Page 146 of The BoneKeeper's Daughter

“It seems like rain is coming, Ellie,” I begin slowly, and she nods.

“And lovely if it does, Keeper. It will cool things off.”

“I would…I would feel more comfortable if you were to share my space. Rain in our land is not something…it would be a favor to me. Which you are free to decline.”

Ellie and Teo wear twin expressions of astonishment.

“I’m sorry, Wren,” he says. “Are you…inviting Ellie to stay in your tent with you?”

“Will it get her in trouble?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“Not if it is for your comfort…” he says slowly.

“Is there an extra bedroll for her?”

“They would not give her one.” He is frustrated, but smooths his voice at a gentle, brief touch of her hand on the back of his own. “You’d have to ask Axton, Keeper, which I couldn’t in good conscience recommend doing…andit would have to be foryourpurposes.” He heavily stresses the words, and I nod in understanding.

“How would one go about doing that?”

“Talking to the BloodLetter? For you?” He and Ellie exchange a quick look that holds an entire conversation. “Go through his sister. Only Kylabet. No one else.”

“I don’t think she cares for me much, Rider.”

The expression on his face lets me know that I’m not far off the mark, but that there’s no other choice, and he doesn’t answer me.

Ellie glances back and forth between us. “Until I have word, I’ll just work on your things, Keeper. If you let Teo know what the BloodLetter says, I’ll go from there.” She moves away, then pauses, looking back. “You…I hope you don’t mind, and it’s a compliment, but you’re not exactly what I expected, BoneKeeper,” she says, before turning and scurrying off.

Teo stares after her, face inscrutable. “She’s uncautious, Keeper,” he whispers, almost to himself. “It makes it difficult to keep her safe.”

Trying to distract him, I pick up a brush to groom the tired horse in front of me. “Rider, how does my horse get a name? I feel ridiculous continuously calling it ‘horse’.”

He glances down at me, a small smile playing on his full lips. “Well. Only the owner can give him a name — andit’sa he. A gelding, too gentle for most purposes. Too gentle for me, anyway, so I’m not sure what to do with him. I only brought him along because my usual pack horse pulled up lame right before this adventure.”

“Oh! He’s yours? He’s magnificent.” I can’t help the longing in my voice.

“He’s almost useless to me, Keeper.”

I scoff, offended formy mount. “Useless!”

Teo grins. “He’s unsteady in the smell of blood, Keeper. And we are the People of Blood. So you can see why, for me, he’s useless. A good horse, yes, but…perhaps, perhaps you would be willing to help me, and take him off my hands. I will sell him to you.”

Happiness, like a spark, singes my heart, but then dies out. “I have nothing of value to give you,” I reply sadly, but Lorcan laughs, catching my attention.

We’re not in the mountains anymore. Open your pouch and offer him a gem. Just one, mind you. The way they value things here, that is fair and more than fair.

I would have thought you’d be against me getting a petI snark back, and can almost feel him roll his eyes in response.

Not a pet, Little Keeper. Gods above and below. A mount. A way to escape.

Teo clears his throat respectfully. “It’s strange,” he says. “I canalmostseeyou talking to them. Whichever you are speaking to now is clearly your favorite.” He says the words casually, as though he is making conversation, but a cold shiver goes down my back, and I grab the pouch from my hip, trying to distract his narrowed eyes.

“I’ll offer a single stone in trade.”

He tilts his head. “I don’t deal in stones, Keeper, but I’d take a favor at a later date. Nothing huge, of course.” He cannot hide the hunger in his voice. He wants the promise of a favor from me, but is trying to hide it.

Just pour them into your hand, WrenLorcan commands, and I follow his direction, suppressing a smile at Teo’s response.

He whistles through his teeth in astonishment, then bends over my hand. “Stones?” he asks, incredulous. “Stones?” Laughing, he pokes at them with his finger. “I’d be robbing you to take evenoneof these for a horse.”

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