Page 104 of The Horde King of Shadow

“Would you?” she asked, brightening.

Her passion for learning, for knowledge, for books—so pure and loving—only made my affection for her grow all the more.

“Of course,” I told her, taking the book from her grip gently. We lay back in the bed—I was getting used to sleeping closer to the ground, in a nest of furs. Klara’s eyes ran over the foreign letters on the page, her head pressed into my shoulder.

Anything to get her to relax for tomorrow,I thought.

I began to read…because dawn would come much too soon.

Chapter 36

KLARA

“Remember,” Sarkin murmured, his voice soft and hushed, even though we were alone on a ledge on the Tharken cliffs, “you don’t have to do this, Klara.”

“Don’t tell me that,” I said, my voice even. I went cold, even stoic, when I was nervous. From an outsider’s perspective, it might’ve even seemed like I was bored. “Icando this.”

He looked at me steadily. “I never thought you couldn’t.”

“Then stop giving me an out,” I told him, deliberately trying to soften my words. “My brother always did that. He always tried to protect me. I loved him for it…but sometimes I wished he would let me stand on my own. When it came to my family. When it came to theDothikkar’s hungry court. Because they never respected me.”

Sarkin inclined his head. There was understanding in his eyes.

“Then go claim your Elthika,Sorrina.”

But don’t claim Lygathwas what was unspoken between us.

He turned to call for Zaridan on his black cuff, but I snagged his arm. His hands dove into my hair when I stood on my tiptoes to give him a deep, long kiss. He breathed me in. I knew hewould take Zaridan to the very bottom of the ravine beneath my ledge…just in case. But I also knew he wouldn’t tell me that.

“My only fear is disappointing you,” I confessed to him when I pulled away, blinking back the sudden tears that pricked my eyes.

“Then you havenothingto fear, Klara,” Sarkin said simply.

A smile broke over my face, the first one that entire morning since we left the village at dawn.

“Lysi?” he asked, tipping up my chin.

My smile only widened at the Dakkari word, and I nodded, taking a huge breath, letting it fill my lungs, letting it ground me, even as high up as I was along the cliffs.

“Lysi,” I replied. “Go.”

His eyes flashed down to my right hand, where the tether he’d given me this morning was hanging, as if in assurance.

His gaze connected with mine. We looked at one another for long moments, only interrupted when Zaridan swooped low overhead, all the other wild Elthika scattering away from her. It seemed to please her, their fear. Their reverence.

Sarkin said, “Tight core, brace low.”

Then he jumped off the cliff edge, right onto Zaridan’s back, my heart leaping in my throat. He made it look so easy, but he’d had years of practice. I studied his easy positioning, where he had his boots locked into place at the harness, now knowing how much leg strength it took to keep them there with the velocity of flight.

He was a beautiful, accomplished rider. I could appreciate that now.

Sarkin flew out of sight, circling down to the bottom of the cliff pass…

Then I was alone.

The Tharken cliffs had been transformed since Sarkin had brought me here. Wild Elthika were all over the cliff sides,latching their taloned claws into the rock face, clinging to edges and navigating more easily than I thought possible.

I was high up. Alone, as Sammenth had recommended. That morning, at dawn, I’d ridden with Sarkin and, seemingly, an entire horde of dragons behind us. Most of the village had come to attend theilla’rosh. They’d gone to the opposite mountain, which had an excellent view of the cliffs. There was a flat rocky surface toward the very peak, and many had set up camp, similar in appearance to a Dakkari horde. Domed animal-hide tents—though the Sarrothian used a dark cloth material—and communal cooking areas. There was an air of excitement, or jovial celebration, even though most of the riders in attendance had been deathly quiet during the initial meeting with Kyavor.

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