Chapter 36
I wasn’t happy. After the deal Dion and I’d struck, I’d waited patiently for about an hour.
When he finally came back, he was in such a rush that my headache flared up even worse than before.
He forced me to hurry out of the room and placed me on the horse in record time without saying a single word, as an explanation or otherwise.
He was radiating so much doom and gloom that it made me sick to my stomach, and the other men wore grave faces as well.
It was as if I’d stumbled upon a funeral, but I didn’t dare to ask in case someone they knew had actually died.
Of course, nobody explained what had happened that had them all in a mood.
What annoyed me the most, though, was that they’d also rushed me through my goodbyes to Rewi and Bryon. A brief hug, a few sentences, some exchanged promises about meeting again real soon, and they’d been gone. My heart hurt, and the way no one cared about my misery made me livid.
“You could have granted me the hour I’ve spent alone in the miserable bedroom to say goodbye to my friends,” I snapped at Dion as he steered his horse toward the main road.
“You’re right, and I apologize for my oversight.”
I’d already selected some choice words and insults to use on him, but Dion’s answer made me swallow them all. Instead, I wasn’t able to stop blinking. “You—what?”
“I apologize.”
“Oh.”
Chewing on my lower lip, I pondered on what to reply, but I couldn’t think of a fitting reaction to this rare apology. He’d thrown me completely off course. Instead of dwelling on what in Immaru’s name had just happened, I steered the conversation in another direction. “We’re taking the main road?”
“Yes.”
Ah, one-word-answer Dion was back. Couldn’t say I missed him.
“Is it safe?”
“Nayana, there’s something you have to get into that pretty head of yours. No matter where we are, even if we are forced to parade before the king himself, you’ll safe with me. Nothing will harm you as long as I’m here protecting you.”
Something had happened, I was convinced of it. I ignored the warm tingles that had erupted on my skin as I listened to Dion’s declaration and went into interrogation mode.
“You’re keeping something from me.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me—please.”
“No.”
Oh, how I loathed this man. “You’re keeping me in the dark all the time. I hate it!”
“Pity.”
Well, that sarcastic ass would suffer for this, I’d make sure of it.
“Dion! Spit it out.”
Dion then sighed as if the whole weight of both worlds rested on his shoulders—well, on second thought, maybe it did—and leaned closer until I could feel his breath tickle the shell of my ear.
“Have you ever considered there’s a reason for us not sharing everything with you?
And that said reason is because it’s safer for you not to know for the time being? ”
“I don’t care if it’s safer. There is no need to coddle me and keep me in the dark all the time. I’m not some kind of delicate flower that can’t stomach to know what’s going on.”
“You may not care, but I remember very well that you’ve agreed to let me decide about all things concerning your safety. So no, Nayana, you’ll have to accept that I’ll keep facts from you that are inconsequential to you, no matter how much of a wild weed you are compared to a delicate flower.”
Whenever Dion used the term inconsequential, I wanted to strangle him or at least throw something hard against his head.
And at the moment, I also wanted to push him off the horse for his stupid play on words.
Irritated, I scratched the persistent itch under my collarbone. “Sometimes you are insufferable.”
“Only sometimes?”
“Oh, shut up.” The movements of the horse didn’t help my hangover at all. “We’re riding fast.”
“Will you stop it?”
“It was just an observation.”
“Keep your observations to yourself for a while.”
“What if I don’t? Will you resort to dirty tricks to shut me up again?”
Oh gods, I hadn’t said that, had I? I’d sworn to myself I’d bury the cursed kiss deep in my memory and never even hint at it again. Well, didn’t that work out splendidly?
“If it’s the last resort to silence you, you’d leave me no other choice. But since we are in a hurry, I prefer you’d do the smart thing for once and stop pestering me with all your questions.”
“Well, and I’d like you to share what you’re keeping from me, but I guess we’re both not getting what we want, Dion.”
Something vibrated behind me, and it took me a moment to realize that Dion was laughing out loud.
“What’s funny now?”
“You, Jama.”
A spark of irritation smoldered inside me like kindling, but I couldn’t bring it over myself to shoot back.
Dion laughed so rarely—although his laughter was a beautiful thing—and I was almost proud that I’d coaxed the sound out of him.
“Well, if you refuse to tell me why we’re traveling as if the underworld will swallow us if we don’t, share at least something else. ”
Dion had stopped laughing, but he still sounded amused. “What do you want to know now?”
“Why do you call me Jama?”
My question was met with silence, and I could almost feel him grind his teeth.
“Something has come up that has moved our timeline from urgent to critical. We need to get to Amalach as soon as possible. But it has nothing to do with you. It’s just that our absence from duty is taking longer than expected, and it’s not being taken kindly. ”
This trick was one I needed to keep in mind. “You’re deflecting.”
“Yes.”
“Dion. Why?”
“Because if I have the choice to share a secret that doesn’t involve you or one that does, I’ll always choose the former.”
“You’re really obnoxious.”
“I know. You’ve told me often enough.”
“So, you’re in trouble?” I switched the conversation back to what he’d confessed to me. One day, I’d find out why he called me Jama, but now, I concentrated on what mattered at this moment.
“Not instantly. If our superiors find us—well, then that might be a different story.”
“Can’t you explain why you’re absent? Surely trying to save the worlds is a good enough goal.”
“Since we don’t know yet if we’re out to save the worlds or throw a wrench into someone’s plan we have no clue about, doing so might bring worse consequences than ignoring the summons to return to the capital.”
“Rewi and Bryon are on their way to Ivreiana. Do you think they’re in danger?”
“No, they’re not—stop fidgeting. You only annoy me and the horse.”
“How can you be so sure? We have to warn them!”
“And you wonder why I didn’t want to tell you about it.” Dion sighed so profoundly that I was able to feel his chest move. “They know enough. Fig asked them to try to get some information about what’s going on in Ivreiana.”
I chewed on my lower lip, and since I was unhappy about the fact that Rewi and Bryon might be in danger, I groaned. “So, that’s it? You’ll all be deserting from the army?”
“Something like that.”
“Do you know if your superiors will try to find you?”
“The question is not if, but how long it’ll take for them to start looking for us. I know you’ve already found out about Fig being a high-ranking general. That’s why his absence leaves the area of deserting and moves it right into treason.”
I took a deep breath. “Treason.”
“Yes—and that includes Antas and me as well. Thain and Ireas might get away with desertion, but considering we’re all together, it might not save them.”
“Save them? And why Antas and you?”
I had to push Dion for more answers while he was so open, as I was worried about the men I’d grown fond of—maybe even considered them family.
“Antas isn’t on active duty anymore, but he’s a member of the Royal Council.”
“Holy shit. You all must have been extremely amused when Bryon said he wanted to get a pardon for me with a royal favor, considering who you are.”
“Mmhmm.”
“What about you?”
“Jama, you’re too curious.”
“Alternatively, you could still choose to tell me why you call me Jama, Dion.”
“Wicked woman.” His chuckle vibrated through me, and I could tell that despite everything, he was amused by me.
“I have the rank of Field Marshal.”
Stunned, I remembered to close my mouth just a few seconds too late. “Field Marshal?” I knew little about the army, but I’d heard the term before and knew this title was damn high. “Isn’t that like second in command?”
“Yes.”
“Shit.” Dumbfounded, I turned my upper body to stare at Dion. “Why aren’t you in charge here?”
“Who says I’m not?”
“But Fig—”
“If you fell for the ruse, so would everyone else.”
I groaned. Why didn’t I see something big like this before? If I’d ever paid attention when people talked about the army, would I have recognized the men much earlier? How deep was this rabbit hole?
“Aren’t you too young for such a position?”
“Who cares about age when magic is involved?”
“The king knows that you are Wielder?”
“Of course.”
“Treason. Definitely treason.”
“Told you so. Will you keep quiet for a while now?”
I was stunned and turned back into a more comfortable position. I had a lot to think about. Everything Dion had told me made sense and answered at least some questions, but I couldn’t shake the feeling I was still missing something big. Something important.
We stopped for the night later than usual and stayed close to the road.
The men agreed that the merits outweighed the risks.
We’d lose too much time searching for a more remote resting place.
Instead, Dion decided we’d have two people on night duty at the same time—because yes, he’d taken over from Fig as leader.
I still had a hard time wrapping my head around this revelation.
I offered to take a shift as well, but Dion and his raised eyebrow turned me down.