Page 75 of Knight from the Ashes (Crown and Crest 1)

It’s not until he raises it to his mouth that I realize what he has. I curse under my breath as I retreat.

“Well?” Clover asks when I return. “What’s it doing?”

“It has your tent,” I tell her. “He’s currently mouthing it like a dog.”

“What does it want with it?” she asks, horrified.

I toss my hands in the air. “How should I know?”

“Maybe it will take it and go,” she says hopefully.

Slowly, I nod. “Maybe.”

If not, we’re in for a long night.

* * *

Clover and I sit back-to-back,both of us near dozing. I’m armed with my sword, and she has her bow. Pranmore and Bartholomew sleep as she and I make sure the aynauth doesn’t tire of the tent and search the area for its owners.

It’s been hours, and if my bleary eyes are not mistaken, the eastern horizon is beginning to lighten. Birds are already starting their chatter, so morning must be approaching.

Clover jolts suddenly, and then she shakes her head.

“Sorry,” she murmurs.

“Go back to your bedroll,” I tell her. “I’ll keep watch.”

“I couldn’t sleep with that thing down there. And besides”—she yawns—“I vowed to protect you.”

I snort out a nearly silent laugh, enjoying her company more than I should.

“What do you think it’s doing now?” she asks. “I haven’t heard it for a while—maybe it left?”

“I’ll check.”

After I creep to the ledge and look over, I hold in a groan and lower my forehead to the rock.

“Henrik?” Clover asks, crawling up to meet me. “Are you all right?”

“It’s not gone,” I mumble. “It’s asleep.”

22

Clover

Needing to see for myself,I peer over the edge of the cliff we’re currently trapped upon. Sure enough, the aynauth is curled up on the ground, holding the ripped-up tent like a beloved blanket.

“How long do you think it’s going to camp down there?” I ask Henrik.

“I have no idea.” The soldier pushes himself up to his feet and then walks back to his bedroll.

I trail after him, uneasy. “Are you going back to sleep?”

“I don’t know what else we can do.”

He stretches out on his bedroll, and I hover close to him. “What if it wakes up?”

Henrik cracks one eye open, smirking at me in the dark. “He’ll only wake if you start talking in your sleep again.”

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