“I haven’t seen any,” Kleef said. “But they’re out there. They must be.”
“You don’t think they could have gone after the Wave Wyvern and lost the battle?”
“No,” Kleef said. “Seasilver’s men were in no shape to fight. If Yder had caught up to the Wyvern, he would have lost a few blades-but it wouldn’t have been the Shadovar who ended up massacred.”
Knowing that any words of reassurance about Jang’s fate would ring hollow at best, Joelle said, “Then I hope Yder didn’t go after the Wyvern. Jang is a good man.”
Kleef nodded. “And a clever one. If there’s anyone who can get the Wyvern back to Westgate without a fight, it’s Jang.” He paused, then offered a sly grin. “Besides, I can’t see Yder wanting to chase down the Wyvern-not when he knew he would have to take Grand Duchess Elira hostage again.”
Joelle smiled. “She’s really that bad?”
“Even for a noble,” Kleef said. “I pity Jang, if he’s still alive.”
Joelle chuckled, then grew more serious. “So, if Yder is out there, why hasn’t he come for us again? Is he waiting for the orcs to attack?”
Kleef’s expression grew clouded. “That’s part of it,” he said. “This is a big caravan, and that means a hard fight with plenty of magic. It would make sense to use the orc attack as a diversion.”
“And the other part?” Joelle asked.
Kleef glanced back toward the tree line. “Me, I think,” he said. “He’s still coming to me in my dreams-usually three or four times a night. I think he’s trying to wear me down.”
Joelle cocked an eyebrow. She knew that Yder had been visiting Kleef in his dreams since the night he had offered to trade for Joelle and Malik. But she hadn’t realized the visits were that frequent-or that Kleef found them quite so troubling.
“Wear you down, how?” Joelle asked. “By keeping you from sleeping?”
Kleef continued to study the tree line as it rose and fell, then finally said, “Something else. He wants me to steal the Eye for him.”
Joelle fell silent, trying to fathom the idea of even asking one of Helm’s Chosen to betray his companions. The thought would have been laughable, had anything the Shadovar ever did been quite what it seemed. Either Yder was working at something else or he didn’t realize who Kleef was.
Or maybe the Shadovar were just that desperate.
“Good,” Joelle said, forcing a smile. “That’s very good news, indeed.”
Kleef shot her a suspicious scowl. “I don’t see how.”
“Because it means Yder still can’t find the Eye on his own,” Joelle said. “He hasn’t figured out how we’re hiding it.”
Kleef seemed to relax a little. “You think so?”
“Oh, absolutely.” Joelle flashed a playful smile. “If Yder knew how to find the Eye, we’d all be dead by now.”
Kleef laughed heartily. “I hadn’t thought of that,” he said. “Maybe Yder will protect us from the orcs.”
Kleef sealed the waterskin again, but instead of passing it back to Joelle, he exchanged it for the one hanging from his saddle and passed that one over. It was even heavier than the skin she had given him, and it took a moment for her to realize he was trying to make her visit look like a routine water delivery.
“Who are you trying to fool?” she asked. “The shades or the orcs?”
“It would be nice to fool both,” Kleef said. “But I’ll settle for the orcs.”
“And trading waterskins will keep them from wondering what I’m doing out here?”
“That’s the idea,” he said. “Orcs are hunters, and hunters notice the little things.”
“I suppose so.” Realizing the same scouts had probably been watching when she came out to flirt earlier, Joelle hung the waterskin on her saddle and continued to ride at Kleef’s side-just as she had done two hours before. “Should I pass a warning along?”
“I wouldn’t,” Kleef said. “If people start getting nervous, the orcs will see that.”
“So?”
“So then the orcs get nervous,” Kleef said. “Maybe they attack too soon, before we have a chance to find good ground.”
“That makes sense,” Joelle said. She glanced over at the wall of leaves that was the distant tree line, then wondered how Kleef could see anything sneaking through the woods beyond. “There’s just one problem. It we don’t tell anyone there are orcs shadowing us, how does Faroz know to look for good ground?”
A smug look came to Kleef’s face. “That’s where you come in,” he said. “You’re spending more time with me than with your pack-string. Soon enough, Faroz will send a man over to chase you back to your horses.”
“And you’ll tell him about the orcs,” Joelle surmised.
“Right,” Kleef said. “And all the orcs will see is a caravan master trying to keep trail discipline.”
“Interesting plan.” Joelle hesitated, then added, “But maybe we should try something simpler.”
“You don’t think they’ll buy it?” Kleef asked. “Orcs aren’t that smart, you know.”
“The orcs aren’t the problem,” Joelle said. “It’s Faroz. He won’t be sending anyone to chase me back.”
“He won’t?” Kleef lowered his brow. “Why not?”
Joelle smiled and batted her lashes-and saw the suspicion in Kleef’s face change to understanding.
“Oh,” he said. “Did you really need to charm him?”
“Yes, if I want to spend any time with you,” Joelle said. “You’re always on guard duty.”
“Because I’m a guard,” Kleef said. “But I’m never out of earshot.”
“And I’m sure you’ll arrive in time to staunch the bleeding.” Joelle lowered her voice. “But that’s not what I was talking about, and you know it.”
An uncomfortable note came to Kleef’s voice. “I do?”
“Yes,” Joelle said. “In fact, Faroz loaned me a tent. I was hoping you might help me set it up tonight.”
The color began to rise in Kleef’s cheeks. “I can help you set it up,” he said. “But then I have guard duty.”
“Not all night, I trust.”
Joelle was practically purring now, but Kleef was looking away, allowing his gaze to roam over the plain in a manner that suggested a certain faintness of heart. She couldn’t decide whether to be offended or flattered-but she was definitely confused.
When her invitation continued to go unanswered, Joelle finally broke the silence. “Kleef, I need to ask you a question. Have you never shared yourself with a woman?”
Kleef’s eyes grew as round as coins. “What kind of question is that? Of course I’ve been with women. Many times!”
“You don’t have to snap,” Joelle said. “I just thought that as one of Helm’s Chosen, you might have taken a vow of celibacy. Or something.”
“Why would I do that?” Kleef’s voice remained sharp. “I’m not even sure that I am one of Helm’s Chosen. You’re the one who keeps saying that.”
“But I’m not the only one who believes it,” Joelle said. “Why do you think Yder keeps coming after you? He knows who’s protecting us.”
Kleef sighed. “All right, I’m Helm’s Chosen,” he said. “What does that have to do with being celibate?”
“I don’t know,” Joelle admitted. “But you’ve been avoiding me.”
Kleef’s expression finally softened. “A little bit.”
“Why would you do that?” Joelle was genuinely hurt, because-as much as she needed Kleef to love her-she already loved Kleef. “I thought we had feelings for each other.”
“We do,” Kleef said. “And they make it hard to keep my mind on my duty.”
Joelle frowned. “You’re avoiding me because I distract you?”
“You’re more than a distraction, Joelle, and you know it.” Kleef’s voice grew almost ashamed. “Back at the reef, when Yder’s sea monster took out the Lonely Roamer, I went after you first.”
“Kleef, you can’t be upset with yourself for that,” Joelle said. “The fog was thick and the situation confused. Arietta was doing fine, and just because she happens to be nobility-”