Page 82 of Stealing the Star Stone
“Khepan, ensure they reach the temple.”
The old man bowed and headed toward Zal, who’d sat up dead center of the pool, his brow furrowed in confusion.
He climbed out of the water, met her gaze, and knelt.“My thanks.I will fulfil this task, my chief.”
Amenkar flicked a dismissive wrist, as done with this day as she was.“Use the yuxmets.Midnight is soon.”
“Come with, Frederik,” she said.
He stared at the translator then smiled.“I must stay.”
He was too big to force, so she said, “All right, then ask for raw quet.One bite will open your mind to their language.”
His eyes widened.“We didn’t know this.”
She shrugged.“Ms.Blake stumbled on it.”She offered Eli her hand.A little jolt was more than bearable if she could keep him near, needing the comfort.
He hesitated, his focus on the sparks skittering over his body even though they’d faded.
“After everything we’ve seen, this bothers you?”She arched a brow.
He huffed and laced their fingers.“How’d you feel if you were short-circuiting?”
She held his gaze.“Calm like you,” she said.
Bigeeli steered them into a covered alcove, shoving their garments at them.They were damp but wearable.Clean was clean in Nova’s book.Unraveling the loincloth took moments, and when she peeled on the cargo pants, a sigh escaped.It was good to be covered.Socks and boots hadn’t dried fully, but she didn’t care.This part of the adventure had to end, and dilly-dallying because of laundry would be stupid.
If only she’d had a cup of tea.
Clothed, armed, and ready, she marched to where Zal waited.Without a word, he led them up and out of the sunken palace.The night was darker than expected with the waning submoon.
When she neared the top, she froze.“The stone,” she gasped.
“It is in my possession,” Zal said.
Relief slumped her shoulders, and she hefted the bag to settle it better.Eli grabbed the rifle.And behind him, the crowds reformed in trickles.Her stomach gurgled, reminding her she’d turned down the offer of food multiple times.
“Protein bar?”Eli suggested.
She flashed him a tight smile, dug into the bag, and pulled one out.“Wanna share?”she asked.
“All good,” he said.
She chewed through the bar while they reversed their steps until they reached the pillars lining a path to the lake.But Zal and his men veered left and stopped at a sand-covered building.
The stench was…indescribable, so bad that her nostrils burned.She covered her nose and blinked the tears from her eyes.
A rumble preceded the schlurping of a long-haired animal lumbering out of its shed.The closest she could compare it to was a giant rhino.Its brown-gray hair was matted and covered its face, a wet nose peeking out.A girl hurried toward them, leather reins in hand.
Nova froze, sheer horror churning the undigested protein bar.She shuddered.“Iamnotriding that.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The moon, Lethara
Leaving Vael’Tir.
Onto the back of a beast and into the darkness of hope.
