him to refuse the excited youth. He was helping them secure a meeting with the most important person in the dragon temples, after all, and that prospect seemed to bring the light back to Kalai’s eyes.
“Jinhai’s mentor, Master Ushai-Kala will come down and talk to us tomorrow after lunch,” Kalai explained, once they were all seated at a round table inside one of Kel Visal’s smaller dining places.
“Tomorrow?” Tauran frowned, cutting into one of the dumplings on his plate in an attempt to guess what might be inside. “Can’t it be tonight?”
Kalai shook his head. “Evenings and nights are reserved for meditation and chores.”
“Our case is kind of urgent,” Tauran said. He and Kalai shared a glance. There was only one more pill in the vial inside Tauran’s jacket. A half for tonight, a half for tomorrow morning. Kalai might be well enough to meet with Jinhai’s mentor, but if meeting with the Eldest took another day…
Based on Jinhai’s earlier declaration that the masters found learning Kykarosi useless, Tauran had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to communicate with her on his own.
“The masters do nothing fast,” Jinhai said, looking between them. “Ushai-Kala says, ‘slow down, Jinhai. That is how we live many years.’” He huffed and speared a dumpling. “I tell him…” He frowned. “Haro’viei shi-ishi a.”
“Life is too short to slow down,” Kalai translated.
Tauran smiled a little. “I like this kid.”
Kalai told Jinhai about their journey, and Tauran let his mind drift while they ate. He gave up trying to identify his meal. It was all different kinds of delicious, especially after so long on the road with only rare opportunities for decent dining. He took care to leave the large, bright green seed on the edge of his plate. He’d been about to chow down on it when Kalai had stopped him. The seed wasn’t for eating, but for planting. A way to give back to nature for the food it had granted them.
They followed Jinhai back toward the temple stairs. The young man lingered on the bottom steps, fidgeting with his hand on the railing before he turned to Tauran. “Kalai-Ahala tells… You have one Voranu friend. Can I see her?” he asked, lips parted in anticipation.
Tauran glanced at Kalai in confusion.
“Voranu is the Sharoani name for the titans.” Kalai smiled. Their evening with Jinhai had clearly tired him, but there was a quiet happiness in his eyes, too.
“Why, yes you can,” Tauran said to Jinhai. “Her name is Leyra. Once we’ve talked to the Eldest, I’ll take you to meet her.”
“Incredible!” Jinhai beamed, waving goodbye before bounding up the stairs. “Goodnight!”
“Night,” Tauran called. He had a feeling Leyra would be ecstatic. Jinhai was the first person they’d met who Tauran thought might actually match her youthful excitement. When he turned back to Kalai, his smile faded. Now that they were alone, Kalai looked exhausted. Tauran wrapped his arm around him, which almost seemed to startle him. He was certain he wasn’t imagining that Kalai felt thinner, too.
“Sorry,” Kalai murmured, offering Tauran an apologetic smile. “My mind was elsewhere.”
“It’s fine.” Tauran pressed his lips to Kalai’s temple. “Let’s find somewhere to sleep.”
“The horses—”
“I’ll handle the horses.”
“How’s your leg?”
“Kalai.” Tauran stepped in front of him and angled Kalai’s chin up with one finger. “Stop fussing. Let me take care of you.”
Kalai opened his mouth as if to argue, but then gave in. “Sorry.”
“And stop saying sorry,” Tauran added. He wrapped an arm around Kalai’s waist, letting him put some weight on him, and led him down the street. “You’ve been hard at work, today. You know I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
Kalai frowned. “That’s what worries me. I don’t have time to be sick.” He narrowed his eyes, as if he could will his own weakness away.
“Things are working themselves out,” Tauran assured him. “We’ll meet Jinhai’s mentor tomorrow. Even if you need to take some time off, Jinhai speaks some Kykarosi. We got options, and I got skills. I’m incredible, remember?” He winked at Kalai, which earned him one of Kalai’s genuine, soft smiles. Tauran considered that a small victory.
“You are pretty incredible,” Kalai agreed, his voice so fond it brought a flush to Tauran’s face.
Between the two of them, Kalai was by far the most incredible. Which was why he’d be fine, Tauran told himself. Kalai could do anything, which meant he could handle the withdrawal sickness, too. He’d be just fine, and there was no reason for the anxious knot in