Page 51 of Of Nightmares & Fire
“I hope that you are,” he says, and the brush over the back of my hand from his thumb causes heat that has nothing to do with the sun to bloom into my cheeks. I pull my hand from his, and he looks back at me with an indiscernible look on his face.
“I didn’t think that we would be stopping at a village so soon. If we are close to the palace at all, don't you think this is the first place that my father will look?” I ask.
“No. I don’t. Your father is, if anything, predictable.” He says, and I snort a laugh, earning another look from him, but I roll my lips. “Do you disagree?”
“No, actually, I agree fully.” I tell him, and his eyes narrow in a way that feels like he is trying to piece together a puzzle, and the puzzle is me.
“Anyway, we are currently in the opposite direction of where we are eventually headed. I figured this would be the last place your father would look. Seeing as my brother and I are gone with the coveted princess… he would think we have taken the direct path toward Diemos.” I think on that for a moment as we walk, humming my approval of that statement. I know he’s right. My father will put two and two together. He already had suspicions raised after the few times Kyros spoke out on my behalf.
The small village is quiet as we stroll right into the center of it. No one pays us much attention as they go about their day, harvesting from their small gardens near the waterfront. They make baskets from dried palm fronds, and others are cooking in outdoor kitchens. The sweet and savory mix of aromas wafting toward us makes my stomach growl in response. Regardless, I close my eyes and take a deep breath of it.
Children are even happily playing in the sand and in the shady areas below the bundles of palms. A small smile is brandished on my face as I take it all in. Such a stark difference to what I experienced in my brief time trekking through the outer rim of the city I called home. Kyros acts as though he has been here a thousand times, taking no notice of any of it. I watch the ruthless man walk through paradise like it is nothing until he chances a glance at me, catching me staring.
“Do you have something to say, Shula?” He asks, that same narrowing of his eyes on me. Never out of anger, but that curious consideration.
“Have you been here before?” I return a question, and he looks away from me as he answers and keeps walking to what I now see is a tavern near a marsh. It extends into the larger body of water just beyond.
“My duty to the queen of Diemos and my training have required me to travel broadly. This oasis is one I have come to many times.” He drawls out as though he is bored.
“Why would you need to come here?” I ask incredulously, just as we reach the stairs leading to a wooden wrap-around deck. It's one of the only mostly wood structures as far as the eye can see. One side of the building is wood, halfway over the water and on stilts; the other is made of sandstone, just as the other small dwellings.
The door bangs open just as a woman hobbles out. Frail, white-haired, and keen golden-brown eyes. Her tanned skin is weathered and wrinkled as the most parched leather, but when she slams her cane down, her knobby fingers wrapped around it so tight they blanch, and she curses… It catches me by surprise.
“Fuckin’ divine, it’s about time ya showed yer face. What were ya hopin’ I’d kick the bucket before ya made yer way back? Ya damn well know I’d be one of those ghosts they tell stories of. Comin’ to haunt yer ass if ya didn’t come finish those jobs I ask’d ya to the last time ya were here.” My eyes round as she rips into Kyros with her words and then flash to him to see his reaction. He is unmoved. One eyebrow quirks up, and he looks at her pointedly.
“It’s good to see you too, Mortala.” The corner of his mouth slides into the hint of a smirk just as the woman’s cane comes whistling through the air toward Kyros’ head. He catches it in his fist, his lips curling into a full grin. Mortala must notice me rearing back at her caning Kyros and turns her sights on me. My shoulders nearly touch my ears, and my hands are clenched in front of me, wrung tight.
“Who’s the girl?” She barks, not addressing me, but asking Kyros instead. Kyros looks at me for a long moment, his brows drawn as a million words cross his eyes. Hesettles on one.
“Sienna.” He finally says, which tells me this woman may not be as close as she seems to my travel guide. It seems to be enough of an answer for the woman, though, and with that she snatches the cane away from Kyros with a grunt and strides back through the door she so hastily exited.
Kyros places a hand on my low back, guiding me to follow Mortala. Walking through the doorway, I am hit with a plethora of scents, ranging from savory to sweet or a pungent, rancid sour, making swallowing noticeably harder with how parched I am. The whole lower level seems to be laid out like a tavern. Although along one of the longest walls, it is an open balcony. Plants in clay pots line the border with green. Vines trail from the covered deck, and flowers hang from baskets in the corners. The colors are richer than those of the only other tavern I had to compare, or maybe it's just the paradise beyond that makes everything just appear more vivid. I don’t realize that I have wandered until I reach the railing and lean over to look at the waters below the wooden deck.
“I have to go to one more place before I settle in for some rest.” I jump at the sound of Kyros’ voice, spinning around to face him. “A little jumpy, Shula?” His eyes flick from my eyes to my mouth and then back. I fold my arms over my chest.
“No.”
“Mm.” He hums in that way that sets my skin on fire. “Well, while I am gone, Mortala has been instructed to ensure you are fed, hydrated, and shown where you can bathe. I’m not sure when we will be able to stop like this again. Take full advantage of it. I won’t be gone long.” He says when I open my mouth to say something,the way his eyes drift over his shoulder makes me narrow my eyes on him.
“Am I safe here?” I ask, following where his eyes just swept.
“We won’t be safe until we are back in Diemos. Even then, you are a princess from a foreign kingdom. The danger will be there too, but with me, you are safe.” He reaches into his belt and pulls a small dagger from a hook, and I look at him confused as he presses the handle into my hand. “Always be prepared to defend yourself.”
“I—Kyros, I don’t know how to use this.” I admit quietly, feeling the heat creep into my cheeks with every word. Verbally acknowledging the fact that I am weak, a burden, causes shame to fill my chest, and I look down at the small knife.
“Cut with the sharp end for now. We will go over more on the road. I won’t be gone long, and you are safe enough here.” He says, and I nod. “Stay out of trouble.” He runs his thumb across the back of my hand that he still holds with the knife. I swallow as I watch him walk away. As soon as he has disappeared, I stick the blade into my pocket. It feels like an anchor weighing me down.
“Sienna, is it?” Mortala says coming from a back room and a swinging door. I nod. “Well then, here’s yer food and some water. Never have seen The Hawk bring such a meek girl around.” I shrug my shoulders and sit on the stool at the bar where she placed a plate of colorful and steaming food. I have to fight the urge to use my hands and shovel the food into my mouth like a barbaric oaf. I settle on licking the salt from my lips before I take a languid drink of the water.
“Thank you,” I say breathlessly as I finally set the water down, trying not to choke as my throat reacts to finally being able to properly swallow.
“Ain’t no mind, I’m bein’ paid. Eat up and I’ll walk ya to tha’ bath house.” She says before hobbling back through the swinging door and leaving me alone again.Great, not even a proper bath.
Chapter thirty-six
Kyros
Drabek’scawmakesmylips curl up as I reach the far end of the water’s edge. His shadow brushes over me like a welcomed hello as he flies overhead. The enormous black bird lands on my shoulder while his low grunts of adoration sound off in my ear. I chuckle back, giving him a piece of raw meat I snagged on the way out here.
