Page 85 of The Warrior
“That’s a bad idea.” Finn turned and looked at her. “I don’t want us to split up.” The love that shone from him made me even more certain that I wanted what Athena and Finn had. They were so relaxed around each other, but then Athena was incredibly wise, and Finn had always been easy-going and fun.
“I wish Magni and I were more like you two,” I blurted out.
Finn spun and looked at me. “That’s funny.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve spent my whole life looking up to Magni wishing I was like him.”
“You have?”
“He has,” Athena confirmed. “It’s one of the things we have had the most discussions about.”
“Everybody looks up to Magni.” Tristan had found an apple and was talking while chewing. “I don’t know a single boy at the school who doesn’t want to be him when they grow up.”
Finn gave a mock expression of disappointment. “I thought you wanted to be like me.”
Tristan looked conflicted. “I do.”
“But?”
“It’s just that… Well, have you seen Magni fight?”
“Yeah, I’ve seen him fight all right. I’ve taken punches from him since I was your age.”
“He’s so fast, and one time, when he and Archer were sparring they kept going until Kya screamed at them to stop. Archer is a phenomenal fighter, but he almost collapsed with exhaustion, while Magni just asked if anyone else wanted to spar with him.”
“Yup, he’s always been like that. A machine.”
“But that’s the fucking problem, Finn,” I said and threw my hands up in the air. “Sometimes he’s more machine than man. I wish he would show more emotions.” I stopped talking when I sensed all three of them staring at me.
“Uh-oh, someone has to go outside,” Tristan said in a singsong voice, pointing at me while looking at Athena.
“What do you mean I have to go outside?” I asked them.
“Athena always makes me go outside when I used the F word.” Finn scrunched up his face. “She might look sweet and all, but trust me, Athena can be coldhearted. I’ve been standing outside in the snow waiting for her forgiveness, just for using the F word.”
Athena nodded. “What can I say, I don’t like it when people swear in my house.”
With a mischievous grin, Finn looked from Laura to me. “Lucky for you, Laura, this is now my house too, and I don’t give a flying fuck about people swearing in my house.”
“Finn.” Athena’s eyes bulged. “Not in front of Tristan.”
“He’smyson, and he just spent two weeks in the Northlands. I’m pretty sure he’s gotten used to people swearing by now.”
Tristan confirmed it. “You should’ve heard the boys, Athena, they knew some awesome words.”
She gave a sigh of resignation. “There is nothing awesome about people swearing. It’s a low level of communication and it’s offensive.”
Finn smacked his tongue. “Nonsense. It’s fun and colorful. Like spices on food.”
Athena turned to look at me. “Do you see what I mean? Told you Finn could be challenging.”
Finn laughed, and brought two cups of tea for us. “Sorry, darling, you’re not going to find any sympathy from Laura on this subject. She’s one of us; raised to use the full scope of the English vocabulary. A little swearing doesn’t offend her.”
“It really doesn’t,” I agreed and took my cup of tea.
Athena picked up her cup too. “That would make me the challenging one then, I suppose, because it really does hurt my ears.”
