Page 159 of Silverbow
“And the gnomes will…”
“They’ll pass it along their tunnels while we take the long way around.” Liam’s disbelief must have been painted on his face. “You never noticed the gnomes in Greenridge Forest?”
“There are no gnomes in Greenridge Forest.”
Colm barked a laugh and clapped him on the shoulder as he turned Lanta back toward the picket line Aiden was setting. Liam peered again into the ferns, but there was nothing there. He followed back into the camp and perched on an oddly comfortable stone bench as the madman tended a kettle over the fire.
Enya and Oryn were still at the stream, but the others had gathered around. They sat, passing a bottle of dark amber liquid around the fire.
“Say Colm, you’ve known a Second or two, haven’t you?” Aiden asked from where he lounged on an elbow.
“I have.”
“Are they all so bloody…” He glanced at Liam before choosing his word. “Unhinged?”
Bade huffed a laugh as a grin broke out across the other man’s face. “I’d say the line runs true.”
“I pity whatever poor fool tries to make her his wife,” Aiden sighed.
Liam felt heat creeping up his collar as the fire wielder flashed him a knowing look. The others, he realized, were pointedly not meeting his gaze.
“Enya doesn’t want a husband,” Liam said flatly.
“So we’ve heard. She’ll come around one day when she’s older and wiser,” he winked.
Colm cocked his head. “You know, by relative lifespan, I’d reckon she’s older than you, Aiden.”
“Definitely wiser,” she chirped, coming to the fire on Oryn’s heels.
Aiden gave her a mock bow from his perch and offered her the bottle. Enya seemed immune to the smoke as she took a long pull that made Liam shudder.
“That’s not saying much,” Bade drawled.
Enya clutched the bottle to her chest. “Gods Bade, was that a joke?”
“That’s unfair,” Aiden objected. “I’ve never walked into a dragon’s lair. Or set a soldier’s outpost on fire.”
“You did set my tent on fire. Thrice,” Bade grumbled.
“My townhouse,” Colm said.
“Don’t forget the Sun Palace,” Oryn added.
“Remember that wedding in Zeskayra?”
Bade and Oryn let out deep, rumbling laughs and the fire wielder threw up his hands in surrender. Liam watched Enya drag her comb through her long copper hair and stare at the loose waves hanging over her shoulder. He tapped the dirt in front of where he sat in silent invitation.
“You will?” She asked.
“‘Course.”
He could feel Oryn’s eyes boring into him as Enya gingerly sat and Liam combed his fingers through her long tresses.
“I didn’t realize you were a handmaiden too,” Aiden mocked as he wove a neat braid down her scalp.
“I’ll be whatever Enya asks,” he retorted, glaring over her head at Oryn.
“How’s the healing holding up?” Colm asked.
