“Say that in Elvish, and I might believe you,” Gin said, scowling. “I found them all right, back in the hedges in Alynatalos, making out like a couple of teenagers.” She rolled her eyes. “Oh! Gin, we forgot you were there! Story of my life, that. Unless I appear as the Nature Walker, everyone forgets that I’m here.”
“Some of us can’t forget you, darlin', no matter how hard we try,” Sath replied, smiling softly at her. He cleared his throat. “If you want me to speak Elvish, we can,” he said quietly in her native language. “But not here, not until we are free of the dragonkind.”
“Aye, I know,” Gin replied. “Too many of them speak Elvish anyway.” She smiled up at him. “Is your food suitable…oh, ew Sath!” she exclaimed as he licked his hands clean of the gristle from his food. “Some Rajah you are.”
“Sorry,” he said. “The hungrier I get, the fewer manners I have, it seems. So what’s the plan, Mistress Nature Walker?” he asked, grinning at her.
“I don’t think we should stay here—but at the same time, I don’t really know where we should go.”
“Right,” Sath said. “More exploring, then?” He rubbed his chin absently as he did when he was thinking.
Gin’s face lit up suddenly. “I know what to do. The Guardians aren’t answering me, so we need to appeal to the Gods, specifically to the All-Mother, Sephine. Surely she can help us find our way back home.”
“Bah, I don’t believe in any of that,” Sath said, snorting derisively.
“Well, you’d better start,” Gin said. “I’d feel better going to face Guardian Omerith with the All-Mother at our back. I’m going to go down and ask the innkeeper for a map so that we know what is where. Just stay here, okay?”
“Gin, come’re,” he said. She came closer to him, and he put his hands on her hips while they were at eye level with each other. “You don’t believe it, but I trust you. I would never have let Ysil collar me otherwise—but I know you will look after me, just as I look after you. Now go get the map so we can get out of here.” She grinned at him and then headed out of the room, leaving him smiling and floating in a sea of sunflowers. He barely even felt the collar anymore.
Eighteen
Dragonkind Hospitality
Josiah was waiting for Gin outside their room. “And so we meet again,” he said, slipping out of the shadows and taking her arm. She jumped, squealing and scrambling for her dagger that was usually hidden in her boot. It was probably with the rest of her things—wherever the Mother Dragon had put them. “Hey, hey, it’s just me, I’m a friend, Nature Walker,” he said as she took a few steps back from him. “Stand down.” He chuckled as she frowned at him.
“You shouldn’t pop out at people like that. You startled me!”
“Clearly,” he said, beaming a smile at her. Gin wondered if he had trouble eating with all the extra teeth he seemed to have in his mouth. Maybe that was just a dragonkind trait? “Let me start again. Hello, my Lady Ginolwenye of the Trees, the fabled Nature Walker,” he said, extending his hand as though he expected her to place her tiny hand in his. When she did not, he frowned. “Have I done something to offend you?”
No, I just can’t go back to Sath smelling like you again.
Like who? Is it that human dragonkind thing? Do I need to come out-
Don’t you dare, Sath.
“No, of course not, it is just that you startled me and that I am in a hurry. Perhaps I will see you again sometime,” Gin said, turning on her tiny heel and walking briskly down the corridor away from him as she inwardly forbade Sath to leave their room. Josiah was matching her steps before she got very far at all.
Curse his long dragonkind legs. Dor used to do the same thing.
That’s it, I’m coming out there.
I’m fine. Stay put, please? You can listen through the bond, but don’t leave that room. I don’t need -
“Where are you headed, milady?” Josiah asked, bringing her out of her mental parlay with the now very hissy Rajah. “Perhaps I can help?”
“We are new to this continent and have no map, and I wondered if anyone downstairs has one that I might have. I am anxious to continue my journey but not foolhardy enough to start out without a map.”
“You are wise, my lady,” Josiah said. “I will come with you. Perhaps I have knowledge of the areas you plan to travel to? I am an adept guide, having spent many seasons hunting alone in many different parts of—this side of the world.”
“Oh, that isn’t necessary. Besides, I travel with the Rajah, and as you know, the Qatu are not always friendly to strangers, so I’m sure that I will be fine.” She took a step back from Josiah, who had moved closer. “Really, good sir, I must be on my way,” she said.
“But I insist,” Josiah said. “At least while you are here in the inn. It is not safe for a lady to be in such an establishment alone.”
“Then I shall fetch my companion,” Gin replied. Sath was listening, and she knew he was about to come bursting out of their room after her anyway. Cursing herself inwardly for that mistake, she moved back another step, and her back made contact with the cold wall. “Really, I do not wish to trouble you.”
“You are no trouble, my lady. None whatsoever.” Josiah licked his lips as he leered at her. A single word cried out in Qatunari would have Sath crashing through the door. She was sure that he was already aware of the
