Page 147 of The BoneKeeper's Daughter

“Then the horse, the saddle and tack–”

“And?” he asks, prompting me, letting me know how much more room I have left.

“And…an extra bedroll, and maybe….an extra ration of food a day.”

His eyes narrow. “You drive a hard bargain, Keeper. I…I cannot do the extra ration. An extra bedroll, though? “

“I get cold?” I almost squeak, trying to keep my intentions quiet.

His grin is the sun rising after the Storms.

“Done,” he says, surprising me when he chooses a small, glittering blue stone from amongst the larger ones. “He’s yours to name and keep. It has been, and I mean this from my blood, a truly unexpected pleasure.” He pauses, grinning down at me. “And I haven’t forgotten I owe you a secret.”

Raising a brow, I tilt my head and smile back. “Oh, no need, Rider. I have your secret already.” Color drains from his face, real alarm flashing in his eyes at my words, but it fades as I mimic his earlier movement, locking my lips and throwing away the key. “You’ll find I’m a treasure box, too, Rider,” I murmur, and he nods slowly in reply.

“Atrulyunexpected pleasure,” he repeats, but this time somber, and much more serious.

As he walks away, I wrap my arms aroundmyhorse’s neck, and smile from my soul.

BARTERING

WREN

Yesterday had ended on an odd note. After my conversation with Teo, I’d approached Kylabet cautiously and asked her to take me for an audience with her brother. Her mouth had twisted into a knowing smirk, and she’d sighed.

“Finally.Are you giving up?”

“Giving up?”

“Yes. This whole–” She waves her hand around at me vaguely. “I don’t know. The fighting him thing. It would make the trip back so much easier.”

“Ah. No. I wanted to ask him a favor.”

“A…favor?” Her face was incredulous. “You have a death wish.” Raising a single brow, she studied me, finally shrugging carelessly. “Well, it’s your life I suppose. I’ll take you tomorrow.”

“We…is he unavailable now?”

“SoulBinder, despite what you may think, I don’t purposefully like getting people killed if I can help it. So I can take you now if you push the issue, and you can learn how to breathe without a head attached to your body, or you can simply thank me for my unenthusiastic help, and walk away untiltomorrow.”

Her tone was bitingly dry, but for some reason, I had to fight to keep from grinning at her, and to keep my tone level when I answered her. “As I value the rise and fall of my chest, I thank you for your unenthusiastic help, and I’ll be ready when you call tomorrow.” I’d caught her just as she was sipping from her flask, and she’d coughed for a good minute at my reply

“I get such little entertainment here, Binder.Thisshould be good,” she snorted, and waved me away.

Today all traces of amusement are absent though, her face stone. Since the moment she arrived at my tent she has been a taut bowstring; even now, walking across camp, she keeps looking back at me like she wants to speak, but says nothing, so I silently trail her until we are standing in front of a massive tent, bone masked guards on either side. I can’t help but notice how quickly they straighten as Kylabet approaches the entrance, though they weren’t lax before, now they are nocked arrows.

“He’s inside?” She doesn’t ask; somehow it is a command more than a question. The sentry on the right nods sharply without speaking.

“And?”

The guard on the opposite side glances at her before jerking his face forward again. “I’d risk little today, if I had the option.”

She nods, sighing. “Ever forward, I suppose, though the fields be wet with blood.”

The one who had spoken warns softly, “Careful with your footing, Commander.”

“FlankCommander. Eyes front as always. No entry after me.”

“Yes, Commander.”

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