Page 4 of Battle Fluke

She wasn’t going to be able to do anything until she was more healed herself, until her hands and fluke were free, because now that feeling of stiffness came back with a heavy dose of reality. She was also tied up like prey.

And prey the Talon would view her as.

Sighing, Honour closed her eyes and focused on the sounds around them. How far into the soundings were they? Whichdirection was the tide going so she could at least figure out how to get home in the end? Kyree’s little grunts every time they tugged on her bindings weren’t helping Honour focus.

Kyree was her responsibility.

So was Soulara and by association, Autumn.

And yet here Honour was, just as much a prisoner as her princess, with no hope of getting out of here alive. With no hope of bringing Soulara home to lead their people the way they should be led. Another mer bumped hard into Honour’s shoulder and pain radiated throughout her body. Honour cried out in retaliation, but she couldn’t move to do anything about it.

“Stop harming her further,” Kyree’s voice was firm, stronger than Honour had ever heard it before. “I told you not to tie her.”

The laugh was low, evil-sounding. It sent a shiver through Honour’s spine. This was a voice she would avoid at all possibilities. It was a voice that she would always be wary about, waiting for the other fin to drop. Breathing deeply, Honour settled her heart and focused her mind and body again. She had to stay with it, didn’t she?

“She’ll live.”

They moved in silence for at least another hour before slowing to a stop. The sun was darkening the waters again. How long had Honour been passed out before? At least this time, she’d managed to stay awake long enough to get the lay of the water a bit better. She might actually be able to get them back to Reine, assuming she could secure an escape.

“We’ll camp here for night.”

The small battalion of Talon mers moved into a cave in the water, as if they’d known where it was the entire time. Perhaps they had. Honour made note of it and kept the information to herself. She didn’t want to alert them to who she was if they didn’t know.

Honour kept her mouth shut as she was pushed this way and that while they decided where she and Kyree were going to be chained up. She hated feeling like she was an animal, destined to only follow the commands of an ill-suited owner. She clenched her jaw as she was pushed back into a sharp rock that jarred her already bruised ribs.

Kyree finally settled next to her. Honour scooted as close as possible, chills setting into her body and wracking her this way and that. Still, she sat stoically and watched the Talon mer battalion make camp. They did everything wordlessly. They were well trained and well experienced with what was going on. Yet they didn’t wear the colors of Talon. Honour shuddered again, and Kyree bumped shoulders lightly.

“Are you cold?” Kyree asked.

Honour shook her head sharply, staving off yet another shudder. “It’s from the pain.” She kept her voice as low and as quiet as possible. While she didn’t care if the Talons heard this, she didn’t want them to know everything. There were still some things that she deserved to keep secrets about.

“You should have told me. The moss needs changing.”

Honour looked down at her side, at the moss that was no longer fluffy but soaked with sticky coagulated blood and flatted from the movement and day. “We don’t have any.”

“They could find some.”

Just barely resisting a snort of derision, Honour focused back on the battalion in front of her. “They don’t care enough for that.”

“They haven’t killed us yet.”

“Which is odd for a Talon battalion, I’ll give you that. Especially one that thinks they’re at war with us.” Honour stretched her tail out as much as she could, letting her fluke flap lightly. She didn’t want to be completely still, not yet. She wanted to keep herself awake long enough to figure out what wasgoing on, and perhaps secure them an escape. “Can you move at all?”

“No.” Kyree shuffled a little, but she didn’t make any progress.

“Can’t free a hand?”

Kyree shook her head, biting her lip in pain. Honour paused and waited for an explanation, but Kyree didn’t give her any. “Are you thinking of escaping?”

“Of course.” Honour narrowed her gaze back out on the battalion. “Aren’t you?”

“I don’t want to harm them.”

Honour guffawed. If she had to kill them to get out of here, then she would. King Pregtox could soothe things over with the Talon government after that. If he didn’t go into a rage first when he found out Soulara had been kidnapped by the humans.

“Did you see anyone before we were taken? Did you tell anyone what happened?” Honour focused back on Kyree, needing to know what was happening in the world.

Kyree shook her head. “You were so injured.”

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