Page 111 of The Eye of the Fifth
Because she knew her little girl would not be able to keep the gift if they wanted to eat that week.
Kawai’s own smile faltered, replaced by guilt, as if he too were realising the same thing. But he shouldered the sack and walked into the harbour with Boony and Jak, ready to distribute the rest of their stolen goods and coin to the locals.
A warm, tingling sensation swept over Kyra’s skin as she watched him. Watched him smile at the locals as though they were his closest friends. Watched him playfully punch Jak on the arm. Watched the way his sculpted body moved-
‘You two have become close,’ Naal said, and though the statement was completely unsurprising, Kyra had quite forgotten she was even there. ‘Has he mentioned Kano at all?’
Kyra bit back her irritation. ‘He has mentioned him, yes. He knows we’re looking for him.’
‘I figured as much,’ Naal mused. ‘Do you think he will-’
‘Naal, stop,’ Kyra cut her off. ‘He won’t tell me where Kano is because I haven’t asked him to, and the only reason we have any sort of friendship now is because I dropped the subject. He just kept saying,Kano doesn’t want to be found. If that’s the case, why don’t we just let him be? He’s little more than a child anyway.’
For a long while, Naal was quiet. Then, in a muted, sad voice, she said, ‘Because this is far bigger than the wants of a young boy, Kyra. If there was a way to not involve him or evenyoufor that matter, I would do it. I resigned myself to being the Air Warden a long time ago. It is all I have ever really known. If there was a way to defend the entire world against Empress Azar and her southern armies on my own, I would do it. But alas, I cannot. As Wardens, we are duty bound to the mortals of Droria, to protect this sacred life the Four Mothers paved for us. That is why we cannot just let him be. It is not in his destiny to remain lost.’
Conflict battled in Kyra’s mind. How was it that both Kawai and Naal could both be right in their thinking?
‘I won’t manipulate him into telling me,’ Kyra said, for that was the only thing she was sure of.
‘You do not have to,’ Naal said gently. ‘I sense a great friendship between you, and a growing trust. Perhaps that loyalty to one another might be enough for him to understand how important it is that we find his brother.’
Kyra didn’t respond. Her gaze found Kawai once more as he, Boony and Jak made their way back to the ship. The sack in his hand was now empty.
Naal squeezed her shoulder lightly before walking away, and at that moment, Kawai looked up, as if he’d felt Kyra’s eyes on him. His face split into that devilish grin.
His easy charm was so mesmerizingly contagious. Despite feeling like she was toe-ing the narrow line of a moral conundrum, Kyra grinned right back.
???
‘Liar. Drink.’
‘I’m not lying!’
‘Boony, is he lying?’
Shooting Kawai an apologetic glance, Boony muttered, ‘Sorry, mate.’
Kyra slammed a triumphant hand on the barrel. ‘Ha! I knew it. Drink.’
Kawai scowled and took a great glug. ‘Jak, you go.’
Jak looked up at the sky with narrowed eyes, like he always did when he was thinking. ‘I have… I have…’ His shoulders slumped. ‘I can’t think of anything.’
‘It can be anything,’ Kyra encouraged him.
‘Yeah, I bet there’s loads you haven’t done,’ Boony said with a smirk.
‘Okay! I’ve got it. I have never been to Vrethian.’ Jak peered around at them with a certain smugness.
Kawai chortled into his tankard. ‘Oh, yeah. Good one.’
‘Thank you!’
Kyra rolled her eyes. ‘Sarcasm, Jak.’
‘Oh,’ Jak said with a frown. ‘Why?’
Boony replied, ‘PlayingNeversis s’posed to be exciting. Saying things you’ve never done. Not having been somewhere is just… well, it’s a bit-’
