Page 119 of Lake of Sorrow

“I hope this is worth it,” Vlerion murmured, his eyes equally concerned.

The taybarri set the hide-wrapped item on a rock.

You may sit there, the female told them. Do you have rope?

Kaylina shook her head.

Vlerion nodded. “Yes, why?”

Before we begin, we will tie you to a boulder and to each other so that if you change, we will have time to escape.

“If I change, rope won’t stop me from attacking anyone nearby.”

You will attack the closest being while we leave the valley. The female looked at Kaylina.

“Oh, great. I get to be sacrificed.”

Perhaps this will be a test not only for him, the elder said, holding Kaylina’s gaze, but for you.

32

Students know far in advance which tests will challenge them most.

~ Lady Professora Nila of Yarrowvast, Port Jirador University

For beings without thumbs, the taybarri had no trouble tying Vlerion and Kaylina to a boulder and sitting them close enough to touch each other. Close enough for Vlerion to kill her…

Admittedly, they’d allowed it. Being the noble ranger he was, Vlerion had even helped with the knots. Kaylina hoped that meant he was confident that he could resist changing into the beast during whatever this test entailed. She would have felt better about it if he hadn’t worn that concerned look when it had first been proposed.

“Are you nervous?” Vlerion must have noticed her expression—or the way she was rubbing her wrist, tempted to dig at the knots to loosen them in case she needed to flee.

Kaylina lowered her hand and looked toward the young male taybarri using his fangs to gently unwrap the hide-covered whatever. “No.”

Vlerion’s eyebrows rose. “Are you lying to me?”

“Certainly not, my lord. Mead makers are known to be honest, trustworthy, and stalwart individuals.”

“Including Jana Bloomlong?”

“Southern mead makers are honest and trustworthy. My grandma never lies. Even if you wish she would. She’s blunt and says what’s on her mind.”

Strange that recalling negative attributes of family members could make Kaylina homesick. She caught herself envying Levitke because she’d been able to visit with her kin. Maybe the homesickness was due to predicament after predicament that Kaylina kept landing herself in. All the danger and chaos made her long for the world she’d found oppressive not two months earlier. Now, she would have basked in the mundanity and predictability of life at the Spitting Gull.

Except, if she hadn’t come north, she wouldn’t have met Vlerion. And he, even if magic drew him to her and vice versa, was someone she enjoyed knowing. He truly had become her protector. And he didn’t even think she should be more normal.

“I am nervous, Vlerion, but as much because of my behavior when we’re together.” Kaylina waved her fingers between them, making vague circles in the air. He knew.

Vlerion eyed the taybarri watching them, the blue-furred youths as well as the elders. “I am hoping this test will involve keeping my equanimity in battle or under physical duress. I’m practiced at that.”

Kaylina bit her lip. The way the female elder had looked back and forth between them made her believe she knew exactly what was likely to cause Vlerion to lose his calm and change. Kaylina didn’t know how the taybarri would test that, but she worried it wouldn’t be pleasant. For either of them.

“I’m also not inclined toward libidinous moods with forty taybarri watching,” Vlerion murmured.

“No? You didn’t mind when the rangers were watching.”

“I minded it.”

“But you were tempted to continue anyway.”

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