Mau yawned. To be honest, I didn't get a good read on her. She was never cruel to me—aside from the whole putting me in a cage thing. She does seem to keep to herself. Except for some of the other merchants in Karn, she hardly spoke to anyone.
“You were forced to leave our realm because you were part Fae?” asked Kaleb, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. “To be honest, I've never encountered anyone of mixed lineage like you before. I didn't know it was possible, frankly.”
“Amazing, the things you learn on the road,” interrupted Minx. “Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about all of these troubles, but the Fae are facing a serious crisis.” She picked up her bow. “I need a dragon's hide, and it sounds like you can provide one.”
“Hey, come on—” said Kaleb.
Minx sized him up angrily. “Who do you think you are? You keep ordering me around, keep pushing and pushing... Do you think you're in charge, Kaleb?” She pointed at the prisoner. “She's part dragon, so she's got a dragon's hide, right?”
And she's part Fae, too, added Mau. Don't forget that.
Minx's resolve faltered at this, but she kept on, stamping her foot on the ground. “Listen, I don't care what she is! Our people need a dragon's hide! It isn't up for debate! With everything that's happening, I don't even know how much time we have. There's a hide for the taking right here, in front of us. She's our prisoner—I see no reason to spare her, Kaleb.”
The dragon shifter sighed. “And that's the problem. After all we've been through, you're still obsessed with butchering one of my kind for their hide. There has to be another way to help your people, Minx. But we're going to have to work hard to find it. If you want my help at all, that is.”
Hearing him speak that way, Minx suddenly wasn't sure whether she actually desired his help. What good is Kaleb, anyway? He helped me find Mau, and I appreciate it, but now he's just standing in my way. Since when does he get to call all of the shots? I never agreed to take his lead on anything... These are the only two dragons in the area that I know of... and I need two hides. She felt a pang of guilt at the thought of leaving Kaleb behind—or, worse, betraying him. No... Kaleb can keep his hide. But this girl, Alla... why shouldn't I just take her out? Why bother sparing her life?
“Whatever,” said Minx. She stood and paced away from the group, leaning against the trunk of a large tree and closing her eyes. “I guess she lives... for now.” It wasn't worth the fight—and it wasn't worth risking her only ally in this monumental struggle. For all his flaws, Kaleb had been a good partner. He'd risked his own safety to help her rescue Mau, and though she'd never thought it possible, he'd even managed to improve her opinion of dragons on the whole. A fierce disdain was reserved for Alla in particular, seeing as how she'd tried to sell off Mau in one of those nightmarish auctions, but killing her wasn't worth risking her partnership with Kaleb. For the time being, she dropped the issue.
“It's been awhile since we've gotten a read on the area. You think this dark army is drawing near?” chanced Kaleb.
Minx shrugged. “Beats me. If we're just going to hand them Pandling Grounds on a silver platter, what's it even matter?”
If this is all true, they won't stop at Pandling Grounds. They'll keep going till they reach Heilo Lake, added Mau.
“Minx, Mau, can you keep an eye on Alla? I'm going to go for a quick flight, scout the area. Sound good? If I see anything, I'll let you know.” Kaleb started through the woods, waving lazily. “And I do mean keep an eye on her. No fighting.”
“You've got an awful lot of faith in me, leaving me to watch over her,” she shouted back. Swiveling to look at Alla, who was still seated on the fallen log, Minx smirked cruelly. “Better not act up while he's gone. I'd hate for you to put me in a self-defense situation.”
Kaleb disappeared into the woods, the clanging of his plate mail dying out over the course of several seconds. Then, with a tree-rattling whoosh, a ruby-colored dragon shot out of the forest and barreled through the sky, soaring among the clouds and taking off westward. Kaleb would probably remain aloft for an hour or more, scoping out the surrounding cities and territories. If he discovered any hints of this “dark army” they'd heard about, he'd likely return in double-quick time.
Arms crossed, Minx returned to their temporary camp, planting herself across from Alla. Mau sidled up to her, stretching out in the cool grass. “So, it's just you and me, huh?” When Alla ignored her, Minx reached over and set her bow and quiver within easy reach—and rather theatrically—to get her point across. “Don't try anything funny, got it?”
The prisoner spared her a brief glance and then looked back down at the ground, arms tucked limply around her waist.
The air here was far sweeter than that of the crowded city they'd just departed from. It was warm out, though the breeze possessed a pleasing coolness that took the edge out of the harsh sun. Having fought and hiked so much in recent days, Minx felt wrung out, and with Mau snoozing contentedly beside her, she came to feel the pull of sleep.
She watched the prisoner with heavy eyes, basking in the stillness and quiet of this clearing near the forest's edge. Alla didn't make a move, didn't seem interested in going anywhere, no matter how much she disliked her captors. Maybe she was telling the truth, thought Minx, grappling with a yawn. Maybe she's always lonely and actually enjoys our company.
Minx closed her eyes, savoring the wind.
