Page 45 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“Don’t ask me that right now.”Her weight stayed like a statue glued to my back, not like a living ryder.

I pushed my magic towards hers to help her feel more secure, but it clashed with an impenetrable wall. She hadn’t opened herself to me at all.“Let my magic in, Kiera. It will help you settle down.”

“That’s easy for you to say,”she said shifting a little, then grabbing another place tightly. She was virtually laying on me.

“You are practically clamped onto me. You’re going to exhaust yourself, and your muscles will hurt for days. You have to relax.”

“You act like I have a choice in this.”She barely forced the words past her walls.

“You do. You could let me in so I can help you. Are your eyes even open?”I hated the strain between us.

“Yes! But only because I tried closing them, and not seeing is far worse than seeing.”

I huffed out a laugh.“Okay, let’s try distraction. Talk to me.”

“About what? I’m a little busy not dying here. I’m not really in the mood for a chat.”

I knew what would get her mind off it though, so I pressed the button.“Talk to me about Nyx,”I suggested innocently.“I don’t know what to do with him. I’m torn.”

“What do you mean?”she replied, and I knew I had her.

“He’s being irrational,”I hedged. She knew the problems, but I needed her engaged to distract her from thinking about being up high, so I was being enticingly vague on purpose, but this was a problem I needed help solving.

“He’s dealing with a lot. We got through to him about the undead, that’s something.”

“No, he’s being stupid. Taking risks.”

“What do you mean?”

“I haven’t known him for long, but from what I’ve seen and what others say, he doesn’t strike me as a fae who makes questionable, rash decisions very often.”

“He’s not. He’s usually the most level-headed fae I know.”

“Well, that’s not what I’m seeing. When it comes to strategizing, he’s not listening to my opinions or those of some of our top strategists.”

“Maybe he’s seeing something you’re not,”Kiera replied, wanting to believe the best of Nyx, which I understood. I closed my eyes, letting my magic flow towards hers again, seeking to forge a connection while she was distracted by her train of thought and hers gave a little, accepting it.

“He hasn’t been the general for long, but he has prepared for it his whole life. He’s a natural. Everyone who knows about thesethings has said it. I know he’s been erratic of late, but we need to give him the credit he’s due.”

“Yes, but do you really think it’s a good idea for him to go against the King?”

“He’s what?”Kiera asked, sitting up straight, clearly alarmed.

If this wasn’t normal for Nyx, I had a bigger problem than I thought.

“The King gave strict orders that no more flights were to cross borders until we know what we’re dealing with, and Nyx is still considering taking a scouting party out.”Secrecy be damned. She was my ryder, after all.

“Why would he do that?”

“To find the source of the undead? I can’t be sure, but that’s how it feels.”

“No, I know why he wants to scout. I mean, why would he so blatantly defy the King?”She opened up more to me, chasing my words, even probing for them.

“This is what I mean. He’s not being rational. I didn’t know if that was normal for him.”

Kiera was quiet for a moment. The only sign that she was still with me was her long sigh, but still she was focused on the conversation, not the flight. I took the opportunity to gain a little altitude. It was easier flying up where the thermals were. Fewer wing beats and longer soaring. She didn’t seem to notice.

“What are you thinking?”I urged, wanting to know where her brilliant mind had wandered.