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

cousin. We’ll likely not get much more out of him than permission to stay on his land, maybe some food, and this.” Daks held up a small flask. “Fara still wanted to try to get him to open up, but I wasn’t in the mood to tiptoe and needle for hours.”

He moved to the tree next to Ravi’s and sat on the ground at its base. After uncorking the bottle, he took a swig before offering it to Ravi. “No fire tonight. Too risky with soldiers on patrol. Don’t want to draw attention unless we really have to.” Ravi accepted the bottle and nearly choked on the strong spirit it contained. “Luckily,” Daks continued as he coughed, “the night shouldn’t be too cold, although the clouds are looking a little ominous. Pray to whoever you like that the rain holds off until we’re across the river tomorrow.”

When Daks lifted his hand, Ravi returned the flask to it willingly, wiping his watering eyes.

“Settle in. Get comfortable,” Daks continued after taking another swig. “Shura said they’d try to wheedle something hot out of the guy, but if they can’t, we’ll dig out what’s left of the food in our packs when they get back.”

That seemed to be the extent of Daks’s conversation for the evening, because he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Ravi worried his lower lip as he studied the man for a few beats in the lantern light. It appeared he would be getting distant and aloof Daks again, and he wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or disappointed.

Either Shura and Mistress Sabin were better at extracting information than Daks thought or they gave up early, because it wasn’t long before they joined them. They’d even been able to acquire some hot meat pies and a small pot of stew, and Ravi practically inhaled his portions with so much gratitude it made his eyes a little misty. He’d never complain about the food they’d cooked on the journey, but a hot meal with fresh meat, herbs, and vegetables compared to dried, was a thing of true beauty he hadn’t been allowed often enough over the last ten years to take for granted.

Daks remained mostly silent during the meal, and though he offered the flask around, no one took him up on it. After a while Ravi began to think maybe one of them should have, if only to limit the amount left for Daks, and apparently, he wasn’t the only one. He caught Shura eyeing her partner worriedly several times during the meal and after, which didn’t exactly inspire confidence. She didn’t say anything, though, and Ravi began to get angry.

Screwing up his courage, he decided to try to catch Shura alone. If anyone could get Daks to behave, it was her. Ravi certainly didn’t want to try after everything that had happened between them earlier. Besides, he might lose his temper completely and say something he shouldn’t, and he still needed these people for a few more hours at least.

When Shura rose and left their little circle of lantern light, probably to relieve herself, Ravi waited a few minutes and then followed. He hung back at the edge of the shadows to allow her some privacy, but when she returned, he held up a hand to stop her.

“I think you should do something about him,” Ravi said, his voice cracking slightly under her forbidding stare.

She didn’t bother to ask who he meant. “He’s fine.”

Ravi narrowed his eyes and lifted his chin, his temper overtaking caution. “He’s not fine. He’s been drinking from that flask since he came back. We’ve only got one more day before we’re in Samebar. He can’t wait one more day?”

Her lips pressed together as she folded her arms across her chest. “I assume you come to me because you believe I know him better than you, so accept it when I tell you he will be fine.”

Seeing that she’d dug in her heels, Ravi blew out a breath and decided to take a different tack. “But is he okay? I mean, he did save me this morning. If there’s something I can do….”

He left the words hanging, and her expression softened a little as she studied him before turning to glance at her partner and then at Mistress Sabin. When she turned back to him, her dark eyes held a deep sadness he’d never expected to see, and it threw him off balance.

She studied him for a few beats more before she seemed to make a decision. “The journey tomorrow will be challenging for him.” She said the words as if each one hurt her to admit. “We will not speak of this again, but if you must know the why of it, I will tell you. He has no love for water. Many years ago, before I met him, he nearly drowned, and the resulting illness cost him dearly. After this morning’s little dip, and with tomorrow looming, he is not entirely himself.”

Ravi blinked at her in surprise and screwed up his face. “Uh. He has a fear of water and he comes to Rassa, the wettest of all the three kingdoms? Are you serious? Good gods, the only place worse for him would be the Southern Isles.”

Her frown returned full force as her eyes narrowed. “Don’t make me regret telling you. He may not be the most pleasant of companions until we are all safely on the other side of the Matna tomorrow, but don’t let that get in the way of doing as you are told, when you are told. Do not argue. Do not question. He has risked much to get you to safety. Remember that. He has crossed the Matna many times, and he will do so again. He will do as he must.”

With that, she spun on her heel and headed back to Mistress Sabin’s side, leaving Ravi to trail pensively behind her. Daks had fallen asleep by the time he got back, still clutching