Page 9 of The King's Man
Even God was not that cruel.
So, I pushed the whole thing from my mind and focused on the task at hand: Find Gall. Find Istral. Get them, or news of them, straight back to Melek.
That’swhat I needed to be thinking about.
3.Single Focus
~ JANN ~
With only two of us, and both motivated, we made good progress. Diadre was an excellent rider. She knew her way through the mists so we weren’t slowed by navigation. And she didn’t complain about the rigors of travel. Still, she remained a pain in my ass.
Except for basic warnings or instructions when changing path, we didn’t speak for the first couple of hours. I was frustrated, unable to stop hearing her accusations about my eyes, how they hadn’t changed, and what that might mean.
Was I truly irredeemable? Or only cursed? Or was it a simple bloodline issue, like Melek had assumed?
Still, we made good time. We kept the horses at a steady lope with breaks to walk and catch their breaths. During one of those slow stints, she turned in her saddle to look at me over her shoulder.
“Are you going to scowl the entire trip? I thought the broody demeanor was more Melek’s style.”
Startled out of my dark thoughts, I blinked and grunted a wordless disapproval.
“You know, the growling is really only effective if you bare your chest—”
“Would you pleaseshut the fuck up.You don’t know me and are determined to see the worst no matter what I do. I see no point in playing your games.”
Her lips pursed and her eyes flashed. “I wastryingto tease you out of your funk, Jann. Travel is far more enjoyable when companions get along. But forget about it. Let’s just ride and get this done.”
She turned forward, shaking her head and muttering curses under her breath that werejustloud enough for me to catch the odd word.
Like prick.
And asshole.
I sighed and clawed a hand through my hair, arguing with myself about whether or not to soothe her, but when she gathered her reins like she’d kick the horse into more speed, I called after her and she hesitated.
“I was thinking about where all of this might take us. Where it might takeme. I am… upset about what’s going on, wondering about the future, and tired.”
She didn’t turn around but spoke loud enough for me to hear her. “We’re all tired.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
Her horse’s head rose as she pulled him to an abrupt halt and twisted in her saddle, gripping the cantle to keep her body turned to face me, her mouth open in apparent shock.
“Did you just… apologize?”
I rolled my eyes.
She grinned. “Maybe there is a heart beating in that broad chest after all.”
I locked eyes with her and growled. “It’s not the only thing about me that’s broad.”
Her head tilted as if she sympathized. “I know, but I wasn’t sure if you were insecure about your ears. I was trying to be polite.”
Well, fuck.
She laughed and I was stunned by the sound. She laughed like a man—throwing her head back, enjoying it with her whole body. I was so accustomed to women giggling or turning coy, it was a disconcerting.
“Since you deign to speak to me, now… when will we fly?” she asked, her humor quickly replaced by apprehension.
