Page 71 of Blood and Fate

“I can assure you, I have never been hunting.” Her head tilted, and a small smile played on her pink lips. “But I think I might like to.”

Adalyn jumped in front of Kais. “Can I come?”

Kais laughed and reached down to ruffle her hair. “I’m afraid not, Bug. You stay here and hold down the fort until we get back.”

The girl’s face fell, her bottom lip protruding slightly, but she didn’t argue. “Fine.”

“Good girl.” Kais dropped into a crouch before her, tapping one finger on the hand holding the whip. “You keep practicing. We’ll try to hit some pinecones again before I leave, alright?”

The frown disappeared, replaced by the kind of seriousness only a small child could muster. “I’ll practice the whole time you’re gone.”

Kais stood back up, eyes on Satori. “Ready, Princess?”

She nodded and offered Adalyn a smile. “Good luck.”

“You too,” Adalyn said. “Uncle Kais is a good teacher. I bet you shoot a hog!”

The last word came out in a child’s sort of growl, and Kais laughed.

“Well, we won’t shoot anything if we never leave.” He held out his hand for Satori to go first. “Princess?”

Satori began moving toward the tents. As they walked, she turned to him. “May I ask a question?”

He turned his head toward her, angling his chin down to meet her eyes, pausing just a moment to take in the deep brown color. “Of course.”

She stared up at him through her lashes. “What’s a hog?”

The laugh punched out of him before he could stop it or make her think he was laughing at her.

“Forgive me, Princess.” He placed a hand over his heart. “I’m not laughing at you. It’s just Adalyn. Sometimes she doesn’t use proper terms. I didn’t expect you wouldn’t know what she spoke of.”

“I know what a hog is?” He was glad to see slight amusement in her eyes and no offense at his laughter.

“You do.” He caught his breath and cleared his throat. “A hog, Your Highness, is a boar.”

“A boar?” she repeated. “Is that what we’re hunting?”

They made it to the tent Kais shared with Teague, who was already there gathering his things.

“I don’t think I’ve said good morning to you, Princess,” Teague said as he strapped a quiver of arrows across his back, his long coat nowhere to be seen. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Teague.”

“Yes,” Kais spoke, answering her previous question. “Boar, deer, squirrel, fox, bear... Whatever crosses our path.” He shrugged, ducking into the tent to retrieve his things.

“Turkey, pheasant, rabbit...” Teague offered.

“Bear?”

Kais remerged with his bow and arrow. “The bear isn’t nearly as concerning as the boar.”

“The hog?” she joked, and Teague laughed.

“Yes, the hog. Stay out of its way if we see one. They’re mean and dangerous.“ Kais held his large knife out in her direction. “Take this. Don’t be afraid to use it.”

She reached out, wrapping her slender fingers around the large handle of his blade. Her fingers curled softly but firmly around the black stone scales. His mind began to wander and he shook his head slightly, lifting his gaze. He met Teague’s eyes, and the other man stood, watching him, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Kais glared. Teague understood him far too well. The other man just shook his head, a smile pulling at his lips.

Teague held out his hand. “Give me your canteens. I’ll go fill them.”

---