Page 52 of The King of Koraha
“You told me. Many times. One of the side effects of the drug.”
“I don’t remember anything after you… How did you find me?”
“I’ve been watching for you. I figured when you escaped you’d either leave near angle zero or after the danger zone.” He settled on the floor next to her. “I was just about to go inside when I heard you cry out.”
She looked at her palms. They were dotted with red blisters. If she hadn’t burnt her hands, she would have died out there. A shudder ripped through her over how close she’d been to joining the Sun Goddess.
Rendor wrapped his arms around her and crushed her to his chest.
“…can’t…breathe…” she gasped.
The pressure eased, but he didn’t release her. “Don’t scare me like that again.”
“I’ll try not to, but some things are beyond my control.” Although from now on she would taste just a sip of water before gulping it down no matter how thirsty she was.
“I thought I’d lost you.”
“But you knew I’d escape. You even saidwhen, notif.”
“I know. That’s why I waited and didn’t take on an entire monastery full of monks. It’s just…” He released her and rubbed a hand over his face. “I feel like this…us together…is just a dream and that I’m going to wake up soon and you’ll be gone and I’ll be…”
“You’ll be what?”
“Alone again.”
“Like when we were apart in Zirdai?” A knot formed in her throat.
Rendor had left the Invisible Sword because he had suspected there was a traitor and he’d wished to recruit the prince’s guards to switch their loyalties without letting the traitor know. A smart move that had saved many lives but had broken her heart. She hadn’t realized how much she loved him until he was gone.
He curled his fingers into fists. “No. Like most of my life.” He stared at his knuckles. “A big bruiser who didn’t want to go into the family business. Who, according to my father, would rather punch and stab things. Who was disowned at sixteen circuits old. Then, in the guard, it was too cutthroat to make friends—everyone was either trying to stab you in the back or was terrified of you stabbing them in the back. Pride was linked to promotion. Being good at your job. Being the best. But it meant being alone.”
She covered his clenched hands with hers. “You’ll never be alone again.”
“How can you promise that? You’re not invincible. You almost died from the heat.”
“True. But you have the Invisible Swords. You have Hanif and Kaveri and even Jayden. They would all welcome you. Find a place for you.”
“Not without you.”
“No. You’ve earned their love and loyalty. That’s all you. Not me.”
He shook his head.
“Yes. They’ve forgiven you, Rendor. Now you need to forgive yourself.” But she might as well have been talking to a stone statue.
“What happened at the monastery?” he asked, pulling his hands away. “You were gone for three sun jumps.”
Three? Wow, she really had exhausted her energy. She knew he was trying to change the subject, but what else could she say to convince him of his worth? Instead, she told him about Lonato and Xerxes’ plans. By the end, he was pacing and cursing under his breath.
“With that extensive operation, the coins have all been spent,” he finally said. “We won’t be able to get any back.”
“That’s not our biggest problem. We need to stop the monks and Xerxes.”
“With what?” He halted. “You exhausted yourself countering Lonato’s magic. We can’t fight an entire monastery or a merc company. We need soldiers and the King doesn’t have any coins to pay them.”
“Nintri’s Water Princess has guards. Surely she would lend them to the King to help. She could take the cost out of the next round of taxes.”
“And you have the authority to make that arrangement?”
