The human village near the Weaver’s Hut was not as big as I remembered it.

From what I had gathered, from Nann and the rest, a few families had left when the plague showed itself. Fleeing either in fear, or leaving to go elsewhere. Likely where other family resided, as to have safety and surety in numbers. The result was a rather sizable population drop. Between those who left, and those who have died so far, the village was down to nearly half its residents from before the plague had started.

Such a blow sometimes wiped locations off the map. Time would tell if this place would survive or not.

“You and your family are always too kind, Nasba,” the older woman said as she and the rest went to sorting the freshly made clothes along the table.

“Well to be honest the more stressed we get the more we weave,” Nasba said as she untied the last bundle. The stack of clothes shifted as she did, and Renn went to grab a few to lay them out on the table and stop them from falling over.

We had brought several large stacks of clothes here. Probably almost a hundred sets of varying types and quality. The large wooden table was completely covered in clothes, several layers thick.

“Oh how I know that’s the truth. Just last week my youngest granddaughter got a cough. She finally broke free of it a few days ago, and I slept for the first time since! I made nearly a dozen hats as I fretted and worried,” the older woman said with a sigh.

I glanced around for the young girl she spoke of, but knew I’d likely not find her. The few women in the building helping out with sorting the clothes were older, likely grandmothers themselves.

Either these were the only ones willing to risk meeting outsiders, and thus possibly getting sick, or they were the only ones not bothered by Nasba’s feathers.

Stepping away from the table, since they were now only sorting the clothes and laying them openly so people could easily go through them later, I quietly slipped out of the room and outside.

Ignoring the idle chatter of Nasba and the rest, as they caught up with each other, I glanced around the quiet village.

Most of the buildings were rather distant. Close enough to be neighbors, but far enough that I doubted any human could hear anyone’s voices at such distances. There were a few people out walking about, but I knew most of them were out in their fields. We had passed them on our way into the village, there had been a few dozen people working on the farms just outside the village. It had been interesting to see that several of their fields had been abandoned. Growing freely, without any management.

They had chosen to focus on the higher yielding crops, and completely neglect other fields. It was undoubtedly because of a lack of manpower.

Other than the farms, they had a few herds of animals, and a small river on the other side of the small hill that lay just behind the village. Chances are this place really didn’t lack food or resources… but I could see why they were so thankful for the Weaver’s clothes.

They likely had no money to buy new clothes, and no time or skill to make enough for the whole village. Add the very obvious fact that they had likely burnt a lot of clothes when individuals perished from the plague… well…

Yes. Such charity made sense. Even more so now than ever.

The Weaver had always happily given clothes to anyone who needed them. She never charged for her work. But I’ll need to remind her to eventually wean them off as time goes on, or else the humans will get weird about it.

Keep giving things to humans for too long, and they not only grew to expect it they began to want more.

But if she’d ever listen to me was up to debate.

Walking around the large building, I listened offhandedly to the conversations inside. Renn was talking to a younger voiced girl. Probably one who hadn’t been in the room before I left. Nasba was still talking with the old woman. She was a friend. Someone who had known Nasba from a young age.

I knew Renn and Nasba were fine. The two of them were strong. Strong enough to keep themselves safe… and they weren’t in outright danger either. The people here were pagans. They believed in some kind of forest spirit that supposedly lived in the forest nearby. They had since the Weaver had settled here. It was why Nasba was able, and willing, to walk around here with her tail feathers openly visible. She was strange and drew eyes, but she wasn’t something these humans didn’t comprehended or feel threatened by.

They saw her, and her family, as forest spirits. Or servants of them.

It kept them relatively safer than normal.

Rather... It worked until it didn’t.

Slowing, I watched a young boy run up to me. He was being chased by a small dog, which huffed happily in exhaustion.

“You’re not a spirit!” the boy shouted up at me, coming to a stop a few feet away.

“You sure?” I asked him.

The boy immediately hesitated, his eyes going wide and looking me up and down. “I… I don’t know…? Are you?” he asked me without a lick of the confidence he just had.

Smiling at him I shrugged. “Let’s ask the pup,” I said as I knelt down as the small puppy drew near me.

The thing was wheezing. Either strained, since till so young, or something was wrong with it. It was a typical mutt of an animal, but it didn’t look like any of the breeds that struggled with breathing.

It paused a few steps from my outstretched hand, and went to heavily sniffing at me… then yelped and ran off.

“Oh my gosh!” the boy startled, and for a few moments turned back and forth. From looking to me, in awe, and his dog running off… in fear. “I gotta tell ma!” he shouted, then ran off too.

Chuckling at him, I noticed the dog run in a different direction. Heading for the fields.

Hopefully it’d not run off…

“Being mean to the locals, Vim?”

I turned to sigh at Renn, who was smirking happily at me.

Nasba wasn’t around, which told me that Renn had sneaked away on purpose. Maybe she felt uncomfortable listening to Nasba talk to her human friends.

“Done clothing the needy?” I asked her.

“Oh shush. They’re nice people. They have a severe lack of able-bodied people, I guess. Everyone’s either older or young,” Renn said as I stepped over to her.

“Figured. You see such disparity during such famine and plagues… but then you usually see a rather significant boom in babies for awhile,” I said.

Renn’s smirk turned into a strange smile as I studied her. She was wearing her hat, and had hidden her tail. Even though Nasba and the rest felt comfortable walking around in the open, it seemed Renn wasn’t. Maybe it was just habit for her though.

As I drew near her, I once again smelled what supposedly didn’t exist.

She turned a little, to look out at the village around us, and I wondered if she really didn’t have a scent anymore.

Of course I believed Nasba and Nann. Although the two loved to tease me, this was not something they’d joke about. Even if I didn't agree completely with their assessment of Renn's fragile heart, I did not doubt their noses. If they genuinely couldn’t smell Renn… then… she really didn’t have a scent. At all.

Yet I could smell it. She smelled the same as always. Like a wet forest. It reminded me of the thick rain forests to our east. It was of course not as strong as an actual forest, only with hints of it... but…

Honestly she smelled good. Most of our kind of stunk. Yet her natural smell was something that not only didn’t bother me, but I actually found myself wanting when I went without it too long. Though that might just be an innate desire, because smelling her meant she was near me. And it felt calming to have her around. She was safe when near me, so I wanted her to be so; always.

If I couldn't smell her, I couldn't protect her.

“I like how they’re friends with the humans here. I wish all of our members could have such a relationship with the towns they live in, or near,” Renn said softly, not realizing what was bothering me.

Shrugging, I gestured around us. “These people will live their whole lives here. Born here. Die here. So to them it’s normal. The lands where people travel more make it impossible,” I said.

“Still… Twin Hills was kind of like this, to a point too. Yet they had to hide their traits… Is it really just the church that makes a main difference Vim?” Renn asked.

“No. The church is a symptom, not the cause. Churches only pop up where people are already traveling to and fro, as they spread their religion. That spreading doesn’t exist or happen unless there’s already a spread of other ideals and purposes. Money or power is usually the main reason. Conquering, expanding, and searching for profits… A church will belong to a greater religious entity, and will then communicate with them… but they don’t just pop up without warning. The seed of belief has to be planted by someone, usually a wandering priest or monk,” I said.

Renn hummed as she pondered it, and I glanced at where her hair came to a stop now. It rolled down her back, but came to a stop right beneath her shoulders. I wasn’t sure if the Weaver or Nasba had cut it for her, but whoever had done it had given her a layered pattern.

She looked good with her hair that way. It gave her youthful appearance a little more maturity, and made her look more like a merchant’s daughter than a mercenary. Even with the leather armor.

I knew it’d not be long until her unruly long hair returned, but I wasn’t sure yet if I really wanted it to. I had liked how it had fit her playful nature, but this more settled and mature appearance was good too.

“By the way Vim, should I be worried?” Renn then asked.

“Hm…?” I glanced around, wondering if maybe I had missed something while distracted by her beauty.

“Over the fact I supposedly don’t smell like anything anymore. Is it uh… will it do anything to me?” Renn asked.

Oh. “No. In case you’ve not noticed Renn… you still have a scent. It’s just no one else can smell it anymore,” I said.

“Right… that’s true. Can you smell me?” Renn asked.

Shifting, I wondered if I should fib or not. “I can,” I decided not to.

“Hm… so… why though? It can’t really be because we’re sleeping next to each other, can it? We’ve been doing that since the beginning almost,” she said.

I sighed and nodded. “Right. I’ll be honest I’m not sure why. I had thought that I never eliminated the scent or presence of others… but now I find out that I can still smell those who get affected. Which means it’s likely happened before, and I just never noticed,” I said as I thought of it.

“Do you really need to talk of your past lovers now Vim?” Renn mumbled.

Giving her a small wave of an apology, I shrugged. “I’m just saying. It had to have happened sometime after Lumen. Several people told me you smelled there. It made a few antsy,” I said.

“Right… I heard that too. They teased me about it…” Renn said softly.

Glancing at the cat that had crossed her arms in thought, I wondered when it had happened. Had Landi said anything about her scent? Had she noticed? I couldn't remember her commenting on it or not.

Though…

Did it matter…?

What was done was done… wasn’t it?

“Would it come back? If we stopped… well… touching?” Renn asked.

“I’d think so. But I’m not entirely sure. Want to stop touching?” I asked her.

Her heavy leather hat actually shifted as her ears fluttered. “No,” she stated.

Smiling at her, I nodded.

“Think it was the kiss?” she then asked with a tiny smile.

“I doubt it. But you’re free to think so, if you’d like,” I said.

She nodded, and I realized she really was going to blame the kiss entirely.

Oh well. I’d allow it.

“Though…” Renn then stepped closer to me, and I kept myself from stepping away as she leaned into me and tried to smell me. She took deep breaths, and sighed after a moment of trying. “I still don’t smell you. At all. Not even your clothes,” she said.

“Well… duh?” I said.

“Not, duh. If I can smell me, and you can smell me, why can’t I smell you? Wait… does that mean you smell yourself?” she asked me.

Smirking at her, I shrugged. “Who knows?”

“Aw Vim…” Renn groaned, but smiled at me.

“The real question is how far it will go,” I said.

“Hm…? Will what go?” she asked.

“The changes. No one else can smell you now. Will you then start to become quieter too? You already walk with light steps, so it’s possible. Typical of a cat,” I said. I noticed it sometimes. Particularly when she walked around barefooted. It was why I enjoyed hearing her footsteps when I could, it was rare to notice them.

“Huh… wait… are you serious? So you mean your sneaky thing you do is related to your lack of smell?” she asked.

I shifted, and wondered if maybe I should have just kept quiet about it. Good thing I didn’t ramble on about the other parts of it.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

She didn’t let my silence bother her as she glanced down to her feet. She shifted a little, making small sounds as she did so.

“I’ve not noticed… but I don’t make it a habit of trying to startle people like you do,” Renn said, allowing me to not answer her earlier question.

“I’ll pay attention. But… right… if I smell you still, that means I might hear you too…” I said as I realized I’d likely not be able to tell if she suddenly gained such an ability or not.

“Right…! Wait… Wait!” Renn spoke up louder, stepping over to me. She grabbed my wrist, and I smiled at her as her hat shifted again. “Does that mean you’ll not be able to sneak up on me anymore?” she asked worriedly.

Looking down at her concerned worry, I felt a little silly. She was genuinely worried about this. How cute. “Who knows? I’ll test it later,” I said.

Her eyebrows met as she furrowed them, and she groaned. “Jeez…” she grumbled a complaint and let me go.

Renn let out a sad sigh as she crossed her arms again, now upset.

“You can’t smell me Renn, why would you worry you’d be able to hear me then?” I asked.

My companion frowned and shrugged. “Not sure…” she said softly.

Hm… she really was adorable.

We both turned as someone walked towards us. Nasba rounded the corner of the building, and smirked at the sight of us. “There you two are. Come on, we got one more stop,” she gestured for us to follow.

Renn hurried off, to walk side by side with the duck, and I followed the two dutifully. I kept a small distance, as they went to talking about Nasba’s human friends, and how she had come to know them.

I enjoyed listening to Renn talk to our members. She was so eager to learn and become close with them. It was actually a little sad, to a degree, to hear her happy voice as she spoke.

There was a hint of desperation in her demeanor and voice. When talking to our members. At first I had thought it was a longing for friendship… but lately I’ve wondered if instead it was out of fear.

She did her best to enjoy every moment with those she met… because she knew those moments could be her last.

It was very disheartening to think that Renn had an innate fear, and belief, that she’d never see the people she became friends with again. Either from banishment, chaos, or tragedy.

You’d think with me being by her side she’d be more confident… but…

“This whole village started as a single family. I don’t think any descendants of them are left here anymore, but it’s always been interesting to me how quickly things change,” Nasba said.

“Humans come and go quickly, yes,” Renn agreed.

“That’s the interesting part. How can they expand so quickly… yet disappear just as fast? You’d think being able to multiply so quickly would never allow whole villages and societies to just vanish,” Nasba pointed out.

“Well… we don’t seem to be any better. I’d think we’d be everywhere too, if things made sense,” Renn said.

“We used to be. I remember half the villages we went to had non-humans. If not entirely made of them, at least with a few families,” Nasba said as she sighed and remembered the past.

Renn tilted her head at her, and I wondered if she doubted her or not.

One wasn’t able to believe it if they had never seen it, usually.

But it was the truth. It really was.

“Before that, Nasba, humans used to be as few as us,” I spoke up a little.

The two turned to look at me, with looks that told me they had forgotten I was even behind them. “So you’ve said before. I still find that hard to believe,” Nasba said.

I shrugged.

“Just how old do you think he is Nasba?” Renn whispered to her.

“Nann thinks he’s from the era of the gods. So however long ago that was, I guess,” Nasba whispered back.

Passing a large house, I noticed the eyes hidden behind a thin curtain. They watched us for a moment before stepping away.

Looking back ahead, I watched Nasba’s tail feathers. They were folded a little, and fanned out above the ground. Lifted just enough to not touch the dirty road.

In the beginning I had thought her and those like her would be some of the first to go. Yet here they were. Still here.

It was so strange that some could go so long while others died the moment they ventured out from the safety of their families or home.

Was it just luck, or something more?

“Do you think he’s a Monarch too?” Renn asked Nasba.

“Vim…? I can see why people think so, but I don’t believe it. He hates Monarchs. Despises them. To the point that if he was a Monarch he’d kill himself. That’s how much he hates them,” Nasba said.

Renn tilted her head at her duck friend, and then glanced back at me.

I stayed silent as Nasba took us to one of the bigger buildings in the village. One that had some horses and a cart strapped to a fence next to it.

An inn or something like it.

“I want to check on their daughter,” Nasba said as she and Renn entered the building. I went to follow them, but paused a moment as I studied one of the horses.

Why’d it look familiar…?

“You’re kidding!”

I turned forward, and noted Renn’s shout. It had been loud, but hadn’t sounded too alarmed… yet I still hurried into the inn.

Entering the inn, I scanned the area and found Renn hugging someone. Nasba was stepping away, and I noted the way her tail feathers were folding down, to become inconspicuous.

What the hell…?

“How’ve you been Elisabell?” Renn asked as she separated from the woman, and I calmed a little as I understood what was happening.

The young mercenary girl beamed a smile at Renn. “Good! Glad to finally be off the horse, especially,” she said.

“What’s this?” the young mercenary’s brother entered the room, walking down the stairs in the corner. I tried to remember his name as he hurried over to me, laughing as he held his hand out.

I took his hand, shaking it in the way of mercenaries, and realized I didn’t remember his name at all. I’ll need to wing it.

“Long time no see,” I said to him.

“You’re telling me! Though I guess it makes sense. Not many villages up this way,” he said with a laugh.

I smiled at him and glanced to my right, and noticed Nasba disappear into the back. To either leave completely, or find her friend. I didn’t worry over her being seen or noticed, at least not yet. Nasba has survived a long time. She knew how to keep herself out of sight.

“So your stint patrolling that village came to an end huh?” I asked as I tried to remember their story.

His smile faltered a little, but not enough for me to think I had insulted him. He sighed as he nodded. “Yeah… all things come to an end right? And…” he then went quiet as he glanced around. I watched how he glanced at Renn and his sister, who were chatting away, and then glanced behind me. To where Nasba had run off to. We could hear light chatter coming from the back, which was likely what he was focusing on.

He then coughed, and reached over to pat my arm and gesture to the door. The exit.

I obliged him, but not before locking eyes with Renn.

Leaving the inn, we stepped out onto the deck and off it, to the dirt road.

Keeping a sigh inside, I watched the mercenary shift and glance around once more. Alert. Not because of me, but something else.

Were they on the run or something?

“We got a big break,” the mercenary then said.

“Oh?” I smiled lightly at him, and wished Renn hadn’t liked that girl so much. I wasn’t in the mood for this.

He nodded, and stepped closer to me. As to whisper. “We’ve got an opportunity. To not only earn well, but possibly join a northern band. One that lets women in too,” he said.

Ah. I relaxed a little; glad to hear it wasn’t something I likely needed to worry about. He was just likely worried someone would hear mercenary talk, or maybe he had been traveling with one of these supposed members of this northern band and didn’t want them hearing him talk of them.

“Nothing wrong with that,” I said to him.

“No. I’ll be honest I’m not sure what to think of our luck. It pays real well, and they seem decent and structured. Most of the members I’ve met so far are experienced. Yet willing to overlook my sister’s youth. Guess they got a few wives and kids of their own, so they’re used to it,” he said with a small smile.

“Sounds like you lucked out indeed. I’m glad,” I said.

Honestly I was. This would relieve Renn a lot. She hadn’t brought them up since we had parted with them, but I knew better than to think she hadn’t thought of them a few times.

He nodded, happy… and then gestured at me. “Want me to ask? They’re looking for more people, I have no doubt they’d take you two,” he offered.

I didn’t need to fake a kind smile as I nodded at him. “Thanks, I appreciate the thought. But we’ll be heading out soon. Only reason we’re still here is because she’s waiting for a set of clothes to be finished. They’re being repaired,” I said with a thumb to the inn, where Renn was.

The man’s smile softened as he nodded knowingly. “I see. I understand,” he said.

Did he…? He actually looked a little hurt. It was seen as a great honor amongst mercenaries to help each other out, but it wasn’t that big a deal to share work. It wasn’t uncommon at all for mercenaries to fight together in one battle, and then be on opposing forces the next. There was loyalty, but only to a point.

Or was that not the sting of refusal, but something else? Maybe he had hoped I’d join so he’d have another newcomer with him, to watch each other’s backs maybe?

Either way it didn’t matter. “I do appreciate it. But like I mentioned, we got to get north as fast as possible. I’m already twitching over this delay, to be honest,” I said.

“I’m sure. You said the Silken Band…?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Hopefully we don’t see each other anytime soon, eh?” he said with a smirk.

I smiled and nodded, and noted he didn’t tell me the name of his new band. I’d not press him on it, but it would have been something rude had I been an actual mercenary. One wasn't supposed to hide their allegiances. It meant they were either ashamed, or enemies.

Renn and the man’s sister then emerged from the inn. Renn was laughing at something as she stepped onto the deck and pointed at me. “He snivels, but it makes me happy,” she said to the girl.

The young mercenary smiled and nodded, a little sheepishly. I noted the way her eyes lingered on me for a moment, and I wondered what kind of joke I had just been the brunt of.

“Are you two staying here too? Shall we have dinner together?” the man then asked.

“Ah, no. We’re staying elsewhere,” I said, before Renn could reveal anything. Or worse, agree to something.

“Too bad. You expect to be around for long then? We’re to be here for a few days. If you are how about we have lunch or something tomorrow?” the man asked, trying again.

I glanced at Renn, and noted the way she smiled. She wanted to.

“Sure. If we’re still here. We’ll meet you here,” I said.

“Great! Sounds great!” the man nodded happily and held his hand out.

Shaking his hand in goodbye, I glanced at Renn to tell her it was time to go. She met my eyes, and I did my best to ignore the unwillingness to comply.

She didn’t argue it though, she bid the girl farewell, and she and I stepped away. Heading down the road, around the inn.

Not far from the inn, down the street a bit was Nasba. Waiting for us patiently.

“I’m glad they seem to be doing okay,” Renn said as we went to rejoin the duck.

“So it seems,” I said. I wasn’t going to comment on how they weren’t necessarily out of the fire yet. Joining a band wasn’t easy. You were usually given a tough job first, one that usually included bloodshed of some kind.

“She did look tired though. Hopefully they can get some rest here before moving on,” Renn added.

I thought of the young girl, and wondered if she had looked tired or not. I hadn’t really paid attention.

“Just be thankful Nasba’s quick on her feet,” I said.

“Ah. Right… It’s why I had hugged Elisabell so quickly, to distract her,” Renn said.

Smiling at her, I reached over to lightly pat Renn on the back. “You did good. I like how you shouted too,” I said.

Renn grinned at me and nodded. “Right? Figured you’d notice,” she said.

Chuckling at her, I wondered how long it had been since I had someone so… well…

Someone that knew what to do innately. To always be on guard, like me, in such ways.

Even those who tried to do so rarely were able to do it properly.

Renn was quick on her feet when she needed to be.

“Did he seem odd to you?” Renn then asked.

“That mercenary? Yes. But he’s probably just stressed. He’s wandering into dangerous territory and probably is more concerned for his sister than he lets on. He invited us to join him and his new band,” I said.

“Did he? That’s sweet of him,” Renn said as we neared Nasba.

“Friends with mercenaries are you Renn?” Nasba asked with a smirk.

Renn giggled and pointed at Vim. “It’s his fault. He makes everyone think that’s what we are while traveling,” she blamed me.

I nodded, admitting it.

Nasba’s smirk turned into a knowing smile. “He used to have many such friends. Whatever happened to that family of lions Vim?” Nasba asked as we all started to walk for the edge of the village.

“They all died long ago. There were a few mixed children that survived their last battle… but I never kept track of them,” I said.

Strange. I’d not thought of them in years. It was surprising to hear Nasba remembered them. She had only met them once.

“Were they mercenaries?” Renn asked.

I nodded. “Yes. A family of them. During the wars the Society had employed them, amongst others,” I said.

“You’d have liked them Renn. Their leader, and their strongest warriors, had all been women,” Nasba told her.

Renn smiled and glanced at me. “Really?”

“Really,” I said with a nod.

Yes. She would have liked them. They had been real predators. Proud of what they were. Proud of their strength. Similar to Lilly, but without the hatred. They had been cruel to humans, but had extended that cruelty to any of their enemies. Their cruelty had not been motivated by hate, but simple necessity.

I had enjoyed working with them.

“Plus they were a type of cat too. I remember that one having a huge mane. That one son,” Nasba said as she thought of them.

“Cats?” Renn asked.

“Lions. If you’re a jungle cat, they were savanna ones. Although similar, you’re also different. You jaguars usually hunt alone, lions hunt in packs,” I said as I explained it.

Nasba nodded. “And a mighty pack they were. How interesting… I hadn’t thought of them in a very long time…” Nasba wondered.

As we left the village, I glanced back behind us. To make sure nothing odd was out of place.

There were a few villagers in the distance. Heading the other way… but other than they, nothing seemed strange. No mercenaries following us. No signs of chaos.

Yet I felt something off. Something that hadn’t been there before we had run into those mercenaries.

Looking back ahead, I paused a moment at Renn’s look. She held my eyes for a moment, and then looked away. To step forward, to go into a deep conversation with Nasba about one of her friends. The large man who had used to travel with her and Merit, before the formation of their kingdom.

I slowed a little, to let the two women talk about their friends and more happier memories.

There was no place for me in there, amongst them.

Especially since I had killed that large man.

Another member I’d not thought of in a long time.

Merit and Nasba would never blame me for taking his life. He had deserved it. I had found him doing something beyond reproach. Yet…

He had still been their friend. For some time.

Heading back to the Weaver’s Hut, I kept a watchful eye on Renn and Nasba. The two walked closely, and spoke evenly. Excitedly.

They had become fast friends. Likely thanks to their common friend Merit. A rarity for Renn, to be so well received by such prey.

“He just kept getting bigger! Near the end he was so big he wasn’t even able to enter Telmik’s gate…! Or well, that first gate they had installed. They’re probably far bigger, now,” Nasba said.

“The… you mean the entry gate?” Renn asked, not believing it. But that was no surprise, she only knew Telmik as it was now. She hadn't been around to see that measly little gate they had made so long ago. It had only lasted a short while, since it had been so rickety and small.

Nasba nodded and giggled. “Yeah. It got so bad he couldn’t ride horses. He once even got on a ship, and it listed so bad he was kicked off!” Nasba drudged up a memory that made her giggle turn into a full blown laugh.

I smiled as Renn and I watched Nasba laugh. Her tail feathers fanned outward, flapping a little in joy.

While Nasba giggled away, Renn turned to grin at me. She gave me a toothy smile, as if to share with me the utter joy she was experiencing at watching and hearing Nasba laugh so purely.

I nodded at her, to let her know I heard it too. Though I didn’t have the heart to tell her Nasba’s words and laughs only hurt me.

Slowing a little more, I let Nasba and Renn gain some distance between us. Nasba went on to tell her more about him, and the rest of their little crew. The ones who had wandered aimlessly for years, unsure of what to do with their lives. How they had not joined the Society, yet had been there amidst it all the same.

As the day grew old, and we neared the Weaver’s Hut, I did my best to ignore the sad fact as Nasba told Renn about all of her and Merit’s friends.

Their little group, before they had formed that kingdom.

I did my best to ignore how happy she was to talk about them. How she still remembered them so warmly, and as genuine friends.

It wasn’t Nasba’s fault. Near the end she had found her husband. Settled down. Separated from them.

She hadn’t been there to see what they had done. She hadn’t witnessed the aftermath.

Although she knew of it. Although Merit had told her the truth herself.

Nasba remembered the years of good friendship… not the moment of betrayal.

Staying far enough away that Nasba wouldn’t ask me a question, or bring me into the conversation haphazardly… I did my best to ignore their conversation about those I had been forced to cull.

Let Renn and Nasba remember the good times. And I’ll endure the painful ends.

It was what I was good at, after all.