Page 183 of The Spider Queen
Virbius grinned. “Walking silently is how I bested you.” He bowed in Thane’s direction, but when Thane took a menacing step toward him, Virbius shrank back.
“We should continue on,” Virbius stated, swallowing his fear. He glanced at me. “Are you ready to keep moving?”
I shook out my arms and legs. “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”
Virbius handed me a chunk of leaves. “This will keep you going.”
I took it and brought it to my nose, giving it a sniff. “What is it? It smells like rotten eggs.”
“Exactly.” Virbius grinned.
“I don’t get it.”
“Virbius climbed a tree and found a bird’s nest. They’re the ones with all the colorful plumes. That”—he pointed to the putrid leaves in my hand—“is a part of the nest.”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I said, gently setting down the leaves on the log.
Virbius dashed forward. “But you must eat it. It will keep you full for days.”
“There is nothing in the Desert of the Forgotten,” Thane added. “And you’re still human.”
“You are?” Virbius asked, his eyes gleaming.
“Forget it,” Thane snapped at him. “She’s changed most of the way, but there are still some parts of her that remain from her old life.”
“What parts?” Virbius asked in curiosity.
I looked at Thane, curious too.
“Her heart.”
I frowned and absent-mindedly rubbed my chest.How? I chose you.
Part of you did, yes. Not all of it.
So I am divided.
For now.
“Stop doing that!” Virbius snapped. “I feel left out!”
“Youareleft out,” Thane stated dryly.
“Thane,” I warned. Virbius was our guide—our only hope of getting to the desert before it was too late. We didn’t have the luxury of pissing off a forest troll.
Virbius glowered, but his expression brightened when he looked at me. “You really should eat that.” He pointed to the soggy mess that was losing its shape and in danger of sliding off the log. I thought about letting it fall but realized dirt wasn’t going to make it taste any better.
With great reluctance but surprising fortitude, I managed to choke down the nest.
“What’s it taste like?” Thane asked in amusement he wasn’t even bothering to conceal.
“Like wet dog hair mixed with foot odor.”
“And how do you know what those two things taste like?”
“Shut up, Thane.”
The day turned to evening, and when the sun set, the three moons ascended the sky. The Cerulean moon was still the highest and the fullest, but it looked like it was waning. One could only hope.
