Page 9 of Frostforge: Passage Four
Thalia slid onto the bench across from him, her own bowl of porridge untouched before her.Any other morning, she might have matched his banter, added her own complaints about missing the spiced teas and honeyed breads of Verdant Port.Today, the words stuck in her throat.
"Roran," she said, her voice low and steady."We need to talk."
Something in her tone cut through his cheerful facade.His smile faltered, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her face."That sounds ominous."
Thalia glanced around.Too many ears, too many eyes."Not here," she murmured, rising from her seat."Bring your breakfast."
He followed without question, balancing his bowl and a chunk of dark, stale bread as she led him to a quieter corner of the hall, near one of the massive stone hearths that kept the chill at bay.The crackling fire would mask their voices from casual eavesdroppers.
"You're making me nervous, Greenspire," Roran said as they settled on a bench, his attempt at lightness not quite reaching his eyes."Last time you looked this serious, we were facing down a half-dozen Warden ships, and that didn’t go very well for me."
Thalia placed her bowl on the hearth's edge, hunger forgotten."The rumors about you from last year — they haven't gone away."
Roran tore off a piece of bread, the movement casual, but his fingers betrayed a slight tension."They've died down considerably.I'm hardly getting any sideways looks anymore."
"You're not paying attention, then."Thalia leaned closer, voice dropping further."Last night, Luna and I overheard Einar and his friends.They're still convinced you're working with the Isle Wardens."
Roran's laugh was soft but dismissive."Einar Frost-for-brains?He's been after me since the first year."
"This isn't a joke, Roran."
"Who says I'm joking?"He shrugged, spooning up another bite of porridge."Getting stabbed by a Warden was the best thing that could've happened to me.Now nobody thinks they're on my side."His smile turned wry."It would be a nasty way to treat an ally, don't you think?"
The memory of Roran's blood spreading across the slick boards of a skiff’s deck flashed through Thalia's mind.Her fingers curled into fists beneath the table."This isn't the time for humor."
"It's exactly the time for humor," he countered, though his voice softened at her expression."Look, it's much better this year.Nowhere near as many stares.Even the instructors have eased up."He nudged her bowl toward her."Eat your gruel.You'll need your strength to terrorize those first years of yours."
"Einar called you 'the Isle Warden,'" Thalia pressed."They're planning something, Roran.I don't know what, but it's not just talk this time.They have it out for all of the Southerners, too.Not just you."
Something flickered in his eyes then — a momentary crack in his carefree mask.But it vanished as quickly as it appeared."Einar is just one idiot."
"With friends.Influential friends."
"Who are all too busy trying to impress Instructor Wolfe to bother with me."He set down his spoon, meeting her gaze directly."I appreciate the concern.Really.But you don't need to worry.Besides —" he lowered his voice to a near-whisper "— you and Ashe are the only ones who know my secret.As long as that doesn't change, I'm safe."
Thalia hesitated, guilt twisting in her stomach."That's...not entirely true."
"What?"
"Luna knows," she admitted, watching his expression carefully."She's seen you practicing your magic."
At that, finally, Roran’s face fell."That's not possible.I was careful."
"Luna sees everything," Thalia said quietly."But she won't tell anyone.She's on our side."
"You can't know that."For the first time that morning, real fear edged into his voice, which Thalia found almost gratifying."If word gets out —"
"It won't.Not from her."Thalia reached across the table, her fingers finding his wrist."But that's why you need to be careful.Watch your back.Keep your head down."
Roran pulled his arm away, the gesture less a rejection than a retreat."How long has she known?"
"I don't know exactly.But Luna wouldn't have kept quiet this long just to betray you now."
He nodded slowly, but the ease had gone out of him, replaced by a tightly coiled tension Thalia recognized from their most dangerous moments at the academy."I'll be careful," he finally said, his voice low and serious.
"Good."Thalia pushed her bowl toward him, her appetite completely gone now."And stay away from the fjord for a while.Find somewhere else to practice, somewhere no one will stumble across you."
Roran nodded again, his gaze distant, calculating.Then, with visible effort, he forced his expression back to something resembling nonchalance."Enough doom and gloom.Tell me about these recruits of yours.As terrible as mine?"
