Page 54 of The Eye of the Fifth
‘I liked it.’
Irritated, Kyra looked at him. There was nothing but calm innocence in his expression. He pushed his floppy dark hair back with a hand, and it flopped back down into exactly the same position. ‘I think I’ll risk the mer,’ she said blandly. ‘You can have your cabin back tonight, I’ll sleep on deck.’
She meant it as a dismissal, but to her utter dismay he ignored her and laid down beside her withanotherexhale, placing his hands behind his head as a cushion. When he’d finally wriggled into a comfortable position, he asked, ‘So, how do you know the Air Warden?’
Shit.Well, that was Naal’s cover blown. But then, shewasfamous. Was it really a surprise that people would recognise her face, even without the great wings at her back?
Kyra shifted a little so there was more space between them and clicked her tongue. ‘What is this, a courtroom?’
‘I’m just making conversation.’
‘Be curious about your own affairs, not mine.’
He laughed. ‘I’m an open book. Ask me anything.’
‘Alright,’ Kyra said, grasping the opportunity. ‘Where are you from?’
‘Loros.’
She’d deduced as much by his light Lorish accent and the even tan that tinged his golden skin. ‘What island?’
‘Blythtrie.’
Kyra’s eyebrows lifted. ‘You’re from the capital?’
‘Unfortunately,’ he said grimly. ‘I haven’t been back there in two years though.’
‘Why?’
‘Family troubles.’
‘I see,’ she said, then added quietly, ‘I know the feeling.’
‘Ah…’ he breathed. ‘Another broken child from another broken family. Welcome to the club.’
Kyra snorted. ‘Fun club.’
‘Oh, it is,’ Kawai said seriously. ‘We drink. And drinking helps.’ A slight pause. ‘I say ‘we’... it’s actually just me.’
Kyra smiled softly at that, glad that he couldn’t see her face. He was sweet, funny and charming… everything she’d wished the men in Avaldale could have been.
Amidst it all was a wariness she couldn’t shake. Earthling men had very scarcely shown her kindness, either looking upon her with pure hatred, or with a sickening sort of lust, as if she were some forbidden fruit.
She’d learnt the hard way not to trust a man who so plainly showed her the latter.
Kawai was perfectly friendly, but he was still a man. She wouldn’t trust him. Not unless he gave her a real reason to.
Though to her surprise, she found herself wanting the conversation to continue. It was a great deal less heavy than talking to Naal. ‘So,where have you been the last two years?’ she prompted. ‘Gallivanting the open seas?’
‘Indeed,’ he said, ‘This ship is home now. Damar doesn’t like me very much. Then again, I don’t think he really likes anyone. But he’s put up with me for years and I’m the best raider theThilenehas ever seen.’
‘And so humble too,’ Kyra remarked, almost certain that the comment earned her another grin. ‘What makes you so good?’
Kawai lifted his head, checking to see if anyone else was in earshot. Then he rolled onto his side to face her, propping his elbow up for his head to rest on his hand. ‘They wouldn’t want me telling you this,’ he said in a slightly quietened voice. ‘But like I said, I’m an open book.’ He winked and Kyra resisted the urge to roll her eyes. ‘I’m a salir. I get in, I get what we need, I get out. By the time the target realises something is missing, we’re long gone.’
‘Ah,’ Kyra said. ‘So, you’re a thief.’
Kawai shrugged. ‘If that’s what you want to call it. But we don’t steal for personal gain. We steal from those who have too much. The capital doesn’t know what being poor means. We sell the things we steal on the Black Market in Blythtrie, then give what coin we make to the poorer islands.’
