Chapter Thirty-Four
Loyalty
After a difficult night’s sleep, Andel struggled into layers of warm clothing before emerging bleary-eyed from the tent. After several days’ search there was still no sign of Lind, and last night, yet again Huldar had rejected her company.
She sat on a rock while Gento fixed the fire. He’s very good with flame, she thought absently, and so is Cobar.
I taught him everything he knows, Gento flicked back at her, and she apologized for thinking so loudly.
“We’re both tired, Lady Andel,” he said. “No apology necessary.”
She gave him a rueful smile.
“How long have you known Huldar?”
“Five hundred years … four planets.” Gento turned to look at her. “Be warned. We Rukh are loyal, sometimes to the point of idiocy.”
She spluttered a protest, but he continued, “It
