Page 103 of Guiding Reason

Anandas said something in the Hound tongue, and the other Hound jumped to it, jogging back into the tiny house.

Hyran shook his head. “Coldis, I’m not leaving you. This is wrong. It’s all wrong. It’s not supposed to be like this. I promised that I would protect you.”

Hyran was trembling. His entire body was tense.He’s a Guardian, the imprinting is new, so new that we should be spending time together in a safe place so he can settle. That doesn’t seem to be something we do in this family.

Col stepped up to Hyran and put his hands on his Guardian’s chest. “I should’ve asked my little brother how he dealt with Senny early on. He’s an S-classer, you know, very protective even without imprinting. I don’t think he would’ve been able to do what you did.” Col took a deep breath. “You put your own comfort aside when you moved to the suite with us. And you’ve supported me ever since I got over my concussion.”

Hyran snorted. “You don’t just get over a concussion, Col.”

Anandas clicked his tongue. “Concussion, ma? I left you healthy. You go to the cities, back behind the walls, and you hurt the most important bit of you.”

Hyran let out stuttering sigh. “I told him that. He said he was fine. It was all my fault, really. Not much of a Guardian, if I can’t even save my Conduit without dealing him a concussion.”

Col took Hyran’s hands. “But you are. And you are my Guardian. You’re going to help save as many of those people back there as you can by bringing Anandas to them. Now.”

The other Hound came back with a backpack and a pouch as well as a bow and quiver. Anandas’s things.

“I can go now,” the Hound said. “Rose will make you tea. And he will be nice. Concussions need a long time healing, and being nice helps them heal. Yes, ma?”

Rose groaned. “Yes. Yes, and you promise to come back here quick.”

“Always. I swear it by the distant stars we all come from.”

Col looked up at Hyran. “You take care of him and bring him back, right? I’ll be waiting here while Rose and I and this new Hound have tea.”

“That’s Anandas’s younger cousin,” Rose said. “He has a name too. Avan. Not Hound.”

Col looked at the Hound.That’s a coincidence. And it’s just a name.“Yes, of course. We’ll get acquainted over tea. Hyran?”

Col could tell the toll this took on Hyran. His fists were balled, his jaw tight.I was right about him. So much like Vin when it comes to endurance.

“I’ll take the physician,” Hyran finally said. “I won’t be long. If anything’s wrong, you have your screen on you.”

Col nodded. “And my gun. I’ll be fine.”

Hyran looked none too happy when Col handed Anandas his goggles, a look mirrored by Rose. The Hound then climbed on Hyran’s back. The younger Hound—Avan—and Anandas exchanged a few words, then all that was left was for Hyran to run.

“The sooner you leave, the faster you’ll be back here,” Col said.

Hyran nodded. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then stopped, nodded once again, and ran. He and Anandas became a blur until they were gone.

Col turned and did his best to smile politely. “I heard there was tea.”

Rose rolled his eyes. “I am to blame for this. I wanted to go for the medical supplies that day. If I had not, you’d all be good bone fertilizer by now.”

“I’d make poor fertilizer,” Col said.

Rose shrugged. “Nah.”

The younger Hound gave Col a shy smile, just like a Conduit being assigned a strong Guardian for the first time, and said, “Hello. I’m Avan.”

“Hello, Avan.”

Rose groaned. “He wanted to learn from Anandas. He’s learning our language now. Come, I make tea. You can tell us how your concussion happened.”

Col followed Rose, whose strides were longer. Avan fell in step next to Col.

“That’s a bit of a tale.”