Chapter 13 · Between Two Predators

"Don't run," Renner said. "You'll only make it worse."

He stood in the middle of the creek with his boots in the water, like he had all night to spend. Two of Kaelen's boys flanked him, one on each bank. The third hung back with a rifle loose across his chest — not aimed, not yet — and that was the only good news I'd had in nine days.

I kept my hands where he could see them. The bundle of silver-root sat in my left fist, soaking wet, dripping down my wrist into my sleeve.

"I'm not running," I said.

"No. You're standing in a creek at midnight scraping mud off your hands." He tilted his head. "What's the herb for?"

"Cramps."

"Uh-huh." He didn't believe me. He didn't need to. "Kaelen wants you breathing, Briar. That's the whole message. Breathing and talking."

"Kaelen wants me on paper."

"Same thing, mostly."

He took a step. The water around his boots went loud, then quiet. I made myself not move.