Page 102 of Trial of Thorns
Her bitter chuckle echoes behind me. “You are not at all what I expected.” Her soft voice is nearly lost in the breeze as I walk down the path.
I do feel a tad guilty for leaving her in this condition, but if I did more, she’d be a liability. I doubt Drake’s betrayal is bad enough to make her change sides, even if we were able to recuperate her. And in order to win, I need less competition. She can’t continue. This is the best I can do.
Around the bend, my stomach drops as two forms come into view.
My heart pounds wildly, hand already gripping my sword, until I realize its only Rev and Tyadin. I raise my eyebrows, forcing my body to calm—not a threat. Not yet, at least.
I keep my eyes cast low, avoiding their studying stare. How much did they see? Hear? Anything?
“It was safer to hide through the portal,” Tyadin answers my unvoiced question. “Besides, those sprites tickle.” He shivers.
I nod absently and walk past them, through the stone archway. The air around me buzzes and shifts until comforting shadows cover me. I pull in a long breath.
Home.
Tyadin and Rev follow silently, and when I take the southern pathway at a run, they follow.
Rev
Ican’t keep my gazefrom jumping toher.
Our feet pound heavily on the dirt pathway, curving through the dark forest. She takes the lead, presumably knowing where she’s going—or at least pretending to.
This is her homeland, so I assume she’s at least vaguely familiar, regardless of how long she’s been away. At the very least, these shadow sprites are happy to help her.
I watch her hair, more silver than blond in these shadowed lands, swaying as she sprints. Her fingers curled into fists, the tension in her shoulders obvious.
I have no idea what to make of this girl. My enemy. My brother’s murderer. Beautiful and powerful and... kind? She’s everything I never thought she could be.
She went back to a fallen foe and... helped her. For no reason. For no gain of her own. She admitted to an enemy that dying by my hand would be a fitting death.
What in the world does that mean? I can’t even imagine it.
Does she wish to die? I suppose I could understand that. She doesn’t seem to be overly proud of herself, although she clearly wears indifference as a shield. Perhaps Tyadin is right, and it’s all an act? Perhaps beneath her steely exterior, she’s as broken as I am.
Or perhaps this kindness is an act. Maybe she knows I am still a threat and wants me to lower my guard.
