Page 117 of The King of Koraha
“They’re nothing. Small things.”
“Tell me or I’ll pluck them from your memories.”
He growled. “That’s cheating.”
“I don’t care. Nobody is one dimensional. Tell me the rest.”
His jaw tightened, but then he wilted under her fierce stare. “Those vagrant kids were going to be the death of me. The Water Prince didn’t care how old they were. He wanted us to use the kids to force the parents to divulge the locations of their communes.” Rendor detailed all the things he did to keep the kids safe. And that triggered other memories.
Once again Shyla didn’t react. Didn’t exclaim over his efforts to help the kids. Didn’t interrupt.
Eventually his recollections focused on the time when he first met Shyla. “Huh.” Then he fell silent.
“Huh?” she prompted.
“After I met you, I didn’t…”
“Didn’t…?”
He huffed at her. “I stopped being Big Brute.”
Finally! Still she prodded. “What about those vagrants that were captured while I was missing?”
“I couldn’t torture them. I assigned Yates to handle the interrogations.” He straightened and there was a contemplative softening to his expression.
Shyla cupped his cheek. “Big Brute is part of your history, but he’s gone and that’s when I started falling in love with you, Rendor. Knowing your history hasn’t changed my feelings for you at all. Because I know deep down”—she tapped his chest—“you’re no longer Big Brute.”
Rendor pulled her into his lap and hugged her tight. His confession wasn’t going to make everything better, but it was a step in the right direction. And thinking of directions, they needed to decide what to do next.
Quite content in Rendor’s arms, she mulled over what they’d been discussing.
“If Xerxes knew I couldn’t counter the King’s magic, why did he want to recapture me?” she asked.
“He wanted to use you to enslave everyone around the King. Xerxes is confident he can assassinate him.”
And that reminded her. She told him what she’d learned about the King’s water magic and how it kept them all alive.
Rendor released her and stared at her in shock. “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
“My brain was cooked, and we can’t do anything about it—we’ve both been recovering. Besides, the King’s magic is powerful and Xerxes doesn’t have me. Plus the King will have plenty of warning. Since Xerxes waited here for me, the messenger will arrive in Qulsary well before the commander.”
Rendor’s horror increased. “Xerxes killed the messenger.”
Now she understood his alarm as it rose within her as well. The King had no idea Xerxes was coming.
Sixteen
Shyla didn’t realize how much she’d been counting on that message getting to the King until now. It was the worst possible news.
Surging to her feet, Shyla said, “We have to warn the King. We need to leave now.” She bent to pick up her water skin, triggering a wave of dizziness.
Rendor grabbed her waist to keep her from toppling. “You’re in no condition to travel.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“It’s twenty angles until darkness.”
“If we go at double time, we can reach the next travel shelter before it gets too cold.” Shyla tried and failed to break his hold. Either he had an iron grip or she was still very weak.
