Page 118 of Phoenix's Fire

We didn't want to leave them behind, because there were too many dangers on the surface. Animals, wild men, and definitely Dragons. It was hard work to pull those massive carts, and yet those men were the lucky ones. They wouldn't be attacking the Dragons - which meant they would definitely make it back alive. The payment for that was the blisters they'd get on their hands and the aches in their shoulders from moving the weight.

We'd all been told what to expect, and yet from the sounds of it, half the menaround me were doing this for the first time. Every new hunter had been paired with a veteran, and Malcus was my partner. He'd done this a few times. Still, I'd upset him when I'd stood up for Callah, and he'd barely said more than two words to me since.

Today, I had to see if I could fix that. I had a feeling that out here in the wilds of the surface, losing a "problem" could be a little too easy. So when I spotted the guy trudging alone, I moved to catch up with him.

"Isn't this nighttime?" I asked, gesturing to the sky as a way to start a conversation.

He glanced at me and pushed out something between a grumble and a sigh. "Technically, yes, but it's too bright to see during the day. Besides, this is when the lights are on in the compound, so it's our normal hours. Most of us just treat it like daytime and Hell-time."

"I don't like Hell-time," I mumbled.

Which made him laugh. "No, and you don't like your friends trying to talk to your girl either."

Yeah, that was exactly the opening I needed. So, trying to put on my best "idiot" impression, I ducked my head and kicked at some leaves as I passed. Malcus saw and lifted a brow, clearly wondering what my problem was.

"Callah's pretty," I said after a very long pause. "And she's nice."

"And the girls she grew up with both got banished," he pointed out.

I nodded. "But Callah isn't like that. She said Ayla was headstrong and opinionated. Meri was foolish." I laughed once, having to force it out. "She also thinks they ruined her life."

"And that's theonlyreason they let you court her," Malcus told me. "No one wants to take a chance on her, Toby. The pretty one stabbed Mr. Saunders! The other one?" He made a gagging noise. "Her own brother!"

"Callah doesn't have a brother," I told him, ignoring how he'd changed my name again. "I looked."

Which made Malcus laugh loudly. A few guys glanced over, but he waved them off even as he hummed a few times in amusement.

"Okay, maybe you're not as dumb as I thought," he finally said.

"Well, she also heals us," I pointed out. "Once, she sewed up my hand, but I don't think she remembers."

She had, too. That had been the first time I noticed her. Granted, I'd cut myself on a tree limb, so it hadn't been too bad, but she'd been kind to me as she took care of it. Back then, I hadn't known she and Ayla even knew each other. Girls hadn't mattered to me as anything more than a way to get healed if I got hurt, but I still remembered it.

"I just don't want her to refuse me," I mumbled. "Most girls laugh at me, and I figured you'd get it."

Malcus grunted at that. "Yeah, I guess I can see your point. Standing up for her will make her think you're a good prospect."

"Yeah," I said. "And you know I don't mean it. Just flattering her and all that. It's what the guys say works."

"Good to know," he said, reaching over to pat my back. "Very good to know. So you going to propose to her?"

I murmured. "Maybe. Figure I should have some sons by now. Won't mind having someone do my laundry either."

"Yeah, well, just know they start whining pretty quick. Women?" He shook his head. "They act like their lives are so hard - as if washing is anything like hunting!"

That was enough to make another man angle toward us. "Are you married, Malcus?" he asked.

I glanced over to see one of the boys who looked to be recently out of sermon. His hair was so blonde, it was almost white, and while the kid had broad shoulders, there wasn't much muscle on them yet. I figured he couldn't be more than twenty-two, and he'd probably been picked for hunting within a year or two of becoming a man.

"I am, Sylis," Malcus said, inadvertently giving me the kid's name, "but my wife keeps giving me daughters. Oh, and you boys just wait until you send the kids to sermon. Your wives will wail and cry about it, as if we all didn't do the same at that age."

I shrugged. "Women are soft and gentle. It's kinda cute."

"Cute," Malcus grumbled. "Keep thinking that, Toby. Once you're married, you'll see it's not that cute." Then he looked over and jerked his chin towards someone else, clearly seeking an escape from this conversation.

But as Malcus drifted away, Sylis moved a little closer. "This your first hunt?" he asked.

"Yeah, but I was gathering before that."