Kannik glanced at the others. In nearly two weeks, they had come together as a fighting group, always keeping Perrios safe. Helbar and his group, however, mostly protected each other. Kannik wasn’t sure how he felt about them. They were too isolated. Something was odd.

Stepping toward Perrios, he leaned over. “What’s on the menu tonight? Rodia sandwiches?”

“Nah. Reptigon stew.”

He frowned. “Great. My favorite. Makes me miss my dad’s cooking.”

“I can’t wait to return to civilization,” Helbar said, coming over. “These meals are dreadful. We would have been better off with more jerky.”

“There wasn’t any more to bring,” Kannik said for the dozenth time. “We didn’t have enough time to wait. Besides, the land provides.”

Helbar groaned. “Yes, I suppose it does.”

Perrios shrugged. “Savvron isn’t much further. We’ll find food there.”

“Passing through before, I didn’t see much worth eating. Then again, they were apparently having supply troubles.”

“Oh?”

Helbar huffed. “You don’t know? I thought you would be informed about such matters.”

“There’s a lot to keep up on,” Kannik said.

“Yes, yes, though it’s his job to do so. Anyway, do let me know when dinner is ready.” He went off to talk to Jalicson.

“Ever so pleasant,” Kannik said. “Does he really have to trail us?”

“Yes. If he wants to see what I’m capable of, then he’ll see it.”

“Too bad you can’t juggle.”

Perrios laughed. “Yes, because that’s what he’s looking for.”

Kannik glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, Oris, come here.”

“What is it?”

“Perrios needs you to teach him how to juggle.”

She opened her eyes wide. “Seriously?”

“Well, he’ll be juggling responsibilities, so it seems only right.”

Oris grimaced. “You’re making fun of me.”

Perrios touched her shoulder. “Not at all.”

She looked at his hand, and color rose to her cheeks. “Maybe I could show you.” She rushed off to gather some apples.

Kannik laughed. “Did you see that? I think she’s smitten with you.”

“You’re not jealous that she might be?”

“Should I be?”

Perrios put his arm around Kannik. “Maybe after she teaches me to juggle, I can show her how to play Kings and Queens.”

“You’re dodging.”

“It’s my prerogative.”

Kannik hummed and opted to change the subject. “Do you think we’re going the right way? We haven’t seen any signs.”

“I think we are. We’ll learn more in Savvron.”

“I hope so. Helbar’s right. I could use some civilization.”

“Depending on what we find, it’ll be off to Kaison.”

Kannik nodded. “Makes sense, unless we have to go to Warringer.”

“True, though I should check in on Leshia. She’s a good regent, but she asks for a lot of help, often monetary. Plus, there’s Kallion.”

Kannik frowned. The Kallisorian king had never accepted the truce between Hathreneir and Kallisor. Word was he tried to convert guards to his line of thinking and was sometimes successful. “Why wasn’t he executed?”

“They could have ended it then and there. No one would have doubted their motives. And yet Gabrion and the others chose to imprison him.”

“You talk about them like you know them.”

“I feel like I kind of do. It’s all in the histories, and I’ve studied them since I was a child, thanks to Randler recording everything.”

“I’ve read them, too, but you’ve gone deeper into them, it seems.”

“It was my gran-mama who first told me the story,” Perrios said. “She played her own role, which in itself set certain events in motion. Without her, Gabrion probably wouldn’t have joined the quest. In some regards, I wish he hadn’t, but he was vital all the same.”

Kannik’s brows furrowed. “You wish he hadn’t?”

Perrios sigh and waved his hand. “One thing I learned from gran-mama was that people have light and darkness within them.”

“She’s not still around, is she?”

Perrios shook his head. “No, she died over ten years ago now. Fever went out of control. It consumed her.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I miss her, but it’s a long time ago now.”

Kannik bit his lip. He wasn’t sure what to say. He knew Meriad was Perrios’s last surviving family. For all purposes, he was utterly alone. Compared to his own family, he found it sad. “You know, you’re not alone.”

“Thanks.”

“I mean that. I’m here for you. I always will be.”

“Kannik?”

He cleared his throat. “I must be too far into my mead.”