Page 121 of Death of the Glass Angel
“Well, thank you.” Des bowed her head gratefully.
“Mhm.” He winked at her and pulled out his flask. As he raised it to his lips, Des noticed his fingers trembling. The man hesitated before gulping the liquor down like his life depended on it.
Des watched Dinu saunter away, wondering what he was hiding. He might have the world fooled into thinking him a worthless slob, but Des thought otherwise.
Tucking the bottles into her satchel, Des meandered through the camp, scanning the tents and carriages for familiar faces.
She gravitated toward Talon without thinking. He sat on a rock near Chief Heras’ tent, back turned but ears perked up, listening.
“I’m cutting my losses.” He announced as she approached. “I’m going scouting tonight. Want to come?”
“Just what do you mean by ‘cutting your losses’?” Des sat on a rock opposite him.
“You’re going to follow me, so I might as well bring you from the onset.” Talon leaned forward. “It’s nothing exciting. Just making sure no one’s following us, or lurking in the passes.”
“A good idea.” She rose abruptly. “I’ll see you later, then.”
“Leaving already?”
“I have time to get in a nap, don’t I?”
Talon breathily laughed, and Des stopped and stared at him for a moment, tracing the lines of his face. She could study him for hours and never find a flaw.
Worse, he noticed her lingering stare, and his smile shifted to a smirk. Sticking her chin up, she marched away.
Brand walked between her and solace—the last person she wanted to see. Their meetings had been unpleasant. Small wonder he acted the way he did; powerful and handsome, he likely always got what he wanted.
“You and that merchant seem close,” Brand noted, brushing a strand of red hair from his eyes.
“He’s my guide,” Des said shortly.
“And yet I’ve never seen him before.”
“Is that so surprising?” Des moved to step around him.
Brand intercepted her, leaning in. “There’s more at play here than you understand. If I were you, I’d trust nobody.”
“Oh, and you’re looking out for me, are you?”
“It would be a shame for such a pretty face to come to harm.” His eyes narrowed. “Paulus and that woman with him—they’re hiding something.”
Des glanced around, finding the green-eyed prince beside a roaring fire. But Lady Mela—Valkyrie—was not with him.
“The two of them have been strangely interested in your court mage. Or maybe they were looking at you.” Brand leaned back. “Don’t assume you’ve found the hand holding the blade—you’ll lose sight of the steel.”
Des swallowed, watching Heras’ eldest son depart. Either Brand was lying, trying to throw her off track.
Or there was merit to his words.
* * *
By Yesharu, it was cold. Accustomed to the warmth of Thuatia, morning frost did not agree with Des. She wrapped her cloak around herself as she followed Talon, shivering under its folds.
This hike up a narrow mountain pass did little to warm her frigid bones.
Talon paused, leaning over a cliff and peering into the gloom. “Here should be a good spot, but. . .” He trailed off, scanning the pass. “I don’t see anything. Not for a long while.”
“And we just keep watch here, then?” Des asked, joining him at the edge.
