Eleven #4
“I’m not a hero,” I said, as the insect rider continued to study me. “I’m barely hanging on as it is. But I know what you’re
trying to tell me, Kysa. And yes, the day may come when I have to make that choice. But I’m going to fight it for as long
as I’m able. I don’t want anyone to sacrifice themself for me. Not if I have a chance to change that fate.”
Soft footsteps interrupted us, and Kysa stiffened. Raithe appeared, walking around the tower and stopping a few paces away.
He had, of course, been deliberately loud, wanting us to hear him approach. I knew that if he didn’t want to be noticed, he
could move as silently as a shadow over the ground.
“Suns set is about an hour away,” he told us as the insect rider observed him coldly. “It might be a good idea to move out,
put some distance between us and the town before nightfall. The closer we get to the border of the Dead Lands, the better.”
Kysa nodded stiffly. “Agreed,” she said. “I will get Rhyne ready. It won’t take long. Where is the Fatechaser?”
“Still sleeping,” Raithe answered with a wry smile. “If you listen, you can hear him dreaming about the Desert Rose House
in Tahveena.”
Kysa rolled her eyes. “I will take great pleasure in rousing him, then,” she muttered, then looked back and forth between the pair of us. “I assume you’ll be riding with Sparrow now, iylvahn? Since your dragon unfortunately perished while we were fighting the statues.”
“If she’ll allow it,” Raithe said, glancing at me. “I could walk, but that will slow us down. And I’m guessing you don’t want
me riding with you and Rhyne.”
“You would guess correctly,” Kysa said, and strode off, dark hair swaying behind her.
I winced and walked up to Raithe, who watched me approach as if he still wasn’t quite certain where we stood. “How are you
feeling?” I asked. “Are you going to be okay, riding Ratuk?”
He nodded. “As long as you don’t have him jumping off rooftops or bouncing up and down, I’ll be all right. This isn’t the
worst injury I’ve endured.” A wry grimace crossed his face. “At least I don’t have to worry about flying with Rhyne. I’m not
certain Kysa wouldn’t ‘accidentally’ push me out of the saddle when we’re a few dozen feet in the air.”
“I could talk to her,” I offered. “She didn’t see what you did back at the village. Maybe if she knew, she wouldn’t be angry.”
“She’s not angry.” Raithe sighed. “She just believes I can’t be trusted. The Scarab Clan are a proud people, and they do not
forget. For centuries, they remained in hiding because they feared the Deathless King who enslaved them would try to claim
them again. They swore they would never again bow to a Deathless, even if it cost them their entire existence. I am the servant
of a Deathless queen. I’ve killed for her. I’ve taken numerous lives because the queen ordered it. Kysa knows this.” Raithe
made a small, sad gesture. “In her eyes, I am little better than the ma’jhet.”
He tried to hide it, but in that moment, the mask of the kahjai slipped.
For a heartbeat, I saw the glimmer of regret that a once-trusted friend and ally now considered him an enemy.
Kysa and Raithe had fought side by side and had shared the mutual respect for fellow warriors.
The insect rider had always been truthful with Raithe, not sparing his feelings, and he appreciated her honesty.
Her coldness toward him was affecting him more than he wanted to let on.
“In any case, it doesn’t matter.” Raithe straightened and stepped closer, his eyes suddenly intense in the dimming light.
“I can’t change what Kysa thinks of me,” he murmured, as one arm rose, his long fingers gently brushing the side of my face.
“But as long as we’re okay, I can endure anything. Your opinion is the one I care about the most.”
A yelp echoed from inside the tower, and I assumed Kysa had made good on her promise to rouse Halek. Raithe shook his head
and lowered his arm, and the warmth that came with his touch faded. “One more night,” he murmured, gazing up at the darkening
sky. “And then we’ll be out of the Dead Lands. I never thought I’d be so eager to leave our original homeland.”
The pain in his voice clawed at me. I touched his arm and smiled when his gaze flicked to mine. “This was never your home,
Raithe.”
“No.” He returned the smile, his expression soft. “You’re right. And I should be grateful that I have a home to return to.”
A furrow creased his brow, shadows of regret dancing in his eyes. “I only wish I could have saved yours.”
I slid my hand down his arm to take his hand.
“What happened to Kovass wasn’t your fault,” I said.
“And maybe we’ll still have a chance to, after we get the loom piece.
” Once more, the knowledge of what waited for me at the end of this journey hovered over me, overwhelming and terrifying.
I shivered and closed my eyes. “I have to go back to Kovass to face him sooner or later.”
He took my other hand and pulled me closer. “You won’t be alone when you do,” Raithe promised.