Page 17 of The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
“Why?”
“I had nothing else to do.”
My eye twitches and I try to keep the rage building in my chest hidden. He has a sword, and apparently has no qualms about running it through another teg, so I hardly expect him to keep the pointy end away from me.
“Well?” he says, after we stand in barbed silence for a moment.
I swallow, my throat dry. “Well, what?”
“It’s usually considered polite to thank someone who has done you a good turn.”
“A good turn?” I repeat shrilly. “You didn’t intervene until I was almost eaten!”
“And you’re very welcome.” He holds his arms wide and sweeps into a teasing bow.
“I don’t take kindly to being mocked.”
“Mocked?” His dark eyes widen. “You mistake me for the pwca.”
My mouth drops open and I’m silent for a beat, until I explode. “So why didn’t you help sooner?”
He holds his hands up in surrender. “I was entertained. Though, admittedly, I don’t quite understand what your plan was. You’re clever enough to solve his riddles but stupid enough to need to prove it.”
“I’m hardly stupid if I bested the pwca.”
“Ibested the pwca.” He takes a step toward me. “Youanswered some riddles and almost got yourself killed.”
“I bested him intellectually.” I twitch.
His eyes roam over my face, his lips parting slightly. My lip curls.
“What was that?” He mimics my twitch. “You’re like a rabbit.”
“Don’t copy me,” I snap. “And don’t call me a rabbit.”
“But what is it?”
“A twitch.”
“I haven’t seen one with that before.”
“Yes, well, happy to be an interesting specimen.” I back away. “I’ll be going now.”
I stride away from him, hands fisted at my side.
“The road is the other way, rabbit,” he calls. “But I should warn you—Ah, never mind.”
I pause beside the pwca’s tree and take a deep breath, my shoulders rising to my ears. I shouldn’t indulge him, but I’m still too curious for my own good. I glance back.
“What?”
“Nothing. You’ve made it clear you don’t need my help—maybe you can best Y Lle Tywyll intellectually as well.”
The Dark Place. My sister’s destination. I turn sharp on my heel and storm back toward him, fists still clenched.
“How do you know about that? Have you been spying on my conversations?”
“You make me sound so sinister,” he says indignantly. “I lost you near the river. I picked up your trail again because you and the pwca insisted on making your little debate rather loud. Regardless, everyone knows about Y Lle Tywyll; it’s all the teg have talked of since it appeared.” He shrugs. “But if you meant ‘How do I know that’s where you’re headed?’ that’s because you’re human, and humans are always ready to throw themselves into danger for our favor.”
