This man! Why did he insist on being so dreadfully stubborn? Surely he knew that there was no inherent danger, nor did he owe her anything. Was he truly bored? Or was this merely his very strange way of demonstrating friendship.

Her head drooped forward as she sighed.

"I simply do not understand you, Yuri Lowell. But if you must, there's no need to keep pace behind me. We are allies, are we not? We should walk at each other's side." She looked back at him over her shoulder with a little smile. "I'll be vexed if you behave like a servant."