Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
“A clearer warning would’ve been nice,” I say, side-eyeing him. I slip into the bodice again, then tie the strings, but I suck my teeth when I spot droplets of dried yellow goop on my beige chemise. Ugh. All of it didn’t come out. Great. One of my favorite tops is now ruined. “And how can you stand there all nonchalant? I was just attacked. You act like this is some kind of game.”
“No,” he says, dropping his arms and pushing off the tree. “Clearly, this is a game to you, oh sweet one.” His steps are heavy as he approaches me. “Everyone knows not to be friendly or to show any signs of vulnerability with people in the fucking Scraps.”
“I didn’t know,” I counter.
But I’ve heard stories about the Scraps. In all my years being a citizen of Meriva, I’ve never visited that area before. Many say the people there are assholes but generally mind their own business. Others say the Scrappers are thieving monsters who only look out for themselves. Coming from the Commons, I didn’t know what to believe.
“Is this how it’s going to be during this journey?” Thane asks, frustration lacing his voice. “You getting all friendly with everyone, and me stepping in so you don’t get yourself killed? Because if so, I need more coin for that. Looking out for a person like you with no combat skills who trusts way too easily will require double the work and double the patience.”
“I told you I didn’t know that would happen! She looked like a child—how was I supposed to know she would become that thing and attack me simply for waving?”
“Look, this isn’t the Commons or even the Prospers, okay? This journey is deadly enough as it is, so from now on, I want you to follow these two rules. Number one,” he says, raising a stern finger in the air as he steps closer. “Keep your kind gestures to yourself. They’ll only get you killed. Number two”—he adds another finger—“stop being so sympathetic. People are poor, and children are starving. None of that is new and you can’t change any of it, so learn how to accept it and move along. Plant those rules like seeds in your friendly, innocent brain and let them take root because if you die over feeling sorry for someone else, that’s on you.”
I glare at him with a grimace. “Fine.” Asshole.
He strides past me, leaving behind the scent of cedar and leather. I collect my bags and catch up to him.
Begrudgingly I ask, “Where to now?”
“Redclaw.”
I stop dead in my tracks. “You’re joking, right?”
“No,” he answers, still moving ahead. “We need a horse, and they sell them cheap.”
“But Redclaw is ten times worse than the Scraps. My sister told me about it. I heard they buy dead bodies and sell the organs to the beastials who’ll eat them.”
“Even if that rumor is true, it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with me buying a horse.”
I draw in an unsteady breath as Thane breaks through a thicket of trees.
This is for Analla. Just push through for her.
With that in mind, I curse under my breath and follow him into the depths of the forest.
Chapter 9
“You act like you’re not afraid of anything.” I shove a branch out of the way, catching up to Thane. We’ve been walking for nearly half an hour now, weaving through the forest and crossing through fields of dirt.
“I’m not,” he says back.
“I don’t believe that. Everyone’s afraid of something. Are you not scared of dying? Actually, I don’t even know why I bother asking. You look like the type to invite trouble instead of running away from it.”
He turns his head a fraction of an inch. I can’t see his entire face, but I do see a lifted eyebrow. “Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?”
I shrug. “My sister likes to say so occasionally.”
“Well, she’s right.”
I roll my eyes, falling into step beside him. He takes long strides and moves at a rapid pace. Seeing as he’s nearly twice my height, I damn near break a sweat trying to keep up.
He finally slows down to tug his mask up, covering half of his features as we approach rusty arched iron gates built into black brick walls.
“Oh, no.” A guard standing at the gate in red buffers widens his stance and plants his hand on the handle of a sheathed sword at his waist. “The fuck do you want?”
My pulse quickens as my eyes swing from the guard to a bored-looking Thane.
“Let me through, Chaun.”
“And why would I do that after what you did during your last visit?” Chaun steps forward, and another man emerges from a line of trees to our left, gripping the pommel of his weapon, too.
Oh, gods. I’m never going to make it to Elphar at this rate. I probably won’t even live to see the end of the day with Thane swinging his dick around at every stop.