Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 254
She was proud that she was making the difference to him.
Surprisingly, she felt jealous of this queen, as if the great
lady might steal her mysterious soldier. Well; anyone could be
stolen, and as likely by a peasant as a princess. She found
herself frowning, and resolutely pushed the thought away.
She reached the horses and murmured reassurances to
them. They had lit no fire tonight, and the darkness was
unsettling. Megan was used to the presence of trees, but they
had seen the last of the forest days ago. She felt naked
amongst all this yellow, damp grass.
She heard him coming up behind her, and smiled as she
turned. Armiger was black moving on black, his head an
absence of stars.
"We need help from inside. We have to get a message to
the queen," he said.
Megan crossed her arms skeptically. She knew he could
see her. She just looked at him, saying nothing.
"There is a way," he said. "It will weaken me."
"What do you mean?" She reached quickly to touch his
arm.
"I can send a messenger," he said. "It will take some of
my... life force, if you will, with it. With luck, we can recover
that later. If not, I will take some time to heal."
"So my careful nursing is being thrown out with the dish
water? I don’t understand! Why is this so important? What
can she give you that matters? She’s doomed, and her
kingdom too."
He stepped into her embrace, and smoothed his hands
down her back awkwardly. Armiger was still not very good at
reassurance.
"She is the only human being on Ventus who has some
inkling of what the Winds really are," he said. "She has spent