Page 32 of The Warrior
“I promise, I’ll ask her.”
CHAPTER 10
Fight at a Funeral
Magni
Honoring my promise to Mila, I called Laura around eleven that night.
She sounded tired when she answered. “Hey.”
“Why haven’t you called me?” I kicked off my shoes and threw myself on my couch.
“You know what would be really nice for a change, Magni.”
“What?”
“If you didn’t start every conversation with a complaint.”
“It’s a fair question. You know I worry.”
She yawned. “I fell asleep, that’s why.”
I wrinkled my forehead. “Do you get enough sleep?”
“I was working on it, but then you called and woke me up.”
“Who’s complaining now? At leastIcare about you.”
She was quiet.
“Hello?” I bent my knee to pull off my sock when her words made me stop and listen.
“It’s not that I don’t care about you, Magni.”
My heart ran a victory round and I wanted her to say more. When she didn’t, I repeated her words. “You care?”
“Yes.”
I wanted Laura to elaborate, but she didn’t.
“I went to see Mila today. We talked about you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Laura, do you remember being at a funeral when you were about twelve years old?”
“Hmm, yes, I remember.”
“Mila wants me to ask you if you saw me there.” I closed my eyes, remembering the way Laura had been glued to her sister and looked shy with all eyes on her. With my eyes closed and her voice clear in my ear, I pretended she was next to me.
“Yes, I saw you,” she breathed.
“Are you just saying that?”
“No, Magni. I remember because people would step aside when you walked through the room. I thought it was because you were the son of the ruler, but then I saw Lord Khan come in and it was the opposite. People flocked to him.”
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “Yeah, I’m afraid you married the socially awkward brother. People don’t like me much.”
