"It's another two hours until we reach the Mistriver," Tenger said. "We'll follow that south and hopefully get there by nightfall. I don't like the idea of us out in the open overnight."
I didn't like that idea either. Near the Hiplands, few settlements existed where we might beg for food or lodging. Even if there were, we all had the look of vagabonds. We'd just have to push on and hope the Halderians welcomed us in.
Simon and Tenger would be greeted warmly, considering the gift they were bringing. I'd be grateful for anything kinder than open knives in the hands of those who reached out to welcome me.
Simon gradually put more distance between us and Tenger. When we were out of earshot, and he drew in a breath to speak, I jumped in first. An argument was coming. I intended to settle it in my favor.
"I told you I'd hidden the Olden Blade. It shouldn't matter where I hid it."
"You know it matters."
"Keeping that secret had nothing to do with my trust in you."
He scoffed. "Didn't it?"
"If you knew that I had the Blade, you'd tell Tenger. Not to hurt me, but to protect me." He started to answer, and I quickly added, "You proved me right on that. Last night, you revealed everything I'd told you about the dagger."
"Which saved your life!"
"That's my point!"
"What point? That you'd be better off dead?" He snorted with anger. "Because that was going to happen." A long silence passed before he spoke again. "Is there anything else you aren't telling me? Any secret, even if it's small?"
I countered, "Is there anything you haven't told me?"
A beat passed. "No."
"That's not true, Simon."
Every part of his face fell. "I'm going to be reassigned. The only reason I'm still here is because we lost so many Coracks last night. After we give the Blade to the Halderians, I'm supposed to join the Coracks up north ... without you."
A pit formed in my stomach. "Tenger's separating us?"
"He knows why I want to be with you, and that it has nothing to do with the Olden Blade."
More silence followed. I understood those reasons, I shared in them. But that wasn't his secret.
"Are you going to obey Tenger?" I asked. "Go north?"
"What do you want me to do, Kes? Because I genuinely don't know." He shrugged, hopeless and empty. "Should I beg you to stay? Threaten you again?" He drew in a deeper breath, one that seemed to cause him pain. "Or let you go?"
"None of that." I lifted my hand to his cheek, borrowing his attention from the road ahead. "I want to see my reflection in your eyes again. I want you to fight with me when I'm wrong, and give in when I'm right. I want your courage, your compassion. Your smile." I took one of his hands that held the reins and wove my fingers in with his. "And I want a chance to end that kiss differently."
A shy smile tugged at his mouth. His lips brushed against the side of my neck, leaving a memory there. Now his smile widened, as if nothing existed in the world but us. His arm curled tighter around my waist, and I let myself fold into him. A chilly morning breeze washed over us, but I barely felt it. I was with Simon. I had all the warmth I needed.
"If you ride any slower, we won't be there until winter!" Tenger called. "Hurry!"
Simon chuckled and nudged the horse until it picked up the pace. Tenger had stopped to wait for us, but when he saw us coming again, he returned to the trail.
We passed no other travelers on the way to the Halderians, and any homes we came across had long been abandoned, now little more than shells of forgotten lives. I wondered about the families who had lived here, and what chased them away. Was this the consequence of war, or its aftermath under Endrick's reign?
"What are your plans?" Simon asked as if reading my thoughts. "Still leaving Antora?"
"I'll go to the Halderians, for now."
He said nothing, but a smile brightened his eyes when he looked at me. He believed I was staying because of him, and maybe I was, but there w
as more to it.