Page 85 of Artemysia
How the hell did everything fit in here? I look at Riev, who’s done packing and has everything folded neatly back where it should go. He’s moved on to tacking his elk. My pack is stuffed to the brim, and half the tent is still spilling out. From the corner of my eye, I see the look of scorn forming on his face.
“How did someone so messy and disorganized become a captain so fast?” he says smugly to his elk in mock conversation as he applies her eyedrops.
“Throg!” I call out.
“I’m on it.” Throg rushes to my side, dumps out my provisions pack, and refolds the tent.
“This is how.”
Riev strides over to watch, arms folded across his chest in disapproval—yet he stands close enough that his booted shin bolsters my hip to support me as I squat over my belongings.
“I give Throg all the credit for keeping me organized. That’s right, I have flaws.”
Riev lets out a sound between a snort and a laugh, and I can tell he’s about to say something snide, so I grab a handful of dirt and press a dirty fingerprint on the toe of his carefully polished boot.
Ivy covers her mouth to hide a shocked snicker.
“You asshole.” Riev pulls out a handkerchief and folds over to clean his boot.
“If you need something to do, go pick the elks’ hooves before we take off.”
“You’re a mean captain.” He pivots on his heels to attend to the elk.
I bite back a grin. I would have never guessed a man like him would have so much emotional depth and honesty or be capable of such intimacy as we shared last night, as lovers do. Emotional intimacy, like none I’ve ever experienced before. Why is the chemistry so effortless with some people, even when you don’t want it to be?
Am I reluctantly bonding with him because we had sex and I can’t separate it out?
Either way, I can only hope no one else can tell that everything has changed between us.
Disaster descends immediately.
Once we remove the slab of rock securing our cave, muted daylight streams in. I lead my elk out first. Riev follows, and at the same time we lock eyes with an armored Syf mounted on an unfamiliar species of steed about fifty strides ahead of us.
He’s alone. Regal and tall, he stares back, motionless, except for a phantom wind blustering through his dark chestnut hair and the rosy gold wings draped behind him.
He wears a crown of fiery opals set in rose gold.
I’ve never known Syf to ride elk, and his steed is unlike any I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure it’s an elk at all. The animal’s head is big and bulky, its body thick and stout. It’s shorter than an elk, and there are no signs of antlers. Colorful banners drape its hindquarters.Violet, blue, green, gold, crimson.
This Syf is dressed much differently than those I’ve encountered before. Sophisticated. Cleaner, brighter, in finer green silks under his well-made armor of pale gold, embossed with elaborate patterns. Most Syf wear clothes that look as if they hadn’t been changed in days, ill-fitting and likely stolen.
Riev doesn’t care about the details. He’s already charging at full speed, his feet pounding the earth. His sword is unsheathed and held out behind him, ready to launch in the air to strike once he’s close enough.
The Syf’s mouth moves. He’s saying something, quietly, and makes no move to draw his weapon.
I already see what will happen.
In a panic, I swing onto my elk and gallop at full speed, overtaking Riev. I leap off in a flying dismount, land on my feet, and drop to a sliding kneel ahead of him. I swing my two blades overhead, catching his sword. He stumbles sideways, tumbling when he’s thrown off balance. He didn’t expect my attack and bellows a string of curses at my betrayal as he rolls back up.
I stand between him and the Syf.
“What the hell are you doing, Delphine? Get out of my way,” hesnarls, his nostrils flaring like a wild animal about to lose it.
“Stop, Riev! Please, if you ever listen to me, listen to me now. We’re all going to die if you don’t stop.”
At my words, Syf shift out from behind every single tree around us, all mounted on their steeds. Hundreds. Many have drawn bows, a weapon they rarely seem to wield.
When I glance back at Throg and Ivy, my heart skips. Syf spears point at them from every direction.
