Status Updates From Shadow of the Exile (The In...

She turned to appraise Ren with a wry smile, then used the hand that wasn’t holding a goblet to tap her opposite shoulder perfunctorily. “Samal will rise,” she said.
It seemed not all of the Nine were fervent in their worship of Samal. Interesting.

aLlY

"I find I require an ally when I thought I had hardened myself not to need anyone. I have been alone for so long, against impossible odds and almost certain death, that I forget what it’s like to be otherwise.”

She wouldn’t kill him. He knew it in his bones. And he didn’t want her to. She needed him. She had come to save him, and he’d done the same for her.

Cute

Blood and fire, she is exquisite.
He was instantly gripped with horror. Not again.

Caught himself catching feelings xD

Ren sobbed. She turned to face Tarrik, then fell to her knees. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Thank you,” she said. “I will not forget.”

As worked up as he was right now, he wasn’t in the mood for a woman.
She blinked and drew her shoulders back.
“I said get lost!”
She sneered at him and walked away, finding an elderly man in a side booth to pester. Good. She wasn’t a patch on Jaquel.
Or Ren.
Tarrik coughed, spraying spirits across the table. He coughed again and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Blood and fire what was wrong with him?

Tarrik felt the heat of her body against his. He took a deep breath through his nose. Strange . . . there was none of the goat stench of madness the others of the Nine exuded. This close, all he could discern was a scent like clothes that had recently dried in full sun.
“Did you just smell me?” Ren asked.
“No.”

She grimaced and stumbled. Tarrik lifted her and threw her over his shoulder. He couldn’t see any other way to carry her while he held his spear. Her sword was close to his ear, and he could feel its power like a faint buzzing.
Ren grunted. “This isn’t the most comfortable position.”
“I do not like this place. Nor do I trust Sheelahn.”
“That is wise.”

Again, Ren smelled of arcane power—and of something that reminded Tarrik of sunlight, along with a tinge of reluctance.

i don't know if i am not loving this simply because there's no romance and im a crazed maniac and apparently i cannot read books with no romance, or if its because of the way its written

She didn’t ask if he wanted any, which suited Tarrik. Sweet foods tasted foul and disagreed with his guts. He didn’t know how humans tolerated such saccharine fare. Contian even used to add honey to his tea. Tarrik shuddered. Bee vomit, of all things.

These stupid beasts required vocal commands, didn’t they? It had been so long he’d forgotten much of this world. “Follow the other beast, the brown one,” he told the horse, and flicked the reins. To his relief, it plodded along after Ren’s.

I'm surprised the horse listened xD

Ren fed the horses some of the grains, which Tarrik thought would be better used in a stew. The creatures had picked the area around their tree bare of grass, and that should be enough. Not only were they stupid, they were also greedy.

Literally beefing horses over some grains xD