The Seer by Rowan McAllister (reading comprehension books .TXT) 📕

admit the stallion miraculously seemed to still be faring much better than the mares, despite having to carry two grown men on his back much of the night. Ravi could also reluctantly admit he was the biggest liability in their party, so complaining too loudly about anything wasn’t a great idea, no matter how much he wanted to.

He stubbornly refused Daks’s offer of help and climbed into the saddle himself, despite the protests of his aching body. He held himself stiffly in the saddle for the entire ride, trying to avoid any accidental contact with the brick of a man behind him, but it wasn’t easy. He swore the damned stallion was in on some dastardly plan to make his ride as uncomfortable as possible, jostling him back against Daks’s chest any time he started to relax.

Daks had attempted to start light conversation with him a few times, like the ladies were doing behind them, but Ravi had stubbornly refused to be drawn out, and Daks had quickly given up. Of course, Ravi paid for that bit of spite by having nothing to distract him from his discomfort. But at least the sun had warmed him enough he was no longer cold and miserable, just miserable.

As the journey dragged on, the lure of Daks’s hard chest and thick arms hovered at his back, tempting him. Maybe he could let go for just a little while. Daks didn’t seem averse to touching him, quite the contrary really. It had been so long since he’d been touched or been able to touch anyone without fear. What would be the harm, really? He could just lean back a little bit, to ease his sore muscles.

Daks suddenly pulled on the reins and ground out a curse, jolting Ravi out of his argument with himself, heart pounding. When Ravi twisted around to glare at him, Daks’s jaw was set in a hard line.

“What is it?” Shura asked as she drew alongside them.

“Pain priest,” Daks growled and cursed again.

“You’re sure?” Mistress Sabin asked, eyeing him askance before scanning their surroundings.

“He’s a very talented Sensitive,” Shura said. “If he says he feels one, then there is one.”

“Maybe more than one,” Daks replied absently.

“A Sensitive?” Mistress Sabin asked, her expression wavering between seeming distaste and curiosity.

“You’d call him a Finder, if he were a member of the Brotherhood,” Shura explained, her expression hardening ever so slightly. She turned her attention back to Daks. “More than one Pain priest in a little town like Reyan?”

“This is a problem,” Daks muttered.

You think? Ravi’s stomach twisted, and he seemed to be having trouble getting enough air into his lungs.

“Keep calm.” Daks’s voice rumbled in his ear as a large, warm palm settled at the join of his neck and shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. “Breathe and keep control.”

Ravi closed his eyes and tried, not bothering to shake the hand off him, though he didn’t want to admit how comforting he found it.

“They’re in the town,” Daks continued, his voice calmer and more assured. “I’m close enough now that I can feel them, so we’re going to have to avoid it until we have a plan.”

Ravi let that voice wash over him, ignoring the one in his head reminding him how much Daks’s confidence and certainty had been worth in the past.

“I’m the least, uh, noticeable of all of you. The brothers should have no reason to question me. I can go into town to ask about a boat or find Maran’s family,” Mistress Sabin offered, her gaze locked on Shura rather than either of the two men.

“We can both go, as we did before,” Shura said with a reassuring smile.

Mistress Sabin shook her head even as she grimaced in apparent apology. “I think it best if I go alone this time. Word may be on its way already from Urmat, and you are… distinctive, Shura. My coloring may be a bit fairer than most Rassans that live this far south and east, and a woman traveling alone a little odd, but not so noteworthy as all that. I should be able to make my inquiries and leave without causing much fuss.”

Shura and Daks exchanged a long look this time. Eventually Daks nodded, but he didn’t seem happy about it.

“This trip has been more harrowing than you’d originally bargained for,” Shura said to Mistress Sabin. “We are very grateful for your help.”

Mistress Sabin smiled and her cheeks pinked. “I’ll admit I hadn’t anticipated this much excitement. It makes me doubly sorry Maran and the others couldn’t risk finding us a boat out of Rassat’s harbor instead.”

“None of us could have foreseen all the difficulties we’ve faced,” Shura replied, making Ravi wince. “Thank you for sticking it out, when you could have safely returned to your people.”

Mistress Sabin blushed darker. “I wouldn’t be much help to my people if I gave up at the first sign of adversity.”

Ravi was the only one close enough to hear the low groan Daks let out before he pointedly cleared his throat. “Still, we’re grateful to you, Fara. But we should get moving if we want to stay ahead of those who may be chasing us.”

“Oh. Right.” The mistress’s face flushed even darker as she seemed to suddenly remember he and Ravi were there. She urged her horse forward and wrinkled her brow at Daks. “Where should I meet you?”

If Ravi hadn’t been staring at Daks over his shoulder, waiting for his answer, he might have missed the quick glance Daks shot his way as he said, “I think we should keep our distance from the town, but I don’t like staying so near the road, and there will be too many people by the river. If I remember right, there’s a festival space to the west of town across a shallow stretch of the Kun, where they hold their high holy days. We’ll swing wide of town and meet you in the woods behind it.”

“All right. That should be easy enough to find. I’ll