Surprisingly, the driver chuckled. "A fair complaint, I suppose. Let's not fight here. You're far too pretty an opponent. Pay for the ride and we'll both be on our way."
"We're not thieves, and the Dominion is the rot, not the solution to it." Kestra lowered my sword. "Return his ring, and I will pay you for our travels with this."
I knew what it was, the ruby necklace from her mother, Lily. I mumbled a no, but I doubted that anyone heard me.
"Agreed." I heard the ring drop, and then the satchel dropped beside me. I clutched the handle, dragging it close to my side. Kestra immediately handed over her necklace, and the boot was removed from my chest.
She added, "In exchange for that necklace, you both must promise not to tell anyone you've seen us here."
The men gave a halfhearted agreement that they'd probably break after calculating what the Dominion would pay for the whereabouts of the girl on their tablet.
I rolled to my least injured side while both men returned to their wagon and drove on. Once they were gone, Kestra knelt beside me. "Healing pools are not as common as you seem to think, the way you go around getting yourself kicked."
"Nor are physicians common enough for you to go around stabbing everyone who crosses you."
She smiled. "Remember that, next time you think of crossing me. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. They just knocked the wind out of me."
"Yes, and probably took a few of your ribs with it."
They had. But I hoped she wouldn't notice my grimace as I stood again. She returned my sword, but exchanged it for possession of my knife.
Once we began walking again, I said, "That necklace belonged to your mother."
"The ring belonged to your adopted father."
"And I can't repay you for protecting it. Thank you." I took her hand, grateful for a moment of peace between us. Maybe one of our last peaceful moments.
Her thoughts were already looking ahead. "Those men will report us, despite their agreement."
"Then let's get as far as possible before they do."
"Do you know where we are?" she asked.
Trees were scant here, and the grass was brittle and sparse. The salty sea wind that blew inland left much of this land too arid for farming.
"We're not far from Silven," I said. At our current pace, it'd be several hours' walk. I wondered if Tenger was already there.
"Silven!" Kestra stopped and groaned. "Why didn't I think of this before? Celia used to come to Silven to shop. She claimed that Silven had better markets than Grimlowe, which was closer to the Fields. She lied to me."
"It was the truth, in a way. But she came to the markets to sell, not to buy."
"She sold me." Kestra clicked her tongue in disgust. "I hope I went for a good price."
I didn't know Celia's price for betrayal, only that the Coracks would've paid almost anything for it. And I had no doubt Kestra would find out the full story before she let the matter rest.
A few miles later, I finally spotted the first homes on the outskirts of the city. Farm homes. Maybe someone inside would give us a ride into town, and perhaps have a bandage for my ribs.
"Where do the Coracks hid
e here?" she asked.
"We don't hide. That'd be too obvious. We don't appear different from other Antorans, and we don't act different, at least not in the open. If you could look at me and identify me as Corack, then I've made a mistake."
"Then where do we go after we get to Silven?"
"First, we find somewhere safe for you until I can get Darrow freed."