Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“I’ve always worn it.” Truth. I rushed to turn the spotlight elsewhere. “How did you end up in West’s stable?”
“Oh. That.” She dragged a finger through the dirt. “I lost my ma at twelve and struck out on my own. Teamed up with Amell, the boy I mentioned. He protected me and others on the streets. We all looked out for each other. A rival gang captured and sold the lot of us to different governors. West picked me and offered a choice. Agree to his terms or die immediately.”
“That’s awful.” Those poor kids.
“Any of your friends still alive?” Leona inquired.
Anguish flashed Patch’s features. A show of emotion she instantly regretted, as evidenced by her puffing chest. “No, but I’m fine. Fine, I tell you!”
Even expecting rejection, I reached out and patted her hand, too, sharing what comfort I could. Leona rested her head on the girl’s shoulder. To my surprise, Patch teared up, accepting our gestures. But of course, she also wiped her nose on her arm and snipped, “I’m not in the market for new friends so don’t go getting any ideas. I prefer to be warm right now, that’s all.”
Her vulnerability destroyed every bit of resentment I’d harbored toward her. No wonder she fought so hard to remain in her self-imposed solitary confinement. Hurt and betrayed left scars others couldn’t see.
“Brace yourself,” Leona said, “because I already like you. I’m sorry, okay! I couldn’t help myself. You remind me so much of Claudia. I’ve been searching for her forever. She’s my only living family member, and I miss her terribly.”
Wow. Both ladies had swum in an ocean of agonies. We weren’t so different, really, each of us determined to find our way in the world. I missed my father and feared for his wellbeing. Was he taking his medication? Crying over my loss? Worsening?
I missed Nugget, too. I’d only spent a couple days with the rabdog, but I loved him.
You’ve known Jasher longer.
I inwardly sputtered.
The storm died as quickly as it started, the sun casting bright golden rays through the canopy of leaves. A substitute had died.
We stood, stored our blankets and waited in terse silent.
And waited.
A twig finally snapped in the distance. I palmed my dagger. Leona scrambled behind me, and Patch put up her dukes, ready for combat.
Jasher stalked through a cluster of gnarled branches, and a ragged noise left me. He was wet, streaked with blood, and grim-faced, but I didn’t care.
I sheathed the weapon and threw my arms around him, clinging. “You’re okay.”
Just like he’d done in the clearing during the first part of training, he hesitated before returning my embrace. But oh, when he did it, he engulfed me, burying his face in the hollow of my neck.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I helped another guard find the culprit,” he replied, gruff. “The man deserved what he got.”
I tightened my hold. We stayed like that until Leona cleared her throat and Patch made gagging noises.
“Let’s go.” He swiped up the pack and stalked off. He also picked up the hat as he passed it, spun, and plopped the piece on my head.
You know what? Yeah, okay, I’d wear the dumb hat. I wasn’t wicked or a witch, but I did have power within. Look at my resume. Survived a world-changing tornado. Attended public beheadings. Negotiated with a water maiden. Escaped a human stable. Helped raze a cannibal gang’s village. Raised a runt rabdog without dying. Faced a rebel army without flinching. I could do anything, even navigate the series of quicksand groves we entered. Yawn.
Maybe I understood Jasher a bit better, too. He no longer struck me as an unfeeling robot but a living, breathing man making the best of a bad situation. His bravery knew no bounds.
Our group did little talking at first. I think we’d all revealed more of ourselves than we’d meant to today. Plus, I couldn’t help but expect the next wave of danger as we slugged up a hill, splattered with drying sand. I held my hat in place, on the lookout for rebels.
Jasher stopped dead in his tracks when we came to—what in the world? I bumped into his back, and he reached around to catch and steady me.
The girls stopped behind us and gasped. “A lion pride,” Patch whispered.
“With winged monkeys,” Leona croaked.
“These are the creatures you feared?” I whispered fiercely.
“Shhh,” the others demanded at once, and each meant business.
The ten “lions” were the size of housecats, lazing beneath shade trees. Buzzing around them, laughing hysterically, were winged monkeys only a little bigger than Tinkerbell.
We tiptoed away, as quietly as possible. Only when we were a good distance away did my companions sigh with relief. I wouldn’t ask what the creatures could have done to us. I didn’t want to know.
I focused my attention elsewhere. “I think we should discuss the Guardian’s reward.”