Page 26 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
‘So itwasme you were dreaming of, then…’ He couldn’t help but grin at that.
Her gaze shot to his, alarmed. ‘I didn’t say that.’
‘You said plenty.’
Her hand flew to her mouth. ‘I didnot—’
‘Not with words,’ he teased. ‘And don’t worry… I certainly don’t object to you dreaming of me. It’s preferable to you trying to kill me in my sleep.’
Drue seemed to gather herself. ‘I’m just waiting to see if you have your uses.’ The movement caused her shirt to slip slightly, revealing the delicate tattoo he’d noticed before he’d left the tent. In dark blue ink was a series of simple flowers caught in a breeze, trailing across her shoulder blade. She hurried to cover it up.
‘And what happens when I’m no longer useful?’ he asked, dragging his eyes from her bare skin to her hard stare.
‘Then I’ll carve out your heart myself.’
‘Figures.’ Talemir sipped from his cup, allowing the hot liquid to warm him from within. He glanced at her, noting her fidgeting beneath the blanket. ‘What is it?’
She met his gaze and seemed to mull over her words before speaking at last. ‘Why haven’t you told Wilder about… your condition? Surely he’d make a better confidant than me?’
Talemir rubbed the back of his neck, an ache of tension starting to build there. ‘If you recall, I didn’t exactly choose to confide in you, did I?’ he said, words clipped. ‘But Wilder… As I mentioned, he’s been through a lot. And he’s a much newer Warsword than I. His indoctrination to the guild, his loyalty to Thezmarr, they’re all so heightened. He might try to kill me on sight.’
‘Perhaps I should tell him about you after all.’
‘Some days I’d agree with you,’ Talemir admitted. ‘But if he did that… I don’t think he’d forgive himself, even knowing what I am.’
Drue was quiet at that.
‘On that cheerful note,’ Talemir said, making for the exit, ‘I’ll leave you to get ready… And to your dreams of me, of course.’
She threw her empty mug at him.
The general,Adrienne, had given Talemir and Wilder permission to hunt before they started their ride. Though they answered to no one but the Guild Master of Thezmarr, Talemir had always found it decent to respect whoever was in command where they were stationed. Wilder didn’t always agree with that sentiment, but luckily, there was no squabbling this morning because he was content with the outcome. Adrienne had tried to insist that they’d be disappointed, that the game within these woods was sparse and near impossible to catch, but Wilder had waved her off.
‘Nothing is impossible for a Warsword,’ he’d called, and Talemir had nearly snorted, recognising the comment as something he’d told the young man long ago.
In fact, he’d said those exact words to Wilder upon his passing of the Great Rite as he attempted to capture and tame his Tverrian stallion… Talemir and Malik had stood watching and drinking on the mountainside while the freshly initiated Warsword chased the majestic horse across the valley, lassoing his lead rope and cursing as the beast evaded him time and time again.
‘Do you think we should tell him it works best to corral the poor thing uphill?’ Talemir had asked his oldest friend.
‘Nah.’ Malik’s enormous frame took up the entire rock he leant against, his grey eyes bright as he tracked his younger brother’s movements. ‘He’ll figure it out. Eventually.’
‘You’re a mean bastard,’ Talemir replied.
‘Takes one to know one.’ Malik offered him a flask. ‘What d’you think he’ll name it?’
Talemir took a long swig, wincing at the harsh burn down his throat. ‘You mean if he ever catches the poor creature?’
Malik huffed a laugh, not taking his eyes off his younger brother as Wilder made another lunge for the horse. ‘Yeah.’
‘Oh, he’ll go for something grand and heroic, no doubt.’
‘I thought as much too,’ Malik said with a roguish grin and a raised brow.
Talemir recognised that look. ‘What do you have in mind?’
Malik gave an innocent shrug of those giant shoulders. ‘Only that we get a say.’
Together, the friends sat, getting drunker and drunker as their young comrade fought to earn his Warsword mount. When at last Wilder captured the stallion and brought it to heel, he approached them proudly, face flushed.
