Page 123 of A Blightress of Wrath
Lannasmirked at me, folding her arms.
“What’sDremstone?”Iasked.
“Aprison in theAttatokMountains.Therearen’t many prisoners there, but enough that everyone knows of it.I’msorry you had to endure that.”
“Thankyou for cutting in.Idon’t think my punch would have been as effective as yours.”
Shereached out, squeezing my bicep. “Idon’t know,Sae,Ithink with some training, you’d have a place in theRunners.”
Ilaughed with her and she jerked her head to the southern side of the city walls.Ifollowed her, adjusting my gait so the thin heels of my shoes didn’t sink into the ash covered dirt.
Shepaused and touched my shoulder. “Just…don’t tellThevinabout that if you don’t mind.I’dhate to have to officially reprimand him for what he’d do about it.”
“Noted,”Ireplied. “Howare things going out here?”
“Betternow that we have a solidified plan.”Shestopped, her eyes trailing the long line of tents outside of the city. “Imeant whatIsaid at the gathering.Ifyou change your mind?—”
“Iwon’t,”Iassured. “Thankyou for sticking up for me in there.”Iscoffed, rolling my eyes. “Andback there.”
“You’rewelcome,” she said, but her smile faltered. “Itruly hope your father is found and saved from…wherever he is.”
“You…you remember him fondly, don’t you?”
“Yes.Hewas always so kind to me, thoughI’donly met him twice.Thelast time, he promised to fight monsters inFelgrenwith me someday.”
“Monsters?”Ikept at her side as we moved on. “Thereare no monsters inFelgren.”
Sheshrugged. “Hewasn’t sure if there were or not.Buthe spoke of great fae warriors who fought them.Maybethey killed them off—Idon’t knowFelgrenhistory.Evenif it was just a story,BaronRevichspoke kindly to me and admired my desire to fight instead of trying to drown it like my mother did.Idon’t doubt that he left because he felt he had to.Andthat is worth something in itself,Sae.”
Ichoked down my tears, stopping her and pulling her into an embrace.Shedidn’t laugh or deny me whatIbelieved we both needed and hugged me back.
Iswallowed and squeezed her tightly. “Itis obvious to me whyThevinhas chosen you as such a close friend.”
Shedid laugh at that, replying with a tight squeeze. “Andthe reason he chose you for a certain role in his life is clear to me as well.”
“Didhe tell you—”Istarted, pulling back from her arms.
Sheheld up a hand. “Hehasn’t said a word.Infact, he refuses to tell me anything, even thoughIcan read him like a bookIwrote myself.”Sheshrugged. “Hisfeelings for you are obvious to anyone who gets a glimpse of you two side by side for five seconds.”
Igrimaced at that, thinking of all the times we’d laughed carefree together, danced together, held hands for no reason other than to just be touching.
Shecontinued, “AllI’msaying is that he’s been…moody and a bit more…defensive of you since you leftFelgren.Don’tget me wrong, he talks about you constantly to anyone who will listen, but actually seeing him around you…”—she blew a puff of air from her lips—“it’s a whole other thing.”
Itilted my head back, wanting to scream my frustrations into the cooling night air.Thestars above winked back at me, the moon a hazy green hue from my mother’s shield she held all the way to theBlightLinea few hundred feet from us.
“Alright,I’vesaid whatIwanted to say about it.C’mon.”Shepulled me along andIchewed on my lip, my mind a whirl of what exactlyI’dsay toThevintonight and howI’dsay it.
Shebrought me to a dark blue tent with a pattern of thistle hurriedly sewn across its flaps. “Thevin!” she called. “Someone’shere to see you!”
Hestepped out barefoot, obviously preparing for sleep.Anunmistakable joy danced in his pale blue eyes as he reached for me with a wide grin. “Sae!Whatare you doing all the way out here?”
“Goodquestion,”Lannamumbled and we both glared at her. “Fine,I’mleaving.I’llbe right over there in my tent when you’re ready to head back to the castle.”
“Mymother asked forThevinto bring me back,”Isaid quickly as she stepped away.
Iheard her laughter, but she didn’t turn around, replying loudly, “Interesting.Iwonder why.”
“Yes,”Thevinstarted, “she’s always like that.”
