For the love of Thorin, it’s getting to be like every time we come back to the temple again at least one of us is hurt. I’m getting worried about this turning into a genuine pattern. Sooner or later one of us ain’t gonna be coming back at all.

Damn it … that idea almost makes me trip over my own feet before I can make it all the way into the medical wing, and as it is I can’t help clenching my fists as I skip to keep my feet. Hissing in a sharp breath, I do my best to banish the thought of Gael’s continued enforced absence from my head, I got too much to concentrate on right now, and most o’ what we’re doing is for them anyway. So I just let it out in a low hiss and home in on my destination, vaguely mindful of the others scurrying along in my wake trying hard to keep up.

Art ain’t among ‘em. He disappeared soon as the rest got back, seems he wanted some time alone. I heard about what he did from Zuldrad, who seemed shook himself, although in spite o’ the bloodstains still darkening his hair in places telling me their own story mostly he just looked particularly down. Well, more’n usual. Not that I’m surprised – between ‘em they both just had a hand in killing someone they once considered a friend. A close one, since childhood, another Guild foundling.

It's interesting, to me Granzun was just an obstacle, a fucking scary one, I’ll admit, vaguely remembering catching glimpses of what he was capable of in the rare lulls during my fight with Vandryss. When I heard Art was the one finally cut him down I mostly just felt relief, but once the implication sunk in I felt like a bastard for wanting to make light o’ this particular death. To be honest, I never really done something like that before, never had actual cause. I never found myself in the position where someone I considered a friend suddenly turned on me, I genuinely don’t know how I’d actually react …

I had a mind to go find him, try and comfort him, but then Krakka filled me in on the rest, let me know they took some other hits beside Art’s emotional one. Nobody was dead, but Shay came close again, and Yes got messed up by another nasty little surprise from Tavarrat. I damn near spat on the floor hearing that, only just remembering where we actually are in time to stop myself, but I didn’t even try to rein myself in after, just turned right round and started my aggressive stalk over here.

After making our swift exit from the playhouse, Tulen did as I asked, jumping us away as soon as we’d stepped outside the stage door into the wide alley round the back o’ the expansive building. I remember turning just before I closed my eyes after taking my breath in anticipation, seeing the door burst open to let Dramrath Mallys spill through with a complicated look on her face, moving fast as she made to leap down the remaining steps. But then Tulen spoke the incantation and I screwed my eyes shut again after all, and then we were moving again without really seeming to move, just that weird twisting pull, and when we landed and I stumbled away I couldn’t really be sure if I’d seen it or just imagined. That particular showdown had been avoided, then.

We weren’t back at the temple in the end, though. Instead I’d asked Tulen to port us to the Iron Shark so we could collect our gear. Given that we’re essentially guests of Minerva right now, it makes no real sense for us to still have rooms we ain’t using in the hotel, so I figured it was time to check out. Leaving Tulen with Sonagh in order to start making the arrangements, I went up with Thel to get the rest o’ my stuff before coming back down to retrieve some of our horses. By this point Tulen had gotten in contact with the temple so they could get some of their people over to collect what we wound up leaving behind before settling the bill through the Order itself, again laying the cost on Saxiros. Which freed her up to collect her own gear while I saw to Trampler.

Gods, the old horse had clearly missed me. Maybe there were a few moments o’ reproach to begin with, like I went out my way to abandon him for more than a week, but I won him over quick enough, offering up an apple he made disappear in two greedy bites. When the young wizard came for her own mount he was licking my face and I was indulging him, figuring he’d earned the right with whatever patience he’d managed while I was gone.

In the end Tulen took the time to draw out a proper circle for us all rather than risk wiping herself out again trying to port us all along with four substantial horses, Sonagh coming back with Yeslee’s big mare while Thel rode Krakka’s. She put a little trick into it, so it would dissolve soon as she completed the spell, but I doubt we really needed to worry about being followed this time, there’s no way they’re watching the hotel. They already know full well where we are. So we ported back and put the horses up in the stables adjoining the large chamber containing the temple’s established teleportation circles, trusting the stewards to take care of ‘em while they waited for the rest to arrive after. I spent a few more moments with Trampler before I left, and I’ll admit in the end I was reluctant to leave him. The little detour definitely reminded me how fond I’d become o’ the massive stallion in the time we shared since leaving the mountains.

Cutting across the floor now, I push through the final door into the emergency ward, trying to prepare myself for what I might find. So I’m a little surprised to find Shay already sat up on one o’ the beds with her face bloody but otherwise seeming … well, not exactly the same as it was before, I realise, when I look closer as I step in and she turns to me with clear surprise, I see her nose is the tiniest bit bent now, a subtle, very well mended break but clear enough cuz I’m looking for it. She blinks, her eyes bright and clear, and jumps down, only swaying for a moment as Lady Naru steps up to help her, only to be politely waved off as she straightens up. “I’m good. That just … um … yeah, maybe I’m still a little spaced …”

Not saying anything in response, I just stalk up and reach out for her face, and she almost shies in response, barely managing to rein herself in. I don’t touch her nose, stopping just short, but still hold my hand close for a few more moments, not sure what to say. Finally I clear my throat and blurt out the first thing that comes: “The hell did you do –”

“Something really stupid, and I paid for it.” She raises her own hand and gives her nose a very careful brush with her fingertips, wincing a little from the contact. It’s already healed, there’s no swelling now and there’s a little scar high across the bridge where the break must’ve been, but there’s still subtle dark smudges in the corners of her eyes to show it’s gonna be a little tender for a while. She manages a cocked little grin all the same. “Nothing like a good scar to remind you though, right?”

That just makes me frown, so I give her a particularly sharp look. “Not funny, Shay. You gotta watch that.”

Her rueful smile fades immediately, and she deflates as her shoulders slump. “Shit … yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry. It’s not funny.”

Taking a deep breath, I almost admonish her more, but finally I just step forward instead and fold her into a tight hug. She’s stiff for a moment as I take her by surprise, but melts quick enough, pressing me with her own arms for a few beats before I finally let go. When we part she’s avoiding my eye, sheepish now.

“Yeah … it was a bit messy, to be honest. We didn’t have a lot of time to think, not once the orc turned up. I tried to take him down myself, but all I managed to do was take his hand before he shook me off. Then this happened.”

“Without that I’m not sure Art could have finished him, though.” Lady Naru purrs in her soft, low voice, using a particularly soothing tone I don’t doubt she’s pitching real careful for Shay’s benefit. “You were more help than you give yourself credit for.”

Shay raises her head again, wide-eyed as she looks the sorcerer over, and mulls it over for a few beats. I take a step away, leaving my hand on the half-orc’s shoulder for a moment longer so I can give it a last little squeeze, but I’m already checking the rest o’ the room. Oh, yeah … there she is …

Yeslee’s sat on another bed a few down, and while two of Minerva’s clerics are stood by watching, she’s currently being tended to by Shul. That surprises me, she ain’t an actual healer, I don’t really get what she’d be doing here.

‘Least my friend’s actually sitting up too instead of lying down, reckon that’s a good enough sign, but as I step up I realise she still don’t look great compared to what I’m used to. Ain’t the first time I seen Yes hurt, but it’s a rare enough occurrence it ain’t stopped alarming me, and even though she’s clearly on the mend I can still tell this was a bad one. She’s a moment noticing my approach, and when she finally looks up I see her eyes are a lot duller than usual, the dark circles round ‘em warning me she’s still a mess right now.

“Oh … shit … didn’t think I looked that bad.” she mutters as I draw close, and her words slur some, lower and a good deal more gravelly than usual. “How was … what was it you were doing again?”

Not sure what to say to that, so I turn to Shul instead as she takes one hand away from her face while leaving the other pressed just above her right temple. She turns to me after a beat, and the frown she gives tells me she still ain’t in the best mood with me, but when she sucks in a sharp breath and speaks, I can tell she’s trying to overlook that ugly business right now. “It seems she was struck by a particularly potent Rupture Curse. It’s not something a polite wizard would employ, even in the middle of a particularly dangerous fight. They’re designed to inflict some truly horrific damage. Mistress Toll was very lucky to have such a strong constitution, or she might not have survived it.”

“Yeah, well she’s one o’ the toughest folk I know, so that don’t surprise me.” I can’t keep the desperate edge all the way out my voice, and in spite of her condition I reckon Yes still picks up on it, she’s watching me close despite still having trouble really focusing. “She’s gonna be all right though, right? That’s what you’re telling me.”

Again, she’s a while responding, but this time it’s more an uncomfortable wariness that holds her back. “Eventually. I would not recommend calling her on her for anything strenuous for a while yet, this kind of injury can have unforeseen complications. I’m doing what I can to counteract the effects, but it’s not really my normal field. Unfortunately, since a healing spell wouldn’t have much of an effect in this case, there’s nothing else that can be done for her. We’ll just have to wait and let her rest and heal on her own.”

“Shit …” I mutter under my breath, but I don’t reckon I could say it any louder right now, it’s a genuine shock. “How long …” Faltering, I look my friend in the eye now and I can see she’s trying to look wary, despite the blur, which tells me she’s worried about my reaction. Fuck … Shul’s right, this ain’t good, and Yes knows it too. She must really feel like shit right now. “I’m sorry … do what you can for her, please. If anything changes –”

“Of course, I’ll let you know immediately. Regardless of any other considerations.” She gives me another particularly sharp look there, and again I can feel the weight of her reprimand in it. I hold my tongue as much as before, determined to just weather this particular storm until it’s passed. The she turns back and, with her frown becoming more focused, reaches up with her other hand again, this time just letting it rest lightly on Yeslee’s shoulder as she starts muttering under her breath. Once more, it’s something I feel instead of hear.

Yes continues to watch me as I cross my arms particularly tight, deeply uncomfortable now under the circumstances. “Kesla, I’m …” She lets a deep sigh go, and finally looks down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to –”

“Stop it.” I almost snap in response, and the words come out sharper than I really intend, but I’m so surprised by her need to apologise for getting hurt that I just react, and immediately have to rein myself in again. I suck a hard, levelling breath in and take a beat to calm myself before continuing. “Just … no. You have nothing to apologise for. That was just shit luck. I heard about what happened, sounds like you were just in the wrong place when that nasty little trick went off. Could’ve been any of us.”

“Honestly, I’m grateful to you for taking the blast the way you did.” Lady Naru’s at my side now, but at least it don’t surprise me this time. She looks quite reticent now, as if feeling guilty despite her gratitude. “If you hadn’t pushed me away the way you did, that would have been me. I’m quite sure I would not have managed to shrug the worst of it off the way you have. That was clearly meant for me in that particular scenario.”

Lifting her head again, Yeslee looks up at her, blinking a bit as she works on getting what focus she can on the sorcerer, again frowning deep as she works on an answer. “I didn’t really think about it at the time. I would have done it for any of my friends.”

This gives Lady Naru particular pause, and she genuinely seems at a loss for what to say in response to that. She’s a sharp one, clearly she’s been able to pick up on just how stoic and prickly our Fir Bolg tracker is, so to receive an actual confirmation of friendship from her, even somewhat backhanded like this one, must have quite an impact. She looks to me after a moment, but turns away long before I can even try to respond, her expression becoming a good deal more complicated now. Finally she simply breathes: “Thank you, Mistress Toll.”

Yes sighs as she shrugs, but maintains her vague eye-contact. “Just Yeslee’s fine. Please.”

Again, she just blinks, still surprised, before fumbling for a beat. “Of course. Yeslee.”

Dumoli’s joined us now, planting himself close on her left side just in front of the bed, and she seems to notice his arrival quick enough. He’s looking her over, and seems as shocked by what he sees as I was. “How … are you?”

“Alive.” she just grunts in response, managing something vaguely resembling a smile too. “I think. Part of me wishes I wasn’t, mind. The way this feels right now …”

He shifts closer and reaches out, but hesitates for a long moment before actually grasping for her hand. I’m more surprised to see her responding, shifting a little first before raising her left in response, and while it’s real shaky she still manages to get it up out of her lap. He grabs it quick, and folds it into his own impressively large mitt, then lays the other underneath too. “Well I’m glad you are.”

She a vague but warm smile, which is still a little surprising to see, but I’m starting to get a handle on their relationship now, and it’s quite sweet really. I take a step back now, but only so I can move closer to Lady Naru, gently laying my hand against her arm and gently ushering her closer to Shay’s bed so I can keep both groups in clear earshot now. As I do so I shoot a look to Sonagh and Thel, beckoning with my other hand for them to come, and Thel gives Tulen a little tap to catch up too. Zuldrad finally pushes away from the spot he took up against the wall just inside the door, starting a more leisurely stroll over. I cross my arms again, plant my feet, and consider the sorcerer for a beat.

“So outside o’ the dead orc and a few prisoners who might be able to yield up a few fresh answers, did we actually find anything we can use in that tavern?”

Naru gives me a sharper look now before answering. “Perhaps. We can’t be sure yet. In the end it was prudent for us to leave in something of a hurry.”

“The townsguard were coming. After the Hardway went up they been maintaining a presence down on the docks, ‘case anything else happened. Most of ‘em were based down at First Point so it took a little while for ‘em to muster, but …” Zuldrad shrugs, somewhat mirroring my stance now as he looks up at me. “Better not to take any chances.”

“We had wounded to evacuate anyway.” Dumoli strikes up now, although he’s still keeping most of his attention focused on Yes as he leans close to her.

“Art and Brung had a look around the place while we were packing up, at least what hadn’t been destroyed.” Naru continues “There was some storage in the back, and downstairs, in the cellar, but nothing much that roused either of their suspicion. Except for the tunnel.”

“A tunnel?” I blink at that, turning back to Zuldrad. “You left that part out.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“They didn’t have a chance to check it out in the time we had. The entrance was hidden behind some crates and a fake piece o’ wall, suggests it might’ve been some kind of escape tunnel, or access to their smuggling network, but there was no way to tell. Driver 8 said he couldn’t see much outside his range, but I dunno exactly what that actually means. Just that it’s a fuckin’ maze down there, branches off in all directions.”

“Yeah, well … might have some potential. Did they seal it back up?”

Zuldrad cocks a brow. “Course. Figured if it was something we didn’t want anybody else discovering before we can have a proper look, so …”

“We can only hope the townsguard are as inept in their investigation as they’ve proved so far.” Lady Naru breathes, half to herself, maybe. Then she catches me looking and lets a little sigh go. “I’m sorry. It was a messy business in there, and I’m afraid after my near miss I wanted to wash my hands of it, so I was happy just to leave. Perhaps I should have –”

“No, it’s cool. Reckon that was the right move after all.” I take another step back, looking down at the floor now as I ponder again for a few moments. “Honestly, we’re prob’ly good. They ain’t looking for the same thing we are anyway. Far as they’d know that place is just a tavern, not a smuggler’s hub. ‘Less they got tipped off, which I doubt. We ain’t gonna do that, and Jammund definitely wouldn’t. So it should be safe enough for now.”

“No sign of Gael though.” Yeslee grunts, voicing the fear I really don’t want to face right now. When I look up again she’s watching me the best she can, and mostly just looks frustrated now, while Shul continues to work away at her.

Sighing deep, I just hug myself tighter and kick at the floor a little, shuffling my feet aimlessly as I ponder again. “Damn it … I really did hope …”

“Who are these prisoners?” Sonagh strikes up now, and I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, he does this kinda shit for a living.

“As far as we can tell, they’re some of Jammund’s people. Three of them. Art picked them out, apparently there were a fair few survivors left but we let the majority of them go.” Naru looks at Zuldrad, then past me to Krakka, who’s been strikingly silent this whole time.

“Big Man gave everyone a scan for weapons, at Art’s request. They were the only ones who tried to hide anything, after we’d succeeded in pacifying them all.” He fingers Bloodmoon’s shaft as he watches me while I just wait for him to continue, finally frowning a little. “There was no other way to check who was an actual part of Jammund’s network and who was simply a patron of the Late Bone. And I realise now that it might have simply been an admittedly educated guess, but … well, there wasn’t much else to go on.”

“None o’ those tattoos, then?” I wonder, half to myself, really.

“Not this time, no.” Naru reassures me “The dead ones were all the result of our actions, or the fight with the orc.”

“Means if these three really are folk we’re after, likely they’re from Jammund’s crew proper. Valued enough he wouldn’t want ‘em marked, any more’n Vik.” I nod, taking a moment to brush my hands back over my hair, finally just slipping the tie free and shaking my hair out again, giving it a little brush to work the extra kinks back out. “They locked up, then?”

“Cept the one got his shoulder fucked up. Shul insisted he go to the healers for that.” Zuldrad shrugs, noncommittal, while the wizard turns enough my way to give me a short but clearly real pointed sidelong look.

Still not wanting to mess with that, I just roll my eyes and turn away, letting my hand settle into its usual spot on Hefdred’s hilt while I give the back o’ my neck a thoughtful rub. Going over the information in my head, pausing for a moment as I see Thel dropping onto one o’ the chairs on the far side o’ the room now with a heavy sigh. Ah, yeah …

I take a few steps her way now, letting my free hand settle at my side now. “You still feeling rough, then?”

When she looks up at me, there’s a moment it’s sharp enough to spit, but instead she just frowns, clearly going over what I just asked her. Finally she rolls her shoulders a little, shifting about now as she finally just dumps her battleaxe without ceremony against the wall beside her and shakes her head. “Not rough exactly … reckon all that walking just caught up to me. Those two jumps didn’t help much. ‘Least when we came back with the horses it was smoother.”

“Otherwise you’re good, then?” I wonder, maybe adding a subtle note to my query she must pick up on, the way her eyes narrow some.

“What? I don’t …” She falters, looking aside at nothing in particular. “No, I … reckon I’m just stewing a little after seeing that bloody hob again. That wasn’t …” She looks down at her hands now, which are shaking a little, and grips both into big, tight fists. “Maybe you shouldn’t have taken me after all. Things could’ve gone real bad after that.”

“Hey, that came outta nowhere. Seeing that dragonhalf gave me a start too, I just had to roll with it. Your baggage is a lot bigger there, you couldn’t have helped yourself.” After an awkward pause, I take the final step and set a hesitant hand on her shoulder, but just lightly, not squeezing. Honestly I can’t be sure it’s really the right gesture right now, anyway.

Thel certainly gives me a funny look up when I do it, but she don’t say anything, or shake me off, either. Finally I just let go on my own, frowning somewhat in my awkwardness. “Yeah, um … anyway …”

“You got shit to do, right?” she ventures now, watching me with a more complicated, somewhat uncertain look now. “Chase up some leads, maybe. You want me to come with?”

“No, you’re okay here.” I frown again, turning to look round, then spot one o’ the clerics and beckon him over. “Meantime you just heal up some more. Get back on top form again.” As the young man arrives I point him towards the dwarf. “Give her a little top-up, maybe? Get her the rest o’ the way on her feet, it’d be appreciated.”

He simply nods, giving me a subtle but very warm smile. “Of course, Mistress Shoon.” He steps past me without a further word, already starting to rub his hands together now as he approaches her. “Mistress Frostforge?”

“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.”

I’m already stepping away, heading back to the others, in time to find Shul’s stepping away from Yeslee now with a darker frown than I’d like. It quickens my step as I start to move to intercept her, before realising she’s coming my way anyway. I look past her now and see Yeslee’s still sat pretty much as she was before, pretty slumped but with it enough she seems to be talking with Dumoli right now. I cross my arms more defensively now as I stop where I am and let the wizard come to me. “What’s up? She don’t look much better.”

Shul gives me another hard look as she plants her feet just short of me, simply setting her hands on her hips as she glares up at me. “I’ve done what I can for her for now, but she’s still got a long way to go. Right now she needs to sleep, before I can do any more work on her. This won’t work going at it all at once, that’s more likely to simply put unnecessary strain on her mind and could wind up hurting her even worse instead. She needs to rest and recuperate.”

Looking down at her, I can see the concern in her now, despite her clear frustration with me that’s surely complicating her feelings. So I take a breath before I nod along. “Yeah.”

The wizard blinks, a little surprised now by my agreement, I reckon. There’s a little softening in her face after a beat, and she pulls in a deep breath before looking down with a returning frown, finally letting out a little sigh. “Well, good … just promise me that you’ll …” She grimaces subtly as she looks up at me again, and the narrowing of her eyes tells me she’s still a little pissed at me. “Just go easy this time, please? With the questions. I don’t want a repeat of … the other night.”

I almost pout, taking in the deepest breath I can through my teeth while counting from ten to keep from swearing out loud, but I manage to hold my tongue. When I finally answer ‘least I think about my words first. “That won’t be a problem, I promise. That was … unfortunate. I was all kinds o’ worked up, Shul. I was fucking angry, and I was still coming down from a whole lot of adrenaline, and Gael was gone. I wanted answers, sure, but mostly I just wanted something to hit. I’m calm now. I swear.”

She watches me for a long, loaded moment, finally cocking a brow along with the subtle tilt of her head. And she don’t reply, either. Just waiting for what I know she wants.

So I give it to her, managing to pry my jaw open so I don’t wind up hissing it through clenched teeth. “And I’m sorry. Really. It was inexcusable.”

After another beat, Shul nods, and she really does seem satisfied, finally. Still a little icy, but I didn’t expect her to be all bright smiles and chumminess again, not yet. I still got some making up to do, and now I gotta be on my best behaviour with her, too.

So I nod back, more clipped, and turn to find Shay stood by, wiping her face with a cloth, wincing somewhat from where she must have angered her nose again while tending to her face. She looks … well, still not great, between the remaining bruising and her slightly drawn pallor, not to mention a certain pained tension hanging in there, she’s still a ways from fighting fit again. But she’s cleaner at least, the blood washed off her face now, mostly just a few spots here and there around the collar of her under-armour, nothing more to show for her broken nose now. And she’s upright enough, at least. I look her over for a long, critical moment, then finally take another breath.

“You good, then?”

This makes her frown, but Shul answers instead before she can. “She’s well enough, all things considered. She’ll be sore for another day, but it looks much worse than it is. Don’t throw her into a fight if you can help it.”

Cocking my own brow, I turn to the half-orc, who’s just watching the half-hob with a somewhat frustrated glare. “We’ll have to see about that. We got folk to talk to. You can still sit this out if you want –”

“No. I’m in. I want to.” She brushes both her hands back through her damp hair, tucking her bangs the best she can behind her pointed ears, but they don’t stay put any longer’n my own hair does when I let it loose. “It’s for Gael.”

“Damn right.” Turning away again, I look round the rest o’ the group, noting how Thel’s sitting back while the cleric tends to her now, while Yes is sitting forward, watching me more closely even though she’s still having to work to focus. Dumoli’s stood by now, arms folded tight across his chest, looking down at the floor with a closed-off look on his face. Letting a little sigh go, I head over to them both.

“I’m not sitting this out, Kesla.” My oldest friend growls when I get close.

“Yes you are. Shul’s right, you’re no good to any of us like this. We need you to lay up for a day or two, let Shul do her work once you’ve rested some, see if she’s right about you bouncing back.”

“What if these prisoners point you in the right direction? I don’t want you to leave me behind. You’re going to need me if you plan on assaulting … wherever they have Gael and her father. And those other people. Just because that fucking orc’s dead doesn’t mean there’s no threat now. What about those mercs? And Vandryss?”

“We don’t know what they might be able to tell us yet though, do we? It could be nothing. We might be stuck twiddling our thumbs again like before. Means you’ll get a chance to rest up after all.” I try not to roll my eyes as I stifle another sigh. “I don’t want to leave you out of an attack though, not if we are gonna make one, but … I don’t want you to get hurt trying to fight when you’re all messed up. I couldn’t bear that.”

That shuts her up before she can make a reply, and she frowns up at me with a sharper eye than I’d really like given my sentiment, as if she resents me for playing the sympathy card without even realising it. I’m not trying to guilt trip her, but … maybe that was a little clumsy. I wasn’t really thinking too much about what I was saying there.

“Shit …” she finally growls, looking down again, but she don’t clench her hands into angry fists like I would’ve expected, that’s prob’ly a good sign. “Well if you do go, just watch yourselves, yeah? I couldn’t bear it if you idiots went off and got yourselves killed for me not being there to watch over you.”

Well that’s … I can’t help myself, I step in and lean down, bending so I can rest my forehead against her crown as I reach up and rest my hand gently round the back of her neck, just massaging gently as I breathe, and listen to her do the same. She don’t respond in any way, but the fact she doesn’t shake me right off says a whole lot on its own. So I stay as I am, and she lets me, happy enough at least just letting me show my appreciation and affection, and her own tolerance is an immense show in kind.

Finally I break away and step back, and she looks up through her brows to watch me as I go, maybe a little brighter and clearer in her eyes this time. I can’t really tell from this angle. As I turn I catch Dumoli watching me now, and consider him for a beat. “Keep an eye on her, yeah?”

The dwarf raises his brows at that. “Of course.”

“Good.” I give him an appreciative nod and wheel about, finding Shay and Lady Naru at least are close by, while Krakka’s already waiting by the door, I notice, Sonagh and Zuldrad waiting with him. I look them over for a beat, then nod again before focusing on the cleric. “Which one’s in charge?”

The tengu frowns at me for a moment, cocking his head the way he always does when he’s confused. “I’m sorry, I don’t –”

“The prisoners. Outta the three, which one would you say was most likely in charge? If you will.”

“Oh.” He gives Zuldrad a look. “The woman, do you think?”

The hobgoblin considers for a moment, then nods. “Yeah, she seemed the type. Definitely the most full of herself.”

“Quite so.” Nodding too, Krakka turns back to me. “That one.”

“Okay.” I take a moment to give my back a little stretch, and try not to wince at the way it still twinges a touch even now. Damn it … honestly, I’m not much more hopeful about myself holding up if we do have to go into a fight after this interrogation. “She’ll do.” I turn to Shul. “Any chance you could have some o’ your lot take her to where we talked to the boy last week?”

“I don’t see why not.” She don’t quite smile, but I’m sure I catch the slightest quirking at the corner of her mouth as she cocks a brow, starting to fish in her pockets now, likely for a length of string. “Shall I meet you there?”

“Sure. Take the others with you when you go. I’m gonna go fetch Art.”

As Shul starts unravelling the somewhat tangled bundle of simple white yarn she finally produces, Lady Naru steps close. “What about Tulen? Should I summon her as well?”

“No.” I don’t even consider it, remembering how subtly scattered she was while we were out, even though she tried. Some of it might’ve been due to some lingering effects from that hit she took bringing us all back from the Vezrim estate, but I knew full well most was simply down to her still being so worried about Sessa. So when we returned, once we’d seen to the horses I told her to rejoin her lover, and get some rest for herself while she was at it. I don’t wanna drag her away from that now if I can help it. “Leave her be. You’ll do well enough for this, I reckon.”

Frowning at the implication in my words, Naru looks like she wants to interject, but ultimately holds her tongue. Instead she gives a curt nod and shoots a sidelong glance to Shay as she returns to us again, now strapping her sword at her hip again.

“You’re sure you want Art, though?” Krakka strikes up now, watching me a little more dubious than before. “He … may not be in the best place right now. From what I understand about what happened up there, in the tavern –”

“He’s got a stake in this, same as the rest of us. More’n some, in a way.” I almost don’t say the second thing, it mostly just slips out, but I let it stand. I see Shay frown a little at the idea, and I reckon she might be thinking the same thing. She’s got real close to Gael these past few weeks, likely she’s learning to read ‘em well as I am now, and she’s picked up on how they been feeling same as I have. If she picked up on his side of things too I’m less sure, but … she prob’ly has. She’s too sharp not to. “He might be able to use some o’ the fire in there, too.”

Shay’s frown deepens at that. ‘Least Shul’s got her head bowed now as she holds the string between her stretched thumbs, so she didn’t catch my words. “Sure you ain’t in the same boat yourself, in that regard?” she wonders aloud, giving me a sharp look now.

I stop myself before asking what she means by that, cuz I work it out quick enough and … well shit, maybe she has a bit of a point there. I’m still smarting bad from the time I spent with Thura this morning, when I went to offer my condolences and … well, I went in there with some questions I had to ask, but in the end I just couldn’t bring myself to. She was too much of a wreck to answer ‘em anyway, but more than that, I just didn’t want to, I just wanted to make her feel better, even though I knew it was impossible. So I just held her for a long time while she cried again, and I let myself join her this time, although my own tears were a good deal angrier, I reckon. Fuck … I’m still angry, deep down I never shook it, don’t reckon I even tried to even before we left for the playhouse. It’s still boiling away under everything else, pushed down good and deep but still simmering away at the bottom of my senses, the rage more cold and hard now but no less lethal for all my bottling it up. And I realise now that she can pick up on it, and she’s calling me out. Now I gotta wonder if she’s alone here …

Much as I promised Shul I’d go easy on the interrogation this time, I can’t help wondering if I really can do that right now. Shay’s got a point even though she ain’t actually come right out and made it. I’m fucking pissed right now, and that has the potential to make me … irritational at best, actually dangerous at worst. Art’s grieving and feeling guilty about what he did, and I know he’ll be hating himself some for a while, and that’s just as bad a combination for what we need to do right now. I’d be taking a real risk taking him in there right now, the way he is.

Except I ain’t about to sit this out, and I know he wouldn’t want me to leave him out of it either. Not after he made that call back at the tavern in the first place, picked those three for them to take in the first place. This is as much his interrogation as mine, maybe more. So I shake my head, taking a breath as I do it. “No, I’m good. Him too.”

She don’t answer me for a long beat, just watches me, narrowed eyes now as she considers, and I don’t like how sharp her stare is now. She’s looking right into me this time, I’m sure. So I just let the sigh go as I decide to throw her a bone after all. “Just keep an eye on us both in there, yeah? Make sure we don’t do anything stupid.”

“Oh …” She blinks, eyes widening again, maybe just surprised I actually caved in the end, I dunno … “Sure. Of course I will. So … are we going now, or –”

I don’t really think about what I’m doing until I do it, I just step closer as I lick the tips of my thumb and forefinger and reach up to rub at her left earlobe to remove the single drop of dried blood left there, breathing: “Sorry … you just … missed a spot.” I feel awkward as hell once I’ve done it, but it’s too late now.

Shay don’t answer me this time either, instead starting to blush immediately, and it’s clear to me she’s feeling awkward as I do about it. She don’t shy away though, letting me do it, and after a beat manages to smile after all, a rueful one that shows she’s more sheepish now, and I manage to return my own in response, feeling better now she’s given me a pass. Finally she gives me a gentle shove in my shoulder and I step back, going with her coaxing direction. “Thanks. That could’ve been embarrassing.” She looks down for a beat. “Actually, you know what? You go with the others, get started. I’ll go get him.”

That makes me frown. “What? No, I thought you wanted to –”

“You can wait until we get there. Just … I don’t know, glare at her or something, until we find you. You’re good at that.” She gives my shoulder a little pat and steps back before I can respond, strolling off with a good deal more grace now. Already getting her balance back, look like.

I still cock a brow at the jibe, but I gotta smile all the same. Might not be a bad idea, that.