Page 75 of Heir

Sirsha

By the time the sun rose, Sirsha had led the group deep into the Devanese woods southwest of Jibaut. When the port city was out of sight, she suggested they slow down, but Quil drove them on, clearing their path through the undergrowth and casting glances above, lest a Kegari scout spot them through the canopy of trees.

The powerful Kegari soldier—whoever he was—had seen and identified Quil. The sky-rats would be looking for him everywhere.

To make matters worse, Sirsha felt uneasy. Unpleasantly so. Perhaps it was R’zwana’s slimy presence. Sirsha kept it from the others, but she knew R’z would follow her. They were hunting the same quarry, and Sirsha was the better tracker. R’z wouldn’t risk letting Sirsha get too far ahead.

She shuddered at the memory of R’z’s vengeful face. Though they’d always had a troubled relationship, R’zwana appeared to have disintegrated into the worst version of herself.

But the shadow in Sirsha’s mind—it didn’tfeellike R’z. It felt like something else was stalking her. Every time Sirsha tried to track it, it disappeared.

They finally stopped well after sunset. When Sirsha spotted a cave she knew of, she refused to go farther.

“The horses need rest.” She glared at Quil, who looked longingly at the path ahead. “And I’m starving.”

She was cranky, true, but less because she was hungry and more because the killer’s trail was faint now. With every mile in the wrong direction, Elias’s oath coin burned hotter, as if to remind Sirsha that she wasn’t carrying out her end of the bargain with him.

For now, it would only burn. But in time, the mission would supplant every other need, to the detriment of herself and everyone around her.

She’d worry about that when it happened. Right now, she needed food and sleep.

“Fine,” Quil said as she dismounted. “Sufiyan, clear the cave. I’ll make the rounds.”

“Be careful.” The words were out of Sirsha’s mouth before she could stop them. “Don’t do anything rash and give away our position,” she added, lest he think she actually cared about his welfare. “In case—in case the Kegari followed us out of Jibaut.”

Quil nodded, observing her keenly, and Sirsha squirmed and turned away.

“Are you all right?” Quil asked.

“I’m starving,” she snapped. The truth, just not all of it. But he accepted it—to Sirsha’s relief. He always looked so hurt when she lied, like a wounded puppy. And for reasons she didn’t understand, deceiving him made Sirsha feel awful. Perhaps because of the accursed Adah oath.

When he was out of sight, Sirsha collapsed onto her back, exhausted. “Is he always like this?” she asked. A moment later, Sufiyan and Arelia leaned over her.

“You mean so protective of his friends that he’ll double back to make sure they’re safe,” Arelia said, “even when he’s as tired as the rest of us?”

Sufiyan offered Sirsha a wry smile. “You’ll learn to appreciate it.”

“I wasn’t trying to be ungrateful.” Sirsha felt small and petty as she sat up. “And I don’t need a lecture from a couple of infants.”

Sufiyan threw his hands up and walked away, but Arelia looked genuinely confused.

“I’m eighteen,” she offered. “Suf is too. We aren’t children.”

“I didn’t meanliterally—”

“I realize you have spent much of your life alone,” Arelia went on with a kindness one reserved for bumbling animals or aggrieved toddlers.“But surely you learned not to be unkind to those who have only tried to help you?”

With that, she followed Sufiyan to the cave, which was just as well, because Sirsha’s face burned in embarrassment. She tried to think of something pithy and biting to say and failed. Out of pique, she used her magic to eavesdrop on them, but they were merely discussing one of Arelia’s inventions, and Sirsha felt ridiculous for spying.

She looked out at the dark forest, turning her Adah coin over in her hands. If she’d genuinely chosen Quil as her Adah, it would be a source of comfort, its gold surface intricately patterned to symbolize their vow. She’d be able to sense if he was safe or not, feel the beat of his heart in time with her own.

Instead, the coin was dull, flat, and unpleasantly heavy.

When Quil finally returned, he looked as weary as Sirsha felt, the freckles across his nose stark against blanched skin. He needed rest.

To appearunchildish, Sirsha had offered to make dinner. What was left bubbled over a small fire.

“Didn’t see any sign of pursuit.” Quil spoke quietly, so as not to wake up Arelia and Sufiyan, asleep in the back of the cave. “But you clearly had someone in mind when you mentioned it. Might as well get it out.”

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