“Common, it’s not that bad.” Isabel tried to improve Andrew’s sore mood. Although, it was clear she had some hang-ups about working with Viola and Litro again. The memories of the tragedy they had caused were still fresh in Andrew’s and Isabel’s minds.

They had just returned from the meeting with Viola and Litro. Mila had brought them along and introduced them to Naran, who happily showed them into his workroom.

“Their plans are not nearly as nefarious as back in Ocheon.” Mila agreed. While she didn’t mind working with the infiltrators, the possibility of a repeat of the bleak night was something she didn’t wish for.

For better and worse, the lack of actual dreams meant Mila could work her mind into thinking about other things instead of the horrors they had helped to achieve.

The trio, plus Mr Crow, were currently visiting the wolf, which Mila still refused to call by name. Andrew played with the large creature, much to the chagrin of people taking care of the horses nearby.

The wolf happily played catch despite the area under the roof being limited. Andrew threw the stick again, and Terminator brought it back. And while Mila found it strange such a smart but dangerous creature played around like this, the rest didn’t seem to have a problem with it. It likely meant she was the strange one in this case.

“So, you have been hiding here?” Isabel asked. She enjoyed watching the play.

“Not hiding,” Andrew answered. “That woman simply doesn’t like Termi. But my boy needs to move around. So I am here taking care of him. Simple as that.” He patiently explained.

Isabel knowingly nodded. “So, it is not hiding because she knows where you are. Gotcha.”

Andrew showed his friend a rude gesture.

“I have to ask,” Mila wondered. “If you find Cecilia’s advances unwanted, why not turn her down properly? It is unbecoming to lead a girl around like you are.”

“Unbecoming?” Andrew spat on the ground and waved his arms in the air, making Mr Crow jump from his shoulder and land on a haystack. “I fucking told her to leave me alone! I told her I was not interested! I told her I don’t have a dick! I told her I was in love with someone else!”

“And?” Mila found his troubles amusing.

“I think she took it as a challenge!” Andrew yelled.

“Why not just date her? You need a place to let off your steam, don’t you?” Isabel reasoned. “Do that and break up right after. Sure, it will make you look like a dick, but what’s the worst that can happen? Someone from Naran’s gang will stab you?”

“They do like Cecilia quite a lot.” Mila hummed. “Naran included, of course.”

“Look! That’s not important!” Terminator handed Andrew the stick, and he chucked it a little too hard. It impacted the wall and snapped in two. “Look at what you two made me do!” He pushed all the blame on Mila and Isabel, then sighed. “Okay, I’ll say it only once. I am not searching for anyone.”

There was a heavy seriousness and finality to Andrew’s words. Isabel tried to pick up Mr Crow, who simply jumped away, leaving her empty-handed. “Why not?”

“Isabel,” Andrew took the two halves of the stick Terminator dutifully brought to him. “I have already told you.”

Despite thinking for a while, Isabel couldn’t guess. Neither could Mila.

Finally, Andrew gave up and gave the reason. “I don’t want to get attached to this world.” He explained. “Yes, yes. I have Mr Crow and Terminator, but… You know…” He helplessly shrugged.

“Ah…” Isabel realised. “That’s…”

“No, I don’t want to argue or talk about it.” Andrew stopped her. “I am more interested in what we are planning to do with Viola and her gang.”

“That would be nothing.” Mila had an answer. “They have offered their help and are asking nothing in return. We have to do nothing about them.”

“Ah, yes.” Andrew grimaced. “They just want to…” He stopped. “I don’t know. Let me stew a little about it. I just can’t get over all the killing part of the surroundings. And again-” He shushed Isabel, who had opened her mouth again. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Isabel, too, had a topic she wanted to talk about. “What about Kanna and Vatim?”

While Mila frowned, Andrew was happy to switch topics. “I talked with Mortimer. We had a few drinks. He doesn’t want to leave. But he also wants Vatim to have a proper life.”

Of course, Andrew had done that. Mila tried to think of a way to stop Isabel and Andrew from suggesting something troublesome.

“Yeah.” Isabel nodded. “Kanna told me about it. She and Vatim had to drag Mortimer back to his bed.” There was a slight reprimand in her voice.

“I didn’t know the drink was that bad.” Andrew shrugged. “Didn’t hit me all that hard.”

“Still, be more careful.” Isabel scolded. “Kanna and Vatim don’t need a drunkard in their life. Anyway-”

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Before Isabel could continue, Mila saw the chance and took it. There was a possibility to derail the conversation. And she had to do it anyway. “Speaking of which, do you have anything planned in the next few days?” She suddenly asked Isabel, who was taken aback. Mila still had a few things to arrange, so she didn’t mention a concrete date.

“No?”

“Then what about doing it together?” Mila continued.

“What exactly?” Isabel was suspicious.

Mila took a step closer to her girl and leaned against her side. She looked up and appealed with fluttering eyes. “A couple of drinks. You and me. Alone.”

“I…” Isabel’s eyes slid lower.

“Just drinks, silly.” Mila bumped her hips against Isabel. Her body wasn’t ready for anything more involved. Neither was the surroundings what she wanted for the experience.

“Oh, yes, of course.” Isabel shook her head to clear it. “Yeah. I… I would like to.”

Mila smiled brightly. “It is a date then. I’ll make further arrangements. I think you’ll enjoy what I have in mind.”

“Yuck.” Andrew was still there. Terminator and Mr Crow were also unamused. “Keep that in private.”

“If you gave Cecilia a chance, you could also enjoy flirting.” Isabel shot back.

“Mighty bold coming from you. It’s Mila who does all the flirting. You just wag your tail and follow along.” Andrew mocked.

“Do not!”

“Do too!”

“Let’s calm down, children.” Mila chided and received an aggravated look from Isabel for her words.

“Not cool, Mila.” She put her hand around Mila’s shoulders. “You have to take my side. I deserve it. Especially after what you did when meeting Viola.”

“I still don’t know what you mean by that.” Mila looked away. Isabel just scoffed, clearly not believing her words.

Andrew rolled his eyes. “Are you both done?” He waited for an answer, which didn’t come. He decided they were, despite Isabel moving behind Mila and hugging her. “I don’t see why we couldn’t help Mortimer.” He spoke.

That’s what Mila had been afraid of. She felt Isabel nod before resting her head on top of Mila’s. “Yeah.” Isabel agreed. “We just have to take them to the next town. No biggy.”

It was clear Mila was outvoted at that point. Still, she tried to reason against it. “It is a rather tall ask. Our path is marred in danger. With Oscar and his entourage on our tails, it is unwise to increase…” She wanted to call them a burden but changed her mind. “Our party's size. And that is without mentioning our problem with the Temples at large.” She wasn’t done. “And we would move faster without the need to escort the trio. Our task is still searching for Tiff and Kefo.”

These words seemed to freeze Andrew. His movements slowed, and he closed his eyes. Mila watched his reaction with interest. Isabel was afraid. Afraid of what they would discover. She had seen Silinth’s demise and what it had entailed.

But it was not the same for Andrew. Mila didn’t know what his hangup was. She waited for him to speak. And he didn’t.

The wolf used his muzzle to poke Andrew’s fingers. The beast tried to move the hand up to his head. Mr Crow let out a sad note.

“I am fine.” Andrew scratched Terminator and smiled at his bird. “You are right, Mila. But I still want to help Mortimer. He has his heart in the right place. We can’t abandon him.”

Even now, Andrew didn’t want to speak about it. Mila had suffered under his sermons before. Some of them about the need to talk out what is bothering her. But now, he wasn’t following his own words.

Yet, Mila didn’t push. She simply watched the man play with his bonds. It seemed to help him. She wasn’t sure how to help Andrew. Her hands found Isabel’s, which were now on her stomach.

“I’ll talk with him later,” Isabel whispered in Mila’s ear and left a small kiss on it.

Mila nodded, then returned to the issue. “Is that decision final?” She asked, hoping Andrew would change his mind. If their circumstances were different, she would be more willing to help.

But Andrew only shrugged. “It is.” He simply stated. “I want to help them. That’s all there is to it. That’s all the reason we should need.”

Isabel’s embrace grew tighter as well. “I want to help Kanna. She has suffered so much. I know she is one of many. But I saved her. I… I have some responsibility to take care of her… I think.”

Just as Mila feared, the decision wasn’t up to her. “It is not just your responsibility. Right, I’ll help.” She finally gave. “Not that I can do much. While Kanna has grown more bold, she is still afraid of me. Just like-”

“Just like Tiff…” Isabel sadly finished the sentence. She nuzzled against Mila’s crown. It was turning into a habit.

And Mila let her. It clearly helped Isabel to calm down. She liked to feel her girl’s breath as well. “Yes. Like just like Tiff.”

“Do you miss her?” Isabel silently asked.

The question left Mila stumped. She watched Andrew throw Mr Crow in the air and the wolf happily chasing after the bird. Did she miss Tiff? They weren’t all that close.

But if Mila had to choose between yes or no, then… “Yes.” And it wasn’t a likeable emotion. At least her girl’s antics were helping to weather the annoying feeling.

“Hmm…” Isabel huffed Mila’s hair.

“Want to walk around the city?” Mila suggested.

“Not really. It’s depressing.”

“I could keep searching pebbles for you.”

“What’s that about pebbles?” Andrew was finally done with his scheduled brooding.

“Just a pastime we discovered.” Mila gave a vague explanation.

“It’s fun…” Isabel joined. “Perhaps we should. Yeah, in fact, I think we will.”

There was still suspicion radiating from Andrew, but he didn’t stop them. Determined to avoid Cecilia, he chose to spend time with his bonds. He wasn’t keen on meeting Viola and Litro either. “Do that. I’ll go see Mortimer after I am done here.”

Mila knew Andrew would mention their decision to help with escaping the city. She let herself be pulled by Isabel, who was eager to punish more evildoers. It was a done deal. She would have to deal with Kanna for a while longer.

And Mila really didn’t like how that girl looked at Isabel. But Kanna had it much worse than her. She couldn’t simply tell Isabel to stop caring for the girl.

An involuntary sigh escaped Mila’s mouth.