Infinity Blade 01- Awakening

monster. I’m probably part of some illegitimate line.”
    Maybe the God King’s own line, he thought with a shiver. Wouldn’t that be appropriate? Him killing his own children to make his blasted sword work?
    The rain eventually let up. Siris checked on Isa, then on her coat, which he’d hung on the other side of the fire to dry, and to keep the rain from blowing in on her. The rain had soaked one side, so he switched it around.
    When he turned back, she was looking at him. He started, nearly dropping the coat. She blinked, then grimaced, glancing down at her side. TEL had tied a bandage there, which she prodded at.
    “You should be resting,” Siris said.
    “I am resting,” she said. “This is hardly bleeding at all. That shouldn’t be possible.”
    “TEL does fine work,” he said, nodding toward the golem, who sat in the rain, looking up at the stars. He hadn’t changed positions in two hours.
    “I guess he does.” She sounded skeptical.
    “You thirsty?”
    “Yes,” she said. “Horribly so. But first, I . . .”
    “Yes?”
    There was something to her voice. Something soft, something intimate. “First, I’ve really got to pee.”
    He blushed. “Oh, right.”
    He fetched a pot for her, then went off into the bamboo to give her privacy. When he came back, she was dressed and sitting up by the fire, warming her hands.
    He sat down across from her.
    “I’m hoping I don’t need the rope treatment tonight,” she said.
    “No,” he said. “You came to help when I was fighting in the river, even though you were unarmed. You could have let those creatures kill me, then stolen the blade from them.”
    “Steal from a pack of wild slaughter daerils?” she said. “Easier to get it from you.”
    He snorted. “I doubt they knew what it was worth, and you’re sly enough. When they went to sleep, you’d have had that sword and been on your way in under a span.”
    “You have quite the opinion of my skills.”
    “It’s out of regard for my own,” he said. “You almost killed me twice. I’d hate to assume someone incompetent could manage that.”
    She smiled.
    “The fact remains,” he said, “that you didn’t have to rush in to help me. You did. Saving my life negates an attempt on it, so you’re forgiven. That is, assuming I can get a promise from you. No more trying to kill me, all right?”
    “All right.”
    “And you won’t try to steal the blade while I’m sleeping?”
    “I won’t,” she said. “Or even while you’re awake.” She paused. “But if you die and I can’t do anything to prevent that, I’m still taking the sword.”
    “Fair enough. Better you than one of the Deathless.” He held out his hand beside the fire, toward her.
    She paused, then shook it.
    “Get some sleep,” he said, rising to go fetch some more wood.
    “You too, whiskers,” she said with a yawn. “We’re less than a day’s hike from Saydhi’s estate. You’ll need your strength tomorrow. Be sure to get some sleep.”
    “I will,” he said.
    He proceeded to stay up the entire night making sure the fire kept going and she remained warm.

Chapter Seven
    “The real secret to good cooking . . .” Isa said, lifting the spoon to her lips.
    “Is . . . ?” Siris asked, sitting across the fire from her.
    She took a sip.
    “Well?” he said.
    She licked her lips, held up a finger, then tossed in another pinch of spices.
    “You’re not going to tell me, are you?” he said.
    “Don’t be an idiot,” she said. “The secret is patience.”
    “Huh. I just failed that one, didn’t I?”
    “As soundly as if you’d brought a salad fork to a jousting match.” She smiled.
    “Pshaw,” he said. “Jousting would require riding one of those things .” He eyed her horse, munching on some foliage on the other side of their camp. A few days back, they’d carefully moved to a location that was more secure. They hadn’t spoken of the fact that Siris continued to stay in camp with Isa, as opposed to going to fight Saydhi’s champions.
    He would go eventually. He hadn’t lost his resolve. However, if he failed, it would mean his life—and he wanted to make sure Isa was well enough to reclaim the Infinity Blade if things went poorly. Besides, he wanted to attempt a few things on his list, like cooking. So far, he was confident that one was going to move to the list of things he did not enjoy.
    “They’re not so bad,” she said. “Horses, I mean. You just have to know how to treat