Page 30 of Feathers and Thorns

“The details were a bit stingy,” she admitted, “but we packed our rucks with haste. We were just resting for a couple of hours before departing when the fires broke out.” Her voice cracked at the mention of the fires, and Alondra gave her fingers a squeeze before continuing for her.

“We know we should go, but we figure the worst has already happened, and we can’t leave the town like this. I ran the apothecary, where you found us, and they will need my skills here. I may not be a fully schooled healer, but my knowledge base is vast, and my hands are steady.”

Rook was secretly glad. He hadn’t wanted to acquire more traveling companions, especially when the two he already had were not even supposed to be there. “I will find them and assist with their journey as best I can,” he said in the hopes his words would soothe their worries.

Alondra did not seem to trust what he said, but she relented. “We will do what we can here and join you in bringing them home once we get these people back on their feet,” she said with finality. “Come, Lara; let’s get you to bed. We need to elevate that leg.” She extended her hand to her wife then gingerly led her up the stairs, retiring to Tarak Nightsong’s old bedroom. It was the biggest room in the house, and they had all decided it was best they have it.

Meena called out, “Goodnight,” just as the door clicked shut and joined her sister and Rook at the table. “So, what’s the plan?”

Evelyn clasped her hands on top of the wooden surface and loosed a breath. “Well, at this point, I think we should stay here. Rook is more than capable of traveling alone to Edras Mora, and our skills are not meant for combat.”

Meena bit her lip and nodded. “I was thinking that, too.” Then, looking at Rook, she said, “Are you sure you won’t need us?”

He quirked one of his rare smiles as he replied, “What’s that saying? Separation makes the heart grow fond?”

* * *

Rook grimaced as he tugged a honey-blond strand of hair off his face and stepped out of Meena’s arms. He was not used to familial affection and gave her an awkward smile as he backed away.

Evelyn patted his shoulder and gave him a contented look that said this was only goodbye for now and took Meena’s hand. “Come, sister; we are needed elsewhere.”

Rook watched on as the girls followed Laraline and Alondra back into the heart of Vreburn, wishing them well. They were resilient, and he knew they would be fine on their own, but he was glad that Baz’s mothers could provide them with additional care and support.

As they faded out of sight, his thoughts returned to Soren, and something in his rib cage ticked painfully. He had stayed in Soren’s room that night, hating the thought of anyone else being closer to her than he was. Enveloped in her earthy citrus scent, he had fallen into a deep sleep, disappointed once again upon waking that he had not been able to locate her in her dreams.

He re-entered the house and strapped his blade to his hip, relief filling him that he no longer had to guard Meena and Evelyn as his journey continued. He had avoided as much human interaction as possible on the way to Vreburn to keep them safe, but now nothing stood in his way. He would leave for Edras Mora and find Soren. He would explain what had happened with her father. And Maker help anyone who stood in his way, because if they did, he would teach them a whole new meaning of the word suffering.

The trio stood at the counter of the servant’s kitchen, filling their bellies while they waited for Jai to return. After Everett had broken the news about the wedding, Jai had stalked off without so much as a word. After an hour, Jai’s freckled friend had returned to the stables, promising to come back first thing in the morning. When Baz and Enara’s flirting had become too much for her to stomach, Soren had waved them off to their room, saying, “You have thirty minutes before I come to bed, mid-tumble or not.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Baz said as he nuzzled Enara’s neck, causing her to giggle.

His girlfriend raised a brow at him and smirked. “I love that you think you’ll last that long.”

“Why you?—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Enara had turned and run from the kitchen, leaving his jaw on the floor. He swiftly picked it up, giving Soren an impish grin, and ran after her.

Soren shook her head, and a smile spread across her lips, but her happiness was short-lived. Though she was delighted her friends had finally come together, she could not help but feel the absence of a certain man with snow-white hair.

Before her thoughts could linger, Jai sauntered into the room and stopped in surprise when he saw her. “Sorry, I thought you would all be asleep by now.”

“Baz and Enara needed some alone time, if you catch my meaning.”

“Ah,” he replied, leaning back against the counter. A smile played at his lips as he said, “So, they should only need five minutes, then?”

Soren burst out laughing. So the tracker’s got jokes. She unstoppered the bottle of whiskey that Everett had so graciously given them and made to pour him a drink, figuring it might take the edge off of Jai’s internal struggles.

The tracker gazed down at the glass, the amber liquid swirling menacingly as he twirled it around. Soren had poured him two fingers’ worth before proceeding to press the rest of the bottle to her lips, drinking deeply.

She tilted her head in question when he placed the glass back down without taking so much as a sip. “Not up to your standards, Your Highness?”

“I quit drinking a year ago,” he stated plainly, effectively shutting her up. “I went into a dark place for a while after leaving Adaryn, and it got me into some trouble. So, I decided to clean my act up.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have offered,” she said awkwardly and snatched his glass off the table, draining the liquid.

He chuckled at her, the corners of his lips turning upward. “I can stand to be around it, Soren; I just don’t drink it because I don’t know how to stop when I do.”

Soren contemplated this for a moment. She had the same problem when it came to alcohol, but she was not about to tell him that. Instead, she asked, “How are you feeling?”

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