Page 33 of Grave Situation

“Thank you, but it’s fine. We have more important things to focus on.” Like how awkward this whole situation is.

He shrugs and crosses the room to a wall of shelves packed full of jars, bottles, and boxes. “It’s your decision.” That little quirk of the mouth again. “You’re the expedition leader.”

“Yes. I am. Er… I hope you’re packing light. We’ll only have one packhorse.” Does that sound like something a leader would say?

He nods to his pack sitting beside the door. It’s the kind I’ve seen Tia putting things in when she prepares for a few days away. Larger than a satchel, but not nearly large enough, if you ask me. “Those are my personal belongings. I’m also going to need to bring some medicines and other supplies, since we don’t know exactly what we’ll be facing. I can handle most healing without a problem, but you and your sister have somewhat of a reputation here in the healers’ academy, so I want to be prepared for anything.” He adds two bottles and a small silk pouch to an already half-full satchel.

My jaw drops with indignation. “Areputation?” I sputter. “What for? We’re not?—”

The look he gives me is enough to make me shut up. For a moment, I’d forgotten that he’s the one who saved my life when I thought it would be clever to leap out a five-story window andfall down the side of a mountain. And dragon riders are known for being reckless. There’s a whole team of healers on duty at their barracks, and Tia knows them all very well.

“We’ve matured,” I say instead. “And we both know how important this is. Important enough to ride horses.”

He turns to face me with a jar in his hand. “What’s wrong with riding horses?”

I groan. “Don’t tell me. You love horses. You think they’re the gods’ gift to humanity. You have one that you love like a child, and you can’t wait to spend however long riding the beast across half the continent.”

The lip twitch is back. It makes me want to rip his mouth off. “I do, in fact, have a horse and enjoy riding. I take it you’re not an equestrian, then? I’d better pack some salve for muscle stiffness… and something that will help a bruised bottom.”

Does that mean he won’t heal away my sore muscles? I refuse to ask. Somehow, I’ve lost control of this conversation, and begging for help isn’t going to get it back.

“I’m told you saw the stone this morning,” I say. “At this stage, it’s being somewhat closemouthed about the route we’ll need to take. All we know is that we’re heading south into Lenle.”

He stops packing, sets the satchel down carefully, and walks over to the window, looking out toward the dragons’ valley. “I’ve never had an experience like that before.” His voice is so soft, I almost don’t hear him. “When I looked at the stone…” He shakes his head. “Well. We may not know what the journey will bring, but at least we have the stone on our side.”

If he thinks that’s a good thing, he clearly doesn’t know the stone like I do.

“Yes. Definitely. On our side.” A chunk of rock and a dragon, both with attitude problems, both who hate me. That’s a great omen.

Speaking of people who hate me whose help I might need… I suck in a breath.

“I haven’t apologized to you yet. For… what I said. After you helped me. I-I… There’s no excuse. I’ve regretted my actions that caused the situation, and I regret that I didn’t show you the gratitude you deserve for saving my life. I’m deeply sorry.”

He’d turned to face me when I began speaking, and now he tilts his head slightly. “Thank you. Does that mean the offer’s off the table?”

The off— I remember my parting words to him yesterday, and for the second time in minutes, I sputter, and his laugh fills the room. It’s a truly joyous sound, and I’d probably appreciate it more if I wasn’t trying not to swallow my tongue.

“You should see your face right now. I’d happily save your life again just for this moment.”

“You’reevil,” I accuse, but I can’t help smiling. That was a good one, even I have to admit it. I shove down the tiny part of me that’s sad he was joking. It’s not like I could ever have let it happen. We have a mission. He’s a master, and I’m only a level-2 mage. And… and… I need to let this go right now, before I start coming up with reasons it would be a good idea.

“There needs to be no awkwardness between us,” he insists, still grinning at me. “The stone’s put you in charge of this vital job, and for some reason, it wants me to go with you. We have to be prepared to work as a team. That means leaving your asinine past deeds in the past.”

I want to argue with his use of “asinine,” but I don’t have any grounds on which to do so. I nod instead. “Agreed.” Briefly, I hesitate, then decide it’s time for some trust. “You should know—and so far, the only others who do are me, my sister, and my master—the stone can read my thoughts and communicate privately with me.”

Mild startlement crosses his face. “That’s interesting. And it’s going to prove very useful if we need directions but can’t risk having anyone see it. You’re right to keep it secret, though. There’s already quite a few grumbles about Master Samoine having possession of the stone now and you, his apprentice, being the one chosen to search for the champion. Let’s not kick the hornets’ nest any further.”

That’s sensible, which of course makes me immediately want to parade through the halls shouting the news to all and sundry. I squash that urge. It’s those kinds of urges that lead to me jumping out of windows. Well, the urges and copious amounts of unlabeled spirits.

“My main concern right now,” I confess, “is whether the three of us being chosen is some kind of symmetry thing—mage, healer, rider—or not.”

He nods slowly. “I had the same thought. The stone isn’t my area of expertise—we do some minor studies on it, but mostly, it falls in the domain of you mages. However, nothing I remember learning indicated that it had a penchant for symbolism.”

“Me either.”

“And if it did, why make the choices it did?”

I raise a brow. “You mean, why choose a level-2 mage, and a mid-rank dragon rider, then decide on a master healer so tremendous he has songs written about him?”

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