Page 62 of Blood and Fate

Teague had returned to handing out tents, but he called after them to Satori, “Don’t let him put me on rocks or in a swamp.”

Satori called back that she would do her best while Kais let out a stream of exaggerated evil laughter, the sound doing things to Satori that she fought to ignore.

She followed Kais just outside of what seemed to be the village limits. Other men were already there, erecting their tents. Kais moved a bit away from the rest of the men and stopped, looking around.

“This good?”

“This is fine. Thank you.”

He let the packs fall and dropped to his knees beside them, pulling the smallest one close. He began untying the ties and unwrapping the green canvas.

“May I help?” She didn’t like standing there and watching him do all the work.

He paused, turning his head and looking up at her sideways and squinting as the sun shone into his eyes. “Have you ever put up a tent before, Your Highness?”

She placed her hands on her hips. “No, but I can learn. I’m fully capable of mastering whatever I put my mind to, I assure you.”

He studied her for a moment, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “I don’t doubt that, Princess.” He inclined his head to the ground beside him. “Please, join me.”

Satori lowered herself to her knees beside him, and he handed her the still-folded canvas. “You unwrap this, and I’ll build the frame.”

Kais stood and began pulling poles apart and pounding them into the ground, hooking them into each other. Beside him, Satori unwound a long strap and stood to give herself more room. She pulled the folded fabric apart. When she found two corners, she took them in her hands and heaved, flapping the tent open.

This tent was even smaller than the one she had slept in before, and it occurred to her that it certainly wasn’t large enough for a cot. A shiver rushed through her at the thought of sleeping on the ground. She hoped Kais had enough of those blankets.

“Okay.” Kais turned toward where she stood, holding the tent and waiting. He brushed his hands together and beckoned her toward him. “Ready?”

She moved forward, pulling the canvas with her. He reached down, took the opposite end, and tossed the whole thing over the frame. Then they worked from the sides, pulling the ends down and securing them. One last piece of canvas was stretched over the ground.

“We have extra blankets for us. Then when we leave, we’ll leave them here,” Kais said as he stepped back to survey their work.

A thought occurred to her, and she turned to face him. “How will you go back? Back across the river?”

He turned to her. “No. Well, yes. We have to go back across the river, but we won’t take the crossing back.”

“You left the horses and other things on the other side of the river.” It was a statement but it was also a question. How would he get his things back?

“Just as another group of our men collected our horses from the opposite shore, another group will deliver us fresh supplies at a town farther downstream,” Kais explained. “When we leave here, we’ll travel downstream and collect the supplies. Then we’ll travel on until . . .”

His words seemed to falter, and she caught the thin line of regret before he seemed to bury it.

“Well, until we deliver you home, Princess.” He took a quick breath and bent down to snatch up the second larger tent, which he began to build not far from hers.

Home. The thought of seeing her Father warmed her, but then another face pushed into her mind, and she shook her head to rid herself of the image.

Beside her, Kais, mid-way through lifting a tent pole, paused, his head snapping toward her. “Satori?”

She opened her eyes to see the concern in his gaze. “What?”

He let the tent pole drop to the ground with a thunk as he stepped in front of her. His knees bent just enough so he could look her in the eye. His voice was as serious as she had ever heard it. “What were you just thinking about?”

There was no chance she would tell this man her deepest secrets, bond or no bond. She shook her head. “What are you talking about?

He studied her for another moment before giving his head an exaggerated shake once.

“No, there was something. You were scared. It’s the same as that night . . .” His voice trailed off, and his concern burrowed into her chest, making it hard to keep her breaths even.

“Satori.” Something like a subtle warning edged his words, and he reached out, a featherlight touch of his fingers sweeping over her arm. “What is it that scares you like that?”

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