Malcius scowled. “It would be better to look during the day.” He pointed to the forest and said, “There might be fruit—coconuts, maybe.” Then, he pointed to the ocean. “We might catch fish.”
Yserria put one hand on her hip and pointed to the palm tree. “I’ve been looking. There are no coconuts on these trees.” She then pointed to his stick. “Do you know how to spear fish?”
With his blood heating, he snapped, “No, I have never had the pleasure.”
She said, “It is not yet midday. We can walk for a while and hope we find civilization. If not, then we will start foraging.”
“What makes you think you’re in charge?”
She stalked over to him and flicked his ear.
“Ow! What the—”
“We are likely in Lon Lerésh—where women rule. I outrank you by law. You are not in Ashai anymore, Malcius Jebai. If you try to act your usual boorish self around these women, you will be lucky to be flogged.”
“How is being flogged lucky?”
“Compared to the alternatives?” she said. Then, she turned and once again walked away from him.
Malcius grumbled to himself as he followed. Of all the people in the world, he had to be stuck with Yserria. He would even have preferred Reaylin. At least she could have eased the pain in his head. Yserria only made it worse. He knew, though, that she would likely have died if he were not there—not because of any heroics or skill on his part. No, her life was dependent upon him solely because he bore the life stone that carried a piece of her soul, and Rezkin had forbade him from telling her about it. At least if he did, he would have something to hold over her head. He mentally slapped himself for the horrible thought. It would be evil to use someone’s own soul against them. He would protect the stone with his life, as Rezkin had asked, and she would never know of the favor he had done for her—no, the favor he had done for Palis.
It was just after midday when Yserria turned toward the forest. Malcius did not bother to ask why since it was obvious. The sand was wet all the way into the forest in a strip about a pace wide. She used her sword to hack at the thicker foliage while Malcius ineffectually whacked at greenery with his stick. He had never ventured from a path into the wild. Even as others had explored Cael, he had remained behind to enjoy the meager comforts of the enchanted palace. He realized quickly that cutting through the forest was far more tiring than walking a cultivated path. He also learned not to walk too close to Yserria since she never bothered to hold the branches she had bent out of her way. It took only two good smacks to the face for him to learn that lesson.
As they walked farther into the darkness of the canopy, the muddy soil turned to a trickle of water, and eventually it became a small pool at the base of a rocky cliff.
“It’s very cold, and it smells fresh,” Yserria said. “I think it’s a spring.”
“Does that mean it is safe to drink?”
“It will be safer than dying of dehydration.”
“Funny,” he said. “Perhaps Rezkin should have made you the fool instead of a knight.”
“He may be saving that one for you,” she said. “What is your position in his court, again? I cannot seem to remember.”
Malcius clenched his teeth. “I am his friend.”
“Are you?” she said. “You seem awfully bitter for a friend. If you hold that resentment in too long, it will turn to contempt, which leads to betrayal.”
“You overstep, Knight Yserria. I am still a count of Ashai.”
“I doubt that. Caydean has already replaced your household. Your only chance at being anything is with Rezkin. You had best remember that.”
“I do not need you to remind me of that.” Malcius glanced at the pool of fresh water. He fell to his knees and drank deeply, splashing it over his sun-ripened skin. Then, he sat and leaned against a rock. He glanced at Yserria as she attempted to wrestle her mane into a braid. He had never seen her hair down, but it triggered a memory. Palis had been so excited when he had first seen her running down the corridor of the arena, waving that red ribbon. Malcius had not been able to hear his own thoughts over his brother’s ramblings.
He plucked a small white flower from a clump by the pool and twirled it between his fingers. “You did not know me as I was. I suppose you never will. Not now. That man died with Palis.” Her expression fell at the mention of his brother. “I do not know who I am anymore, but you surely see the worst of me. I cannot help it. In truth, I have not tried. I am not a bad man, though.” He looked up and met her gaze. “I carry my honor in my every breath. Rezkin is my king, and I will follow him wherever he leads, even if it is all for naught.” His gaze roved the canopy above them. “It is remarkable, really. I cannot imagine that anyone else could have achieved what he has. He keeps so many secrets, he lies and manipulates, yet I still feel confident that he will strive to do everything he has promised. Is it desperation that drives me to feel that way?”
“I think we all do,” she said. “Perhaps that is his true power. He gives hope to the desperate. I sometimes feel like he could fix any problem, no matter how big.”
“Except death,” Malcius said with an edge.
Yserria looked away. She said, “Do you know how to make a snare?”
“No.”
“Come, I will show you. We should gather supplies for now and stay here tonight.”
“Perhaps we should move away from the water.” At her curious look, he said, “In case predators come for a drink.”
She nodded. “I did not think of that.” She pointed to a crevice at the top of a pile of rubble. “There.”
The crevice was small and uncomfortable that night. Yserria had forbade him from even mentioning propriety as they slept back-to-back. Their mutual foul mood had not been made better by the fact that they had not caught anything to eat before they went to sleep. Sometime near dawn, Malcius’s stomach had grumbled loud enough to wake him. As he scrambled down the rocks to check the snares, he woke Yserria, which elicited a colorful diatribe. He was filled with glee upon realizing they had managed to catch three of some small mammal he had never before seen.
“What are they?” he asked upon returning to the pond.
She pursed her lips. “I do not know, but they look edible.”
“Excellent,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “What now?”
Yserria looked at him and shook her head. “You have never dressed an animal.”
He grinned. “One time when we were children, Palis and I put our sister’s dress on one of our hounds.” Yserria frowned at him, and his smile fell. “I doubt that was what you meant, so no.”
She drew her sword and laid one of the small animals on rock.
“That is a little much, is it not?”
“It is the only blade we have, or are you hiding a hunting knife in your pants?”
Malcius grinned again. “We had best not discuss what I am hiding in my pants.”
Yserria turned on him with her sword in hand. “What is wrong with you?”
“What do you mean?” he said.
“You never jest. You do not smile. Are you unwell? Did you eat some berries or mushrooms? If you did, I need to know.”
Malcius sat back on rock and sighed. “No. I do feel a bit lightheaded. I am just hungry. I guess I no longer have the energy to be angry.”
Yserria shook her head. “I will talk to Rezkin about wearing you out more often.”
“You are an evil witch.”