Page 10 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

All the more reason to take off as soon as I can. I don’t want to take their resources when we’re only at the beginning of what’s sure to be a long winter. They can barely afford to feed themselves.

Harek reaches for my hand, and just before we make contact an orange light glimmers faintly—it’s so light I wonder if it’s my imagination. I desperately want to find powers, after all. He doesn’t seem to notice. Must be wishful thinking on my part.

“Have you been crying?” He helps me to my feet.

“It’s hard not to.” I sniffle.

He wipes a tear. “Then you definitely have to eat.”

“Okay, but then I need to leave.” I glance back at my palm, which isn’t lit up in the slightest.

“I’m going with you.” He squares his shoulders.

I give him a double take. “No. I’m going alone.”

“I won’t let you.” He stares me down.

“But you need to stay and help your parents.”

“I should see you through the woods to the nearest human settlement. It’s dangerous out there, and I know the land like the back of my hand.” He glances at it. “Wait, when did I get this wart?”

“What?”

He grins. “I’m kidding. Let’s eat, and then we’ll start our preparations.”

“I really don’t want to pull you from your family. Your parents need you to hunt before the weather gets really bad.”

“I’m going with you. You’re not changing my mind.”

“You’re stubborn.”

“As always.”

I should be grateful my best friend wants to come with me on this adventure, but the timing is terrible. His parents really do rely on him to get through the harsh winters. Not only that, but if he travels with me, it’s going to be hard to keep my secret from him.

We really don’t keep anything from each other.

Though if the idea of me being a halfling freaks him out, he’ll likely hightail it back here and be able to help his parents catch more food. That would be good.

“I hate that you’re hurting so much,” he says. “I’ve never seen you so quiet. Though actually, itisa little nice. Usually, I don’t have the space to think around you.”

I shove him.

He laughs. “There’s the Eira I know and love.”

“You said there’s stew?”

“It’s almost done, but we should start planning our journey. I don’t know what you have in your two bags, but I’m sure it isn’t enough. Do you have a weapon?”

I shake my head. Not unless I’m a weapon, but obviously I can’t tell him that what’s inside me might be my best defense. I check my palm again.

It’s slightly orange.

My heart leaps into my throat, and I hide my hand quickly. I’m not imagining that. It’s real. My palm is orange.

A skittering noise sounds outside. It’s just on the other side of the wall.

I practically pull a muscle in my neck as I turn toward it.

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