Page 124 of The Stolen Throne
“That’s one way of putting it.” He harrumphs. “Your sister is now housed right beside my tent.”
I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t appreciate me laughing about that, which would probably come out sarcastic anyway, so I nod. “I’d better check on them both.”
Cainis nods, and no one, not even Cain, stops me.
Sure enough, they’ve set Tabra up right in the center of the camp. A lone tent with a wide moat of sand surrounding it. All the other tents, including the zariph’s, are a good distance away, but this is much better.
“Meren,” a voice calls out before I go inside.
Horus hurries toward me.
Eyebrows raised, I wait for him. “Do you need something?”
He hitches his chin at the tent. “You shouldn’t go in there.”
“It’s daylight. Tabra should be okay to visit for now.”
He looks at me in question.
“The zaripha told me Tabra is…more herself…in the daylight.”
He still looks dubious, though, so I say, “Achlys will probably be in there, and there are guards.” I wave at the Wanderers standing on either side of the opening.
Horus doesn’t even spare them a glance. “I’d feel better if you let me check first. You go clean up, and I’ll come find you.”
Does he think I’m reckless, too, after helping Reven? I’m doing the best I can. “I can’t ask you to—”
“You didn’t ask. I offered.”
He must catch my hesitation, because he shuffles his feet.
“I couldn’t protect my own sister, my only family, and I lost my honor and my place in my zariphate and in this world all the same. Let me serve you. Let me regain my honor at your side.”
I know what he’s asking. Picturing the rips in his coat after he protected me from the blood bear in Tyndra, part of me doesn’t want to accept the offer because it means he is tying his life to mine the same way mine is tied to Tabra’s. As a sacrifice.
A flash of a horse-sized sandy form tells me Bene is overhead. Watching. Reminding me I already have a Devourer as a protector. Except Bene’s not here for me—he’s here for his goddess. Besides, Horus has been a true friend.
This is his choice, which I will respect. For that reason alone, I give a small, jerking nod and use words Omma taught me. “It would esteem me greatly.”
Horus’s chin lifts, eyes crinkling and a pride radiating from him I haven’t seen before. “I’ll come get you when I know it’s safe.” He flicks a glance toward the camp.
I turn away from the tent and head to my room inside the zariph’s tent only to stop cold, still holding the door open.
Reven is here.
He’s standing alone in the center of the space. When did he circle around this way?
We stare at each other. For once, I have no idea what to say.
“You shouldn’t have—”
I cut him off. “I know. I thought because you reached for me in Wildernyss, and it seemed to help…” I grimace. “I know now.”
He settles back into an uncompromising stance, feet planted wide, arms crossed. The shadows inside me feel like nothing. “Eid—” He cuts off. “He was right.”
I slash a hand through the air. “No. He’s trying to get into your head. Into all our heads. Don’t believe—”
“It was so easy.”
