Page 35 of Soul Forge

“And I married him,” Elda added cheerfully, forcing herself to brighten up. Edward’s brows crept so far upwards, they disappeared beneath his curly fringe.

“My condolences,” he answered eventually. Elda snorted when the Soul Forge scowled. The captain hid a reluctant smile behind her cup, but Elda still saw her lips twitch.

“You’re one of the few people I tolerate, Ed. Don’t push it,” Sypher muttered.

“Crack a smile, soldier,” the half-orc teased. “Any man lucky enough to have the princess on his arm should be dancing with joy, not trying to curdle his ale with his eyes.”

Sypher cast him a dark look. “Spend more than five minutes in her company, and you’ll reconsider that statement.”

The captain’s smile faded. “I can’t imagine you’re much fun either.”

Edward rolled his eyes. “Tssk, ignore him, ladies. He’s got an attitude problem. What can I get you to drink, Your Grace?”

“Wine, if you have any,” Elda answered. She needed something to steady her nerves after their crash landing.

“I have the finest wine in Eden.” He retreated to fetch a bottle from the cellar.

The princess turned and rested her elbow on the bar, propping her chin on her fist to fix the Soul Forge with a stare. Did any of the people in the village know his secret? And if the bartender knew, how could he remain so jovial?

“You’refriendswith him,” Elda noted, forcing herself to be normal. She nudged him with her free hand, trying to ignore the memory of eyes blacker than tar. He looked down at the spot where she’d touched him, then up at her face with something bordering on irritation. “I had no idea you could be nice.”

“I saved him from being eaten a few times.” He shrugged like it was no big deal. “The villagers are friendly because I spend more time out here than anywhere else.”

“The outlands across Valerus are suffering,” Reiner put in begrudgingly. “Since they don’t have the walls that protect the cities, the demons cause far more damage here than back home. He tries his best to stop that.”

“And there was me thinking you were just in it for the glory,” Elda teased, ignoring the stutter of her heart.

“Glory is a lie,” he grumbled, echoed by a quiet ‘hear hear’ from the captain. “Stories of battle are glamorised. War is a nightmare, and fighting demons is worse, but if I don’t do what I can, what’s the point of me?”

Elda watched Reiner’s head dip in agreement. The differences between herself and the two seasoned soldiers beside her had never been more apparent. She couldn’t imagine a life where her only purpose was battle, yet there she stood, on the cusp of that very future.

She could wait until they slept, then gather her pack and make a run for it, disappearing into the night to start a new life somewhere far away. They both seemed tired enough that sleep would be deep. She could even take one of Reiner’s knives to protect herself. Nobody would know her name, and if she kept her hair short, nobody would recognise her either.

But she was not one to flee from responsibility, no matter how much she wanted it, so she turned to the Soul Forge and rested her elbow on the bar, propping her chin on her hand to frown at him. Behind her, she heard Reiner shift on her stool, followed by the sound of an empty tankard hitting the wooden bar.

Elda frowned at the Soul Forge. “You must have more to live for than that, surely? Friends, a family?”

Sypher’s brow furrowed. “Something like that. Being who I am makes it hard to see them.” His fingers tightened around his cup. “I’m a weapon first and a person second.”

“Nobody is a weapon.”

“In your world, maybe,” Reiner remarked. When Elda turned to look at her, she was scowling. “You’ll soon learn that isn’t true.”

Sypher drained his tankard and stood slowly, one hand pressed to his ribs, addressing the bartender the moment he reappeared with a bottle in his hands. “Do you have any rooms free?”

“Only yours. We got a trading caravan through last night, and the captain here scryed me yesterday to book the only remaining room ahead of time.”

“You’re staying with me, Princess,” Reiner said immediately.

Edward looked up from the goblet he was filling with a frown. “Why do you need to separate a husband and wife?”

“Why do you need to ask so many questions?” the valkyrie shot back.

“It’s a marriage of inconvenience,” Elda quipped before anyone could start arguing. “I’m sure Sypher prefers his space.”

“Can I have the key?” he asked, ignoring her. Edward tossed it to him and went right back to pouring. “Be down here at sunrise,” the Soul Forge instructed, and then he limped away.

Elda watched him disappear upstairs, not missing the tightening around his eyes when he tucked his damaged wings in to avoid catching them on the narrow walls.

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