryon’s gut, along with the sensation of being upside down. These men were trespassing in Katrosi lands, d’hakka-infested or not. And if the claim about being close to Jadenvive was correct, that was even more disturbing. The Emberhawk tribe wasn’t on friendly terms with the Katrosi since they lost the Sacrificial War a decade ago. They were the only tribe that refused to join with the Tribal Alliance—apparently, that old grudge was more relevant than the threat the Malaano Empire presented against all tribesmen.

Maybe they were exiled from Emberhawk lands. Yes, that made sense—exiles wouldn’t have any other place to go besides creator-forsaken places like this, where no other human dared to call home. Then what crimes did they commit?

Ryon met Kira’s gaze for a moment, but she quickly looked away to continue freeing herself from the cocoon with Sylendrin’s help. She didn’t express an opinion he could discern, but of course she’d want a full belly and a warm fire after this nightmare.

She probably had no idea that Emberhawk exiles could present a far greater danger than a vengeful d’hakka.

Ryon studied their rescuers again, aware that his silence was already souring their hospitality. The chieftess would want to know the location of their illegal encampment, whether they were harmless or not. His maps were gone, along with his equipment, but if he saw the camp’s location, he could recreate it from memory whenever he found his way back to Jadenvive.

And his shoulder felt like he’d poured saltwater brine into it. Maybe Felix had been right about cauterizing it. But Felix could go die in a hole somewhere.

Ryon released a deep breath. “Thank you. You’re too kind.” He forced a smile, certain he looked as goofy as an upside down possum. “Pitas sound great.”

18

VYLIA

Vylia closed her eyes and