Owl and the Tiger Thieves by Kristi Charish

Author:Kristi Charish [Charish, Kristi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Star
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

10

THE ROAD TO TIMBUKTU

8:00 p.m.: Sitting in a jeep on the edge of the Sahara.

“Well, at least it’s something new for him.”

I glared at Artemis. It wasn’t what he said but his cheerful, devil-may-care conversational tone. I’d let him drive the jeep since he’d been the one to find it. We’d been on the road leading to the ruins on the outskirts of Timbuktu for an hour—the Temple of Shifting Faces had been a ways from the city even when it had been a metropolis.

As I kept my eyes on Artemis, I had the sinking suspicion he’d used some of his powers of persuasion to convince me to let him drive . . .

“I mean, Rynn’s been in such a rut over the past few centuries. I’m rather amazed at the change, corrupted armor or not.”

He had definitely used his powers. There is no way in hell I’d have let him drive otherwise. “Do you ever stop with the morbid sarcasm?”

Keeping his eyes on the road, he arched an eyebrow. “Do you?”

I didn’t dignify that with an answer. Instead, I leaned against the door as far away from him as I could get.

“Careful. I wouldn’t trust that lock. I don’t nearly have Rynn’s healing ability. I’m much better at hiding in the shadows. No, despite its macabre nature, I have to admit I’m impressed with my little cousin’s current quest for murderous self-improvement.”

The murderous self-improvement wasn’t what got my attention. “Younger cousin?”

Artemis raised his eyebrow at me again. “Little cousin. I’d helped lead armies before Rynn was born. I suppose he never told you how he looked up to me in his younger days? Hmmm? No?” He tsked. “I’d be hurt if I didn’t expect his indifference so much.”

“Contempt, not indifference. The distinction is subtle.” I scanned the desert hills in the last bit of setting sun, searching for remnants of Timbuktu. Artemis had grilled me about Rynn’s visit; I’d answered as best as I could, but that hadn’t stemmed conversation on the topic. On his side anyway.

“Things are about to become very dangerous,” he mused, drawing my attention off the darkening sky and sand.

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that your boyfriend is getting stronger—” He paused as we went over a bump, the jeep rattling and earning an unsettled mew from Captain. “More to the point, he’s taken an interest in your activities, enough to test the extent of his new powers—recklessly, in my opinion.”

“Struck me as pretty damn efficient.” I’d jumped real high.

“Rynn is a lot of things, but he was never reckless. Which means the armor, the suit—whatever the hell the elves bound to him—is finally making some real headway.”

I kept silent. I’d already realized that, and it was tearing me up. It was something we agreed on: Rynn was losing.

I was grateful for the cold desert night air that numbed my face. “Is there anything else you need to tell me?” I asked him, my voice dry and more than a little defeated-sounding. “I thought you guys couldn’t do that—warp minds and read thoughts.

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