Page 39 of Blade of the Nightking

He huffed and slid it back into place. “You can’t read?”

“No.” I tugged absently at the braid over my shoulder. “And judging by these shelves, Aedric can’t either. Has he even opened a single one of these?”

“Probably not,” Hamish said. “He’s not big on reading.”

I thought back to his rooms in Solmire. I’d never seen a book there.

I scoffed. “What a luxury. To know how to read and choose not to.”

He studied me with new interest. “There were no books in the mortal lands?”

“Paper makes good kindling,” I offered curtly.

Hamish nodded slowly, his gaze settling on me as though he were seeing me properly for the first time. “Survival first, then.”

Survival. Saerena hadn’t survived.

“That’s usually the way it goes.” I took another swig.

My fault my fault my f⁠—

“You’re drunk,” he frowned.

I shrugged. “Yes.” I paused, then held out the bottle. “Why aren’t you?”

A humorless breath escaped him as he took it from me. “Trust me,” he said. “I will be.”

He drained what remained in one long swallow, his throat working as he tipped his head back. He wiped his mouth, tucking the empty bottle under an arm.

“I’m glad you’re alright,” he said gruffly, and turned toward the door.

But I wasn't alright. I didn't know if I'd ever be alright again.

"Wait—"

He paused, glancing back over his shoulder.

The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "Can I come with you?"

I had to get out of this room. Distract myself with something. I couldn't bear another moment alone with my thoughts.

For a long moment, he simply looked at me.

My heart sank. I shouldn't have asked. He had duties to attend to. He wasn't about to waste his time walking me around Dheren. Not unless Aedric ordered it.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

I blinked, surprised. He tilted his head, waiting for an answer.

"Just… out of this damned room."

The corner of his mouth curled upward softly. Kindly.

"Alright," he said.

He set the empty bottle on the laden tray as we passed the bed, and then led me into the corridor beyond.

Dheren was a city built not outward, but downward. I found myself gripping the railing as we left the fortress and descended, my stomach tightening as the city opened beneath us.