“Kveldulf?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think this was all a mistake?”

“What do you mean?”

“Coming back here. Getting involved in all of this mess. Was it a mistake coming back?”

“I don’t mean to deflect the question, but where is this coming from?”

“Just with everything happening. With us chasing criminals as one chases ghosts and now here we are. In the middle of foreign lands, not knowing if the next person we meet is going to be trying to kill us or give us some aid.”

“Well, there is that whole bounty situation on your head, Jeanne.”

“That isn’t helping.”

“And what with the job we were hired for regarding the sarcophagus.”

“I keep forgetting about that one,” Jeanne said rolling her eyes.

“I think we were going to be having to deal with this mess regardless of whether we wanted to or not.”

“Still, sometimes I wish had run further away from home and kept from being found.”

“I think we all have those thoughts when things are at their darkest. But something I learned in my years is to enjoy the times before such hardships and know that even now, this will not last forever.”

“Did you get that from your parents?”

Kveldulf shook his head. “No, Caleb, actually.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot he was all about that.”

“I wondered what happened to him, anyways?”

“I think he was hired by a noble to command their bodyguards and took on painting on the side,” Jeanne said, taking sip of her ale.

“He did seem to be the painting type.”

“I know, he always enjoyed admiring artwork when we were still with The Cold Company.”

“Sort of makes me wish we had taken up painting.”

“Kel, neither of us know how to paint. We can’t even do stick figures without them looking like they’re broken in multiple spots.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Jeanne?”

“Yes.”

“Quiet time.”

“That’s fair.”

“Still, it would be nice to be back home and just handle the smaller problems for a while,” Kveldulf said, leaning against the wall and looking up at the stars.

“What the first thing you’re planning to do when we get back?”

Kveldulf shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe search for members of my kin and let them know its time to come home.”

“You think you’ll find anyone?”

“I couldn’t tell you, for now at least, but if only one member and bring them home, that would be enough.”

“What if they didn’t want to return?”

“That’s fine. At least they know the route is open.”

“Do you still think of them?”

“Hmm?”

“Your parents. Do you still think of them?”

“Oh, sometimes,” he said, looking up at the stars. “Since facing Baeron it’s been easier to think of them with less pain on my heart.”

Jeanne nodded, saying nothing as the memory of Sabine came to her.

“What of you? Do you think of your sister.”

Jeanne turned her gaze down. Closing her eyes tightly and taking a deep breath. “I don’t I can keep from thinking about her anymore.”

“I can imagine.”

Jeanne back to the storm, the clouds beginning to roll in closer. The sounds of thunder cracks and booms echoed across the sky with greater resonance than before. She could catch a hint of the aroma of water in the sky. She noticed her left fist clenched tightly at the sight and sound. Unsure of what might be coming. She turned to Kveldulf who was taking a sip of his ale as he watched the weather.

“Those clouds seem a bit more ominous than their usual kin,” he said, pushing himself off of the wall and moving next to her.

“Yeah,” Jeanne said. “Probably best we get inside.”

He nodded. “Never liked storms when on the road.”

“I thought you said they were good for naps?”

“Only when you’re home or in a cozy room. Never like it much when you’re outdoors.”

“That would explain that dour expression you get.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Oh don’t tell me you don’t know of that look you get when your eye brows get all flattened, your nose wrinkles a bit, you put on that glaring look and your mouth looks more boxed up than a royal treasure all packed up.”

Kveldulf gave Jeanne a dour expression, only for her to jump up on the balls of her feet excitedly, pointing with a finger to his face. “That’s the look!” she called out energetically.

“I sometimes wonder why we’re friends?” he said to her with a growl.

“Because we’re two great mess of people and no one else can handle us for any prolong period of time.”

“What about Doc?”

“Oh, he’s just a glutton for punishment, he just doesn’t want to admit it.”

Kveldulf looked off the to the distance, jutting his mouth to the side for a brief moment with in inquisitive look.

“What?” Jeanne asked.

“I was trying to think of something to say to irk you, but couldn’t think of anything good.”

“Really?” Jeanne asked unconvinced.

“Well, I mean, I had some, but even I was bit offended by them.”

“Wow, how bad were they?”

“Not great,” Kveldulf said as a terrific flash of light illuminated the sky over their heads, followed a thunderous roar and a sudden pouring of rain from the heavens above.

Jeanne looked at Kveldulf, trying to vainly blow away some of the water on her mouth. “I hope you know, this is going to make my hair all curly and frizzy.”

“You can take your complaints over to Maeryn.”

“Everything all right between you two?”

Kveldulf hemmed and hawed for a moment before he nodded. “We’re fine.”

“What happened?”

“I’m not saying I don’t want to talk about it, but maybe not when we’re getting soaked thoroughly.”

“Fair enough,” Jeanne said as they returned to the others in the inn.