The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 58

"We should get moving," Rath announced, standing up with a groan an hour after their escape from the tunnel.

"Are you sure?" Iris asked, climbing to her feet and touching his arm lightly. "You're still pale."

"You could use a tan, too, you know," he replied teasingly.

Char rolled his eyes and tossed him a pack. "Here. I'll take two this time."

"Ooh, does that mean I get to carry Iris if something happens?"

"You wish."

Rath laughed. "Not really. She's too dangerous for me. I'm looking for someone a little tamer, someone less likely to drag me into life or death situations every day."

"Like Misa?" Char suggested, smirking as he slung a pack over each shoulder.

"Misa. That's the girl with the silver hair and golden eyes, right?" Iris asked. "She's beautiful."

"Yeah, she is, but I wouldn't follow her into a life or death situation, either," Rath replied, shrugging. "I'm starting to think that's a prerequisite for a solid relationship."

By unspoken agreement, Rath took the lead again, heading west with the bright morning sunshine at his back. Char and Iris fell in step beside him, with Iris in the middle. Their leisurely pace was a nice change from the mad dash for their lives that started their journey, although Char knew that Rath would have been pushing them to move faster if he weren't still weak from earlier. The capital city wasn't within sight of their current position, but it was probably close enough that guards in the watchtowers saw Rath's short flight.

"Well, you have to get to know someone before you're willing to risk your life for them," Iris said. "Do you know Misa outside of parties?"

Char snorted. "He doesn't know any girls outside of parties."

"I don't have time for any girls outside of parties, and you didn't, either, until you met Iris," Rath retorted.

Iris pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side, the knowing look in her brown eyes saying that she wasn't buying that excuse.

"It's true!" Rath insisted. "Char and I are always on the move. Training, missions, the war, our own personal stuff - the only free time I have is on the weekends."

"'Our own personal stuff?'" Iris repeated.

"He won't even have time for that after we give Kelnor our report," Char said, grinning.

Rath scowled at him. "I'm not doing leadership training."

Iris' eyes sparkled, and Rath hurried to interrupt her as soon as she opened her mouth.

"No," he said firmly. "If you say one word about leadership training, I'll say you should go to the magic school to learn how to use your magic appropriately."

"The magic school?" Char asked, raising an eyebrow. "The place that had her locked up in a dungeon like a dangerous criminal?"

"What I'm saying is, she belongs there as much as I belong in leadership training," Rath retorted. "Of course, I'm not actually suggesting she go back there. And even though we have to tell Kelnor everything that's happened, neither of you can say a word to Mother about that thing in the tunnel," he added, his sharp blue eyes flicking from Iris to Char and back.

Char sighed. "Hate to break it to you, but I bet she already knows about Black Mountain."

"How would you know?" Rath asked. His eyes settled on Char, narrowing as he searched his brother's face.

"She told me as much when we went back to her house to get Iris' clothes. Apparently, Father ran everything by her before he took us anywhere. I'm guessing that started after Black Mountain."