Page 70 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
Something was very wrong.
Stuffing the book in her pack as well, she left the chamber. She’d come to Myrrai to find answers, and while not ideal, her answers were now going to come in the form of a sword and the King of Cerulene.
Chapter 14
GONE
Kase
NOW THAT KASE AND STOWE were out of the foothills, the landscape stayed flat, full of fields and farms being prepared for late spring planting. Every so often, they’d pass someone along the road, either walking or riding a horse—but with the stolen hover’s speed, Kase couldn’t tell if they were Jaydian or not. He could only hope the Cerls had left the country folk alone. The absence of motorcoaches was odd, but then again, he’d grown up in the capital, where people could afford to pay for the Yalvar fuel to run them. The main methods of travel outside the larger cities were livestock and carriages.
They’d only passed one carriage-for-hire. Kase didn’t know whether to take that as a good or bad sign. On the one hand, it could mean that Nar’s fall was an anomaly. On the other, maybe it was the only carriage that had survived some attack.
By the time Kase had worked through those thoughts, the carriage was already a mile back. He shrugged off the unease and pulled the Cerl blanket into his lap. He’d given up on trying to fly without it; the thing seemed to be infused with something to help with the chill that seized him every time he flew. It wasn’t simply that he stopped shivering when he put the blanket over his knees; it warmed him to his very soul.
A rather odd sensation—a feeling he could only compare to when Hallie kissed him in that dungeon. Full of sadness and hope and fire. He could almost feel her lips on his now, feel the burning deep within him and the passion that had simmered beneath the surface.
What was she doing now? Was she missing him as much as he missed her? Was she eating enough? Was she cold? Hot? Hurt? Sick? Would he ever see her again?
Would she still want him after spending so much time with Niels?
Blasting terrible that Kase liked the man. He thrummed his fingers on the steering control and peeked at Stowe. He wasn’t asleep, only gazing out at the flashing fields. Clearly, Hallie’s bubbly personality hadnotcome from her father.
Kase cleared his throat. “So, Niels. He’s a good guy?”
Something on the dash flashed weakly. Irritation flared, and he pressed it quickly. It flashed brighter in response. Nothing else happened.
Blasted contraption.
Stowe readjusted his sitting position. The leather creaked in response. “Known him since he was born. Good family. Should’ve made the Cerls pay more for what they done to ‘em.”
Kase gripped the steering control harder. The same light blinked again, faster. Kase opened his mouth, but movement on the horizon stole any words he might’ve said. Another traveleron the road; he could only tell because they’d been flying low in case he passed out again. Better to crash low than crash high.
So far, they’d been ignored by everyone they’d passed. So when the passerby turned and aimed a pistol at the hover, Kase had to wrench the steering control to try and get out of its range.
The hover veered sharply left, avoiding the man. The blanket fell off Kase’s lap.
Something smacked against the hover’s hull as Kase yanked it around, ready to fire on the assailant—only to find that he recognized the man holding the flashpistol.
It was the stupid blond who’d danced with Hallie at Laurent. Cornhead. His hair was white in the midday sun.
Sure, it was a Cerl hover, but what made the stars-idiot think a flashpistol would do anything besides irritate the pilot?
Maybe the name Cornhead was too generous.
As if in response to his thoughts, something on the hover dash beeped loudly and sprayed Kase with some sort of blue fluid. Kase slammed the hover brakes and sputtered through the thin liquid dripping off his eyelashes and nose.
Did—what—what just happened?
He quickly wiped his face and found Cornhead pointing the pistol back at the hover. He landed in a hurry and waved his arms at the man. “Wait!”
Not sure what Cornhead had expected, but that was not it. He let the pistol fall to his side. Kase released the windshield and stood, hands raised in the air. “You’re from Laurent, aren’t you?”
Of course, he already knew the answer, but he figured that was the best way to begin. No Cerl would’ve known about Laurent, being as small as it was.
When Cornhead didn’t reload the pistol and fire, Kase took a fuller breath and climbed over the side of the cockpit.
Cornhead’s hand twitched, and Kase threw himself down just before the pistol went off. His chin pounded the dirt, and hisjaw ached; one moment later, and the bullet would’ve been in his head. He felt around his teeth with his tongue. None missing or knocked out of place.
