“No.”
Amethyst scoffed, “What? We can go directly to Agrowl. There is no reason to stay in –”
“For you. There is no reason for you,” Mira said coldly, “Ravenna and Bobabano need to appear for the tournament. I want to see –”
“The knight?” Bo raised an eyebrow.
“My friend.”
“We don’t need to risk your arrest because of some boy!” The older orc threw her hands in the air, “We can stop and drop off the gifts. You can sneak out and say your goodbyes. Then, we claim Ravenna is sick and must return to –”
“No,” She broke out into a fit of coughs, “We will stop. I’m not discussing it anymore.”
All eyes fell on her as she wiped the black sludge from her lips. Although they all wanted to change her mind, only one person responded.
“We have two more days to change her mind,” Bo shrugged.
“You all can head back to Agrowl right away if it’s so important,” She said flatly, “I’m finding my friend.”
“What, is this knight some sort of lover?” He scoffed, “You don’t need to –”
“Neither of you would understand!” The inhuman voice echoed with her own.
Mira gripped her chest as she coughed into her hand. Bo wrapped an arm around her as she lurched forward and heaved more. More tarry sludge fell from her mouth. Amethyst quickly cut her palm and placed it on Mira’s back.
“You’re not well,” He grunted, “We should—”
She lightly smacked him to get off of her, “I’m fine. I just need to rest more.”
“Exactly. We should—” Amethyst interrupted.
“No. It won’t disrupt any plans,” She wheezed as she regained her breath, “We can leave after the tournament is over.”
“Then how do you propose we get you into Hangral without an incident? If you don’t remember, there are guards everywhere on this ship!”
Thesson couldn’t ignore the trio. The dwarf walked up to them and sighed.
“Well, there is a way. If she is part of a diplomatic party…” He looked between the orcs, “She technically can’t be arrested without possible political problems. Especially if it is of guests personally invited by the queen.”
“So, if Mira is a guest in my entourage, then they can’t arrest her,” Bobabano grinned, “Then, it’s settled.”
“You know, it may be better if –” Amethyst shook her head, “Never mind. Lady Mira, how much longer do you need to rest?”
“I should be well enough by the time we reach the capital. We are only two days behind,” She shrugged, “Encante is healing me with the blood I was given after I collapsed. Thankfully, I had enough energy to break the ice when I woke up. I will reframe from using spells unless necessary.”
“Thank you, for saving me –all of us,” Bobabano placed a hand on her.
Mira flinched away from him. His only response was to lazily grabbed the air where she was. He chuckled and shook his head.
“You flinch from me when you’re awake… yet you grab for me in your sleep.”
She looked away and whispered, “You said you wouldn’t talk about it.”
“It’s okay to admit you like me,” He winked, “Many women do.”
“I do not.”
“He is teasing you,” Thesson told her.
“She know that,” He chuckled.
“I—” Mira closed her eyes, “I am still having difficulties with some social situations. Thank you, Thesson.”
“Oh,” The orc cleared his throat, “Sorry.”
“I want to see my friend,” She looked to Amethyst, “After that, I’ll go to Agrowl without hesitation. I just want to see my last friend, first.”
“Last?” Bobabano raised an eyebrow, “Why would he –”
Mira walked away from them without another word. She crossed the deck and ignored each sailor that thanked her. She just wanted time alone. Even how sickly and weak she felt, Mira just wanted quiet to rest in. There was always so much noise with all these people. She preferred to be alone.
She looked up at the main mast of the ship and climbed up the rope ladder. She sank against the crow’s nest and waited for a peaceful moment. She realized she wouldn’t receive one when Bobabano sat next to her. She glared at him when he made himself comfortable.
“I forgot that you haven’t had many friends,” He frowned, “Forgive me.”
“Jonen is my last friend. I want to say goodbye if I never see him again,” She tucked her arms around her legs, “After that, I’ll do whatever you want, Bobabano.”
“I’m your friend,” He grunted, “And my friends call me Bo.”
Her honey-colored eyes stared sadly at him, “Why would you call me a friend?”
“Well,” He chuckled, “What else would you call the person you hold in bed to stop their nightmares? I don’t exactly snuggle up next to my enemies.”
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“Tella called me a friend when I did that,” She nodded, “Okay… we are friends, then?”
“Yes,” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, “Come here.”
“Why is this so comforting?” She closed her eyes and leaned her head into his chest.
“Because a strong and devilishly handsome man is giving you attention?”
“Will your lovers be upset?”
“My what?” He blinked.
“Women do not like when their lovers are physically close to another woman. You said many women like you. Will your—”
His laughter shook them. Bo squeezed her against him and shook his head. She leaned away from him as he calmed himself.
“Goddess above, no Mira. I don’t have any lovers. At least, nothing more serious than a night here or there.”
“I see. So, it is okay if –”
“If having me in your bed helps you sleep, then I will be there every night,” His voice lowered to a serious tone, “You’re going to be my queen, after all. Whatever you need me for, I will be.”
“I just want a friend,” She rested her head against him again, “I now have two.”
“I’m sure Ravenna and Tiero would consider you a friend.”
“Tiero is too engrained into the order and only refers to me as a lady. I doubt he would drop that. He can’t even call you Bo. As for her,” She pursed her lips, “Ravenna is scared of me.”
“You have frightening powers,” He playfully elbowed her, “But, I’m sure she will. Just give it time.”
“What if Jonen doesn’t consider me a friend anymore?” Her quiet, shy words were barely above a whisper.
“He would be an idiot. You are a good friend to have.”
“I don’t know if I believe you,” She chuckled and knocked a finger against his chest, “Considering my record with friendships and how our relationship started.”
“I admit we got off to a rocky start,” He snorted, “But you said you saved his life, right? I’m sure he will at least be happy to see you are free and awake.”
“You don’t think he’ll hate me too?”
“He’s an elf, right?” Bo scratched at the stubble on his face, “They are idiots. Almost as bad as humans or dwarves.”
He winked when she looked up at him with a frown. She shook her head when she realized.
“Teasing. I get it.”
He rubbed a hand down her arm and pointed to the clouds above them. She moved to sit further from him so they both had room, but he grabbed her by the hips.
“Mira, just get comfortable.”
“There’s not enough room for us both to –”
He pulled her down onto his lap and lazily held her against him. She froze in place to decide if this was something she wanted. Her hands gripped into the large muscles of his arm. She fought her instincts to jump to the deck below.
“You are safe,” Encante’s voice soothed her, “Just relax.”
Mira let go of his arm and loosened her muscles. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“Bo, I am small.”
“Yes. I know this. It’s why I can –”
“Please do not move me without permission.”
“Oh, I’m –”
“I am not used to physical touch yet,” She patted his arm, “I will try and get pass my hesitations as quickly as I can. I just… I don’t want to hurt you out of instinct.”
“Oh,” He pursed his lips, “What were you about to do?”
“Break your arm and jump.”
“I see,” He moved his arm, “I thought it would be more comfortable if –”
Mira turned to sit comfortably on his lap. Her legs tucked against him, and she rested her head on his chest again. She placed her hands in her lap and sighed.
“Can I…” He moved his arms awkwardly.
“Yes.”
Bo hugged the small woman against him, “Better?”
She didn’t respond, but he felt her try not to sob.
“Hey, Mira,” He whispered and squeezed her against him, “It’s okay. If you just want to cry, then just do that.”
“I shouldn’t cry.”
“It’s just us up here. Nobody else has to see you be weak,” His hand scratched her back, “As your friend, I’ll keep it a secret. I promise.”
“I don’t want to be this way.”
As she cried into him, black mist radiated off of her. The chill bit into his skin and he shivered.
“Sorry,” She dabbed at her eyes, “I have a harder time controlling that if I am emotional.”
“It’s fine,” He kissed the top of her head, “You do it in your sleep too.”
She gasped and froze beneath him. Bo stopped when he realized what he did. He moved his arms from around her and tried to gage what she was thinking from her stoic face.
“I am so—”
“That used to hurt,” Her giddy laugh surprised him, “It doesn’t hurt anymore!”
“What?”
Mira grabbed him by the shirt and brought his face to hers. She kissed him quickly then laughed. He blinked in surprise as she giggled and clapped.
“It doesn’t hurt!”
“I –” He grinned, “Did you just –”
“Oh!” She covered her face with her hands, “Sorry! I should have –”
“No, no,” He cleared his throat, “That’s fine. Just… why?”
She refused to look at him as she buried her face in his chest. He chuckled at her embarrassment.
“I… I was never able to do that without my brand hurting me,” She tucked her hair behind her ear, “I just… I got excited when it didn’t hurt.”
“You’ve never been kissed?” He raised an eyebrow and smirked, “Well, if you –”
“I had a kiss once.”
“Once?”
She nodded, “Before, most attention hurt because I wasn’t allowed any romantic relationships. Even something as simple as holding hands would burn.”
“Oh, so you’ve never –”
“No.”
He chuckled, “Well –”
“Bo, don’t make me regret sharing this with you.”
“I’m teasing,” He kissed the top of her head again, “Besides, you’re the one that kissed me.”
“It was a mistake,” She scrunched her nose, “It won’t happen again.”
“No need to apologize,” He grinned, “I just didn’t expect it from you.”
“I can be normal,” A childish excitement carried her whisper, “I can try so many new things.”
Bobabano smiled at how her eyes sparkled with joy, “Like what?”
“I can go to a library and get whatever book I want!”
He snorted and she ignored him.
“I can go out drinking and dancing!”
“That I can get behind!” He laughed, “I can’t imagine you drunk.”
“I’ve never been. I was instructed to burn all alcohol from my system after I felt its effects.”
“So, my mission is to get you drunk and in someone’s bed?”
She frowned, “I—”
Mira gripped her chest as she heaved. Bo patted her back as the tar left her lips. She wiped her mouth on her arm and groaned. He brushed some residue from her face and looked at her with concern.
“Do you need more blood?”
“No, I’ll be okay.”
“I can give you some,” He reached for the knife on his belt.
“It wouldn’t do enough,” She closed her eyes, “I need a source with talent. Amethyst’s is particularly powerful.”
“Because she’s a blood mage?” He saw her nod, “I see. Should I call her up, then?”
“No,” Mira placed a hand on his chest, “I want to be with my friend.”
“Okay,” He combed her hair with his fingers, “It can be just us.”
She sighed, “I do not want to crawl into someone’s bed just because I can.”
“You’re right… It would be weird for you to crawl into another person’s bed,” He chuckled, “How awkward would it be when I come in to sleep next to you?”
She furiously shook her head, “Now you’re teasing me.”
“Yes,” He chuckled, “I do that with my friends.”
“Do you share beds with them too?”
“Not since I was very young. I made an exception for you.”
“I see.”
“Though, if I was drunk enough, Tiero would probably sleep next to me to make sure I woke up.”
An awkward moment passed as he comforted her. Bo leaned his head against the wall and looked up into the cloudy sky. He felt odd speaking so candidly with the woman he hunted for years to kill. Now, she sat in his lap the most vulnerable, and emotive, he ever saw her. He wanted nothing more to protect the innocent excitement of her new freedom.
“What else do you want to try?”
She clapped her hands together, “I can buy sweets!”
“What else?”
“I don’t know,” Mira hummed, “I never thought to want to do anything when I was a thrall.”
“Why?”
“Isaan always said no,” She whispered, “Why seek disappointment?”
“I’m sure we can think of something,” He rubbed her arm, “You’re a free woman. I will take you to do anything you want.”
“Thank you,” Mira waited he made eye contact with her, “I’m glad you’re my friend.”
Bobabano pretended to clear his throat to cover the blush on his face. Her genuine smile warmed his heart. He hadn’t seen a woman that happy for something so small before. He found it adorable and couldn’t help but smile himself.