Page 110 of Thorns & Fire
CHAPTER 44
Torj
‘The sense of responsibility a guard feels for his ward is prolific, even when circumstances go beyond their control, dedication, or skill’
– Vigilance and Valour: Tactical Training for Professional Bodyguards
‘KIPP,’ TORJ GROANED.‘Not so loud, for Furies’ sake.’
His head was pounding.A fact made no better by Kipp’s jovial recounting of the previous night’s antics at the Mortar and Pestle over the breakfast table.
‘I did warn you that you were overindulging,’ Kipp said with an infuriating smirk.
‘Horseshit.You practically poured the fire extract down my throat.’
Kipp scoffed.‘Let’s be realistic, Bear Slayer.Could I, with my mere average mortal strength, actually force you to do anything?’
Torj simply grunted.‘I should throttle you anyway.’
‘Drink this first,’ Wren said from beside him, removing a spoon from a fresh cup of juice and pushing it towards him.
‘If you’re meaning to poison me, I think I did enough of that myself last night,’ he muttered, taking the cup.‘Or perhaps you mean to put me out of my misery.’
‘Has anyone ever told you you’re a touch dramatic when you’re hungover?’Wren asked, her lips quirking to the side.
‘It’s not dramatic if you’re dying, Embers,’ he replied gruffly, eyeing the offered drink suspiciously.
Wren pushed it closer to him.‘Who knew Warswords were such babies?It’s a rehydration tonic,’ she added.
‘Where’s mine?’Kipp blurted, looking hurt.
Wren laughed.‘I suspect any water in your poor body turned to sour mead long ago.You don’t need one.’
Kipp turned to Dessa, pouting.‘You’ll make me one, won’t you, beautiful alchemist?’
Dessa snorted.‘You made your bed, Kristopher.Now you need to lie in it.Adepts don’t have time to make fools hangover cures.’
Mouth agape, Kipp thrust a finger in Wren’s direction.‘Wren did for Torj!’
Dessa smiled slyly at the Delmirian heir.‘She did indeed...Why is that, I wonder?’
Torj was too hungover for this shit, but he didn’t miss the glare Wren sent Dessa’s way, or the delicious blush that stained the tips of her cheeks.
He brought the cup to his lips and downed the lot.His eyes bulged, and he only just managed to keep the foul liquid in and not spray it across the table.
Chest heaving, he turned, horrified, to Wren.‘That was disgusting.’
‘The price you pay for blowing off so much steam,’ she said with a shrug.
The fact that she had recognized why he’d ‘overindulged,’ as Kipp put it, was a testament to how well she knew him.He’d typically have a few drinks here and there, but he never got caught up in the chaos, not since becoming her guard – with the exception of last night.
They’d watched the stars together.
He’d held her hand.
He’d memorized the constellation of freckles across her nose in the moonlight.
‘Are you coming, Torj?’Her voice cut through the haze of his thoughts.
