Page 10 of The Souls Harvest
He seems to know that, and for as long as I need, I know he will never avert his eyes.
My heart begins to speed up.
Shit. What was that?
I shake my head and put the hoodie back in my bag. “It’s not that…They found another Rogue. I’m crossing again in a couple of weeks.” I exhale, pressing a hand to my chest as if out of breath. “Why are you here anyway? I didn’t know you had an appointment with Miss P.” Perhaps the question will distract him from what I’ve just revealed.
He pushes away from the wall and clutches my shoulder, towering above me. “That’s insane. Who approved this? You’ve justcome back…”
Distracted, not even a little.
I blink quickly. “Hey, who’s being over-dramatic now? You know I don’t have a say when Roden senses a Rogue. I’m not privileged like the rest of you—” I bite my lip, but it’s too late to take it back.
But his expression veers towards worry rather than disappointment.
His fingers cling to my shoulder like I’m about to run away. “They can’t send you out so soon; it’s not safe. Is this why you kept the details of your next mission hidden from me?” And now it’s his time to regret words spoken too soon.
My eyes narrow. “And how do you know that?” I straighten, my arms akimbo, hoping to look a couple of inches taller.
I understand where he comes from, his sudden fear. Whenever we complete a mission, we need to spend enough time in Libera to make sure our Writers reset the memory of those who accidentally saw us, mostly relatives and friends of our crops.
Galen picks at his days-old stubble, retreating and giving me space. “What happens if you get caught?”
Here we are… I open my mouth, but he cuts me off.
“What if anyone saw us before I transported the body of that woman to the Fields?” His eyes roam furiously over my face, the silver specks in the left one catching the light from the window and turning into miniature stars.
I take a big breath and blow it out when he stops me again.
“You know you could be captured and locked in their jails if you end up in an unfriendly province. Roden won’t be able to let youout for at least a couple of years. Not even dear Galen could save you.” His voice climbs to a dangerous level.
Alarmed by his reaction, I cast a look over my shoulder to make sure Popplewish hadn’t come out.
“Are you done?” I eventually ask.
He nods, lips pursed, and gestures to the stairs behind him, moving aside to let me pass.
I stretch one hand, picking at the hem of his right sleeve. “I know crossing only days before our birthday is not ideal. But orders are orders.” I give him a side look and pucker my lips.
In response, he brings the collar of his jumper to his lips and starts nipping at it.
I let go of his sleeve, rolling my eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic and stop doing that. It’s gross. Besides, we don’t know if I’m returning to Cleryce. It could be anywhere. Unless some random Herionos pops up from a manhole while I’m distracted, I should come back unseen and in one piece.”
“Don’t even mention them...” he sounds truly worried.
“Come on, Galen. You’re too smart to believe they’re still around, waiting to make our lives miserable. When was the last time you saw one of them? And I’m not talking about pictures in some history book.”
My words trail behind me as I start walking down the stairs, waving my hand to swat off whatever horrible image he may be picturing of me dead in a dark alley of Horigos. Or worse, behind bars.
I give him time to think, knowing the answer already, but he remains quiet even when I’m halfway down the stairs.
I pause, flashing him a grin over my shoulder before answering my own question. “Correct! Never. Also, I’ve never called you dear…” I mock him from the square landing between two floors. “And get a haircut, or I’ll give you one,” I shout, cupping my hands over my mouth.
I wait a second for him to run down chasing me, like when we were kids, but he remains where I’ve left him, hands in the pockets of his black trousers.
“You go ahead. I need to speak with Popplewish anyway,” he dismisses me. Deep down, I’m glad we don’t have to discuss my mission—for now.
Harvesters our age can refuse a mission if they don’t feel ready; some of us still don’t know how to cut the flimsy thread of affection that sometimes blooms between them and their Nistarei. Some of us take months before feeling ready to dive into a new mission.
