Page 34 of Daring the Drakarn Warrior Lord
“Kind of the point, remember?" Her tone was dry. "You wanted to be visible."
"This is different." I couldn't explain it. Just a gut feeling that had kept me alive through too many dangerous situations to ignore. "I think someone’s tracking us."
Lexa followed my gaze upward. Her expression shifted from amused to alert. "I don't see anyone."
Who was it? Some minion from Karyseth? A warrior waiting to make his move?
We couldn’t stop to worry.
We started moving again, faster now. Drakarn warriors passed us going the opposite direction, eliminated from competition and heading back toward the gathering square. Some had ash marks on their faces. Others just looked defeated.
The Temple district loomed ahead. I could see the massive entrance carved into the mountain's face. Pillars thick as ancient trees. Symbols etched deep into stone. Heat crystals the size ofmy head embedded in the archway, casting everything in shades of fire.
And warriors. So many warriors.
They clustered around the entrance like scales on a dragon's hide. Senior warriors, judging by their size and the way they moved. Confident. Experienced. Ready to stop anyone who tried to pass.
"That's a lot of guards," Lexa observed.
"More than I expected," Vega agreed. She'd stopped at the edge of a market square that offered a clear view of the Temple. "We're not fighting through that."
"No," I said. "We're not."
Vega’s face grew serious, and I could see thoughts whizzing by in her eyes. She pursed her lips and then nodded decisively.
She met my gaze steadily, no arguments. "Give me two minutes. When you see the guards move, run." She checked her weapons one more time. "Don't wait for me. Don't look back. Just get inside and finish this."
"Vega …"
She moved before either of us could say anything else. She slipped into the crowd of spectators that had gathered to watch the Temple entrance. Her auburn hair disappeared among the larger Drakarn bodies.
Two minutes.
I used the time to curse up and storm and then study the side passage she'd pointed to before running off like a big damn hero. It was there, barely visible between two carved pillars. Dark. Narrow. Probably designed for servants to move supplies without disrupting ceremonies.
Perfect for sneaking.
If we could reach it.
Lexa shifted beside me, her weight balanced and ready. "This is a terrible plan."
"I know."
"We're probably going to die."
"We’re not going to die."
Movement at the Temple entrance. The guards shifted, attention drawn toward something in the market square. Voices rose. Not alarm yet, but curiosity.
Then Vega's voice cut through the noise, loud and challenging.
"Is this the best Scalvaris can offer? I've seen better guards at a freaking shopping mall!"
The effect was immediate. Warriors turned. Some laughed. Others bristled at the insult. Vega kept going, her voice carrying across the square.
"Come on! I'm one unarmed human! Surely someone here can catch me!"
She took off running.
