The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 59

"Hey, get up."

Char swatted Rath's hand away, but his brother had already smacked his shoulder and moved out of reach. A half night's sleep hadn't been enough for Char to recuperate from the ordeal with that creature the previous day. He didn't know how Rath could sound so bright and cheerful.

Oh, right. Rath got a full night's sleep.

"Good morning," Rath called.

"Good morning," Iris replied.

There was something off about her voice, like she was forcing a smile. Char sighed and rolled over, reluctant to leave his cocoon but opening his eyes to look across the campsite at her. She was sitting in front of the ashes from last night's fire, hugging her knees to her chest and giving Rath a smile that was indeed fake.

Char sighed again and rubbed his eyes. Something was bothering her, and he needed to get up and find out what that was.

"Char made you take a shift last night?" Rath asked, rummaging around in the packs for breakfast.

"No, I talked him into letting me do it."

Rath chuckled. "Talked him into it? Didn't sound like that to me."

Iris' cheeks flushed bright red, and Char felt the back of his neck warm, too. That wasn't something he'd wanted Rath to hear.

"I thought you were asleep," Char grumbled as he sat up.

"I was tired, not dead. But it's kind of nice to see Char losing his mind over a girl for a change." Rath sat next to Iris and handed her some food. "Usually, it's the other way around."

"Rath," Char warned him.

"What? She's marrying you, so she deserves to know all about your sordid history, doesn't she? See, Char and I have always had the tall, dark, and handsome thing going for us, but he's also the strong, silent type, so it's nearly impossible to keep the girls off of him at parties."

Char groaned and hit Rath on the shoulder as he passed him to sit on Iris' other side, but he couldn't be too mad. Iris' smile was more genuine now.

"Thing is, as much as he likes to dance, he rarely takes an interest in any of the girls hanging off of him. But when he does and he turns that charm on, they practically fall at his feet."

"Don't listen to him," Char told Iris.

"I already knew all of that," she said, her brown eyes sparkling as they met his. "It was pretty obvious at that party."

Rath laughed. "You remember that? Wow, I thought for sure you were blackout drunk. I've never seen somebody get so wasted on a single glass of wine."

She shrugged. "I guess I don't have any tolerance."

"You weren't the only one without any tolerance," Rath said, directing his smirk at Char this time. "I would have thought Char was drunk, too, if I hadn't known any better."

"That's enough," Char said. "Unless you want me to punch you again."

"But I'm still feeling a little weak," Rath whined in a small, pitiful voice.

Char snorted. "You're feeling fine, and you know it. Are we just walking today, or are we gonna try a test flight?"

"Hm." Rath rubbed his bruised jaw. "I think we're far enough out to avoid being seen, but I'm not sure. The problem is my flight from yesterday. A keen-eyed guard in the castle watchtowers could have seen that, and with negotiations between humans and dragons on the table, even a perceived offense makes a truce less likely. That whole mess with Micah will have the king on edge, and then to have dragons sneaking around in human territory..." He sighed. "We'll walk until midday and reevaluate then."