Page 105 of Starside

Would he have jumped in and saved me, just to save the map in my mind?

I guess I’ll never know, since I managed to save myself.

The grime all over me has hardened, weighing me down. The smell is awful, especially under the baking sun.

“His sword had magic,” I finally say, the words rough from thirst.

“How perceptive of you.”

I can’t even find the strength to glare at him. It controlled my movements. It glowed. “How is that possible?”

Raker goes so long without answering that I’ve barely remembered what I said when he finally replies. “Godswords have unmatched magic. They’re the only ones that glow with power.”

Godswords? I’ve never heard the term. The immortal threw the sword into the hole. Was he throwing it to the God of Death?

He’s the reason for the demons rising in the night. It would make sense that he’s behind the rot too.

So why hasn’t anyone done anything to stop him?

The sun sets, and we reach a cave with a sheet of onyx water covering it. Fantastic. I hold my arms over my head as I rush through it, wishing, more than anything, that I had a change of clothing.

I wouldn’t be covered in blood and mud if he had helped me.

Raker is a cruel and merciless wretch. But I already knew that.

It almost makes me want to turn away the new pouch of water he offers. One he clearly stole off one of the corpses by the looks of the dirt on it. But I drink greedily. When my throat is smooth, I pour some on my face, washing off the dirt there.

Raker drops his pack on the cave floor and turns to me. “Your swordplay—”

“It’s impressive. I know.” No thanks to him.

“—could use some work.”

I glare at him. “Did you miss the part where I killed all those immortals, or do you think they all ran into my blade?”

His voice is biting. “They were poisoned, undernourished fools.”

My hands make fists by my sides. “Is there a purpose for your insults?”

A second of silence passes. “Will you draw the rest of the map for me?” I give him a withering look. With a slow shake of his head, he unsheathes his blade. “Then it’s in my best interests that you don’t get yourself killed.”

I blink. “You’re … you’re going to train me?”

I remember his words in the woods, just a few days prior. How I wasn’t worth even a moment of his time.

“I’m going to show you the very basics,” he says, like he already regrets it.

I unsheathe my sword immediately. As insufferable as he is, I can’t stop the excited thrill that runs through my veins.

He sighs, already vastly disappointed. “You’re used to lesser swords. You can tell by the way you hold yours.” He extends his own weapon, slowly demonstrating. “Like this.”

I do exactly what he does, arms trembling with effort.

“No. Like this.”

I slightly move my foot.

He sighs in a long-suffering way. He digs his blade into the ground, then takes a step toward me.