The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 58

After an hour of rest, Rath stood with a groan. "We should get moving."

"Are you sure?" Iris climbed to her feet and touched a dried bloodstain on his sleeve. He'd refused healing from her multiple times now. "You're still pale."

He smirked. "You could use a tan, too, you know."

"Rath—" Iris started, frowning, but Char interrupted her by tossing Rath a pack. Rath caught it with ease.

"He's fine. I'll take two this time."

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

Char rolled his eyes. "You wish."

Rath set out toward the west, with Char and Iris following his lead by unspoken agreement. "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."

It was Char's turn to smirk now. "Like Misa?"

"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."

"Well, you have to get to know someone before you're willing to risk your life for them. 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."

Iris pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side. 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?'" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"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. No," he added, cutting Iris off when she opened her mouth. "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? You mean 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. Of course I'm not actually suggesting she go back there. And even though we have to tell Kelnor everything that 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."

Rath's eyes settled on Char and narrowed. "How would you know?"

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

"She talked about Father?" Rath asked, his eyes widening.

"Yeah. A lot."

Rath fell into a momentary stunned silence. Iris looked from him to Char in question.

"She doesn't talk about him much anymore," Char explained. "But she had a point to make." He grinned and leaned in to kiss Iris on the cheek, and she blushed.