5: The wild fox

Ryo POV

I stared, wide-eyed, at the slender frame of the girl as she rode out into the streets on a horse twice her size completely steady, completely in control of the beast beneath her. I couldn’t help but smile, and before I knew it, I was laughing out loud.

She had bested me. No one ever bested me. I was the trickster here.

*There’s more to her,* I thought.

“Surely you don’t find this funny?” Anya asked.

“No not at all, Anya.” I forced the words out, still fighting off another round of laughter.

I wondered what she could possibly need with the only book on the Ember Heart in existence. What was she, exactly? It couldn’t have been simple curiosity there had to be more to it than that. Was she searching for it herself? And if so, why?

“I need to inform the guards. She can’t have gotten far,” Anya said. “That book needs to be retrieved.”

Something in me went still at the thought of guards on her trail. I realized, with a strange jolt, that I didn’t even know her name and somehow that bothered me more than it should have. She could be in real danger now. I had to find her before they did. Whatever it took.

I had no idea where to even start looking for the wild fox.

I smiled at my own metaphor. I could have walked away right then, let her keep the book, and never looked back. But something kept pulling me toward this stranger something I couldn’t quite name. I told myself it was only because I needed the book back. Either way, it didn’t matter what the reason was. I was going after her.

So when Anya suggested I join the guards in the search, since I was the only one who actually knew what she looked like, I agreed without hesitation. The guards knew the streets better than I did they’d know where to look.

We combed through the market first. The guards reasoned that Jade Lotus’s market was famous enough that no traveler could pass through the kingdom without stopping there.

We searched for what felt like hours. I was too tired to argue with how absurd that theory actually was.

Then I saw her.

Relief and something close to triumph hit me at once. I slipped away from the guards unnoticed and crossed to her side, putting myself between her and their line of sight. I meant to get her out quietly gingerly, without drawing attention.

That plan lasted about three seconds. She started shouting, flailing her arms, demanding to know what I thought I was doing, loud enough that half the market turned to look. I didn’t have another option.

It happened fast. My lips met hers.

It was only supposed to shut her up just for a moment. But somewhere in the middle of it, I forgot that was the reason at all. When I finally pulled back, her lips were still parted, her cheeks flushed. I stared at her, saying nothing, watching her expression shift slowly from shock into open fury.

Before she could get a single word out, I grabbed her hand and pulled her into a half-run, away from the guards.

When we’d put enough distance behind us, I let go of her and regretted it the instant I did.

“What was the meaning of that?” she shouted. “What is even wrong with you?!”

“Hear me out.”

“No, I will not”

“Just hear me out,” I said, firmer this time. “Jade Lotus is crawling with guards looking for you. You stole one of their most valuable possessions. That book was written before the war there’s never been another like it. Not one other text on dragons exists anywhere.”

“Oh,” she said, in a much smaller voice.

“Yes. They were right there in the market, which is why I needed you quiet. I was leading them toward you. If they’d found me standing next to you, they’d have taken you in on the spot.”

“So you came to save me?” A small smile started to form.

“No.”

I watched it fall right off her face. “What?”

I shrugged. “I want the book.”

“Pfft.”

“Over there!” a voice bellowed.

We both turned. A guard, pointing straight at us.

“Come on,” I shouted, already running. “We need to leave the city. Now.”

She kept pace beside me, barely. “I need to grab a few things first.”

“What could possibly be that important right now?” I shouted back.

“Need I remind you of the one reason you came looking for me in the first place?”

I didn’t answer that.

“Turn south the Flaming Red Inn,” she called out, breath ragged. Her dress was slowing her down badly. She stumbled to a stop and reached under the fabric.

I slowed too. “What are you doing?”

She didn’t answer. She pulled a knife from somewhere and sliced clean through the bottom half of her gown, leaving it hacked off just above her knee.

I stood there, momentarily stunned, before sprinting to catch up with her.

She tore into the inn ahead of me, nearly knocking over half the patrons inside. A few men turned to stare openly at her bare legs as she took the stairs two at a time. She burst through her door, snatched the book exactly where she’d left it thankfully she’d kept the room tidy grabbed her bag and sword, and was back out before I’d even caught my breath.

I ran for Blaze, saddled him quickly, and had him waiting outside by the time she reappeared.

“How did you know which one was mine?” she asked, still gasping for air.

“It's hard to miss him.” I looked at the horse, genuinely impressed. “He’s massive. Magnificent, really.”

I swung up and grabbed the reins. “Get on, quickly. We need to move.”

She paused, arms crossed over her chest. “Absolutely not. I am *not* riding behind you.”

I shrugged. “Fine.” I pulled gently on the reins like I was about to leave without her.

That was when we heard it boots, pounding closer.

She didn’t hesitate after that, throwing a stocking-clad leg over Blaze without a second thought.

“I’d advise you hold on tight.”

“No,” she said, clearly horrified at the idea.

“Suit yourself.” I tugged the reins and pressed my heel firmly against Blaze’s side.

Blaze let out a sharp neigh and reared, front hooves striking the air, nearly throwing her straight off his back.

She screamed and grabbed onto me so fast and so tight I almost lost my own breath. A moment later we were tearing out of Jade Lotus, her arms locked around my waist, the guards falling further behind us on foot with every stride.

I couldn’t quite wipe the satisfied smile off my face.