Page 13 of A Kiss of Embers
He clapped her on the shoulder. “Ashryn loves the winter. She complains tirelessly during the summer about the hot temperatures. But the snowy season? I caught her stargazing in the snow once.”
“The cold was refreshing.” She laughed, and the outer shell of her anxiety cracked at his jest. She glanced at Sylvain and held an arm around her torso, which revealed yet another shell layer. “I would love to visit Albrasia someday.”
Sylvain perked up and delved deeper into the culture and traditions, especially when he had an enraptured audience. Ashryn clung to his every word.
Bastien hid his smile by glancing in the opposite direction to survey his surroundings once again. As the moon hid behind a layer of thick clouds, the way through the forest was almost indiscernible. Without his years of practice familiarizing himself with the landscape, he would have been lost.
Aside from the occasional patrol group crossing their path, the forest was silent. No activity other than hooting owls and a bubbling brook marred the stillness of the atmosphere.
They decided to stop for the night to eat supper and sleep, each agreeing to take turns for watch. Cranky Cricket wanted every group to patrol throughout the entire night. And, naturally, they needed to get sleep at some point while other patrols were awake.
He and Sylvain gathered firewood and sparked a fire while Ashryn laid out their bedrolls around the contained flames. The other two sat across from him with their backs against a log while he sat on the other side of the fire, cross-legged on his own bedroll.
Although he focused on adding sticks to the fire, he couldn’t help but notice the way Sylvain shared his meal of dried elk meat and hard bread with Ashryn. The sight warmed his heart. But it also invited a pit of deep loneliness into his soul. If their relationship worked out, Ashryn would likely settle in Albrasia with the man.
And Bastien would be alone.
As if sensing his sobering thoughts, Ashryn lobbed a piece of meat at him, smacking him on the side of the head.
“Oops,” she said innocently while she smirked. “I missed.”
He threw it right back at her, but she caught it in the air. They both laughed, effectively silencing the bout of loneliness screaming for attention.
Sylvain glanced back and forth between them, the same serious expression from before. Instead of remaining quiet about the exchange, he motioned between Bastien and Ashryn. “You two don’t have a thing, do you?”
He grimaced at his carelessness and met Ashryn’s gaze across the fire. Her eyes silently pleaded with him, taking him by surprise. Of course, he knew she liked the man. Butlike-liked? They’d only just met.
He and Ashryn had agreed to a casual on-and-off relationship until someone better came along. Perhaps, after all these years, this was her someone better.
Once again, he grimaced to downplay their casual involvement in the past. “Me and Ashryn? Autumns, no. She’s my best friend and will never be anything more.”
“Ah,” the man grunted, though Bastien didn’t miss the faintest relief in the corner of his upturned mouth. “I see.”
And when Sylvain turned his attention to his hard bread, Ashryn mouthedthank youto him. He simply replied with a genuine smile and slowly stood as he brushed crumbs off his pants. “I’m going to do another patrol round to make sure the area is safe before we settle down for the night. I should be back in…” He glanced between the two of them. “…an hour.”
He wasn’t shocked when neither protested against him being gone longer than he really ought to. He could sense when his presence wasn’t wanted.
Making sure he carried all his weapons, he stepped out of the small clearing and walked straight ahead until the flickering light from the fire disappeared altogether.
Only then did his shoulders droop.
What kind of life was this? To forever be alone. Without a wife. Without children. Without a true purpose in life other than to follow orders and protect people who didn’t care about him. A part of him resented his father for bringing him here as a child instead of allowing him to stay with his mother before her death. With his sister. Nyana had a great life with children and a good husband to care for her.
And him?
He had nothing. And he never would.
Because he loved his father too much to leave him.
Not wanting to despair over his lack of future, he focused heavily on his surroundings. He listened to the leaves swaying in the breeze. He studied each shadow and silhouette hiding in the darkness. And when he decided approximately an hour had passed, he followed the path back to the camp, dragging his feet on the ground to announce his presence just in case…well…just in case things were getting heated. Knowing Ashryn, they probably were.
The moment he entered the clearing, he chuckled at finding the two cuddled together. Their legs were tangled together, their bodies close as her head rested against his chest in sleep. Both breathed deeply with eyes closed, arms around each other.
He hoped for the best for them. He truly did.
“I suppose I’ll take the first watch.” He chuckled again and shook his head when neither answered. But then his eyebrows furrowed when he spotted something small protruding from Sylvain’s upper shoulder. However, when he moved closer to inspect it, something sharp stung the back of his neck.
He hissed, hand flying to his neck. And slowly, his eyes widened as he plucked the sharp item out, only to study it in front of his face. A dart. It was an Ember dart.
