Page 68 of Condemned

“Tell them.” Takk leaned forward. His four blond braids swung at his back like serpents and his stare was a challenge. “Is the truth that bad?”

For once Zo didn’t support her. She expected him to say she didn’t have to, but he only waited.

“What the fuck does it matter,” she muttered. She was leaving them soon. Zo must have forgotten that minor fact. She puffed out her cheeks. “Okay. I did it because I was going to jail and my uncle is this influential man in politics. He said do this and I’d be free. I’d be paid well and my record would be clean.” When they said and did nothing, she continued, shrugging. “My family hates me because I’m huleon and so I stole. They paid for my education, but I became a thief because it was something I did well. If it embarrassed them, good.”

She sat up and clasped her arms about her knees. Only she mattered. It was a good way to avoid being hurt.

“Fuck your family,” Kon growled out. The rest of them followed his curse with similar ones.

Only she mattered... Except for now. Damn them. The ache in her chest told her in uncertain terms that they mattered to her. She twitched out a smile. “Thank you.”

“So...” Timin wriggled about, punched his pillow materials into better shape. “That’s why you thieved. But why did your team run away from you? We all saw that flare. They fucked you over.”

“Yes, Ava, why?”

Again with the nickname. She looked sideways at Zo, heaved in a pained breath. “Because, I think, they must have been ordered to.”

Sad, but not that unexpected. Not really.

“If that was your uncle’s doing, wow.” The tattoo on his forehead shifted as he frowned.

“Did I not tell you this?” Takk interjected. “Her and politics. Dangerous fucking mix.”

She ignored him and kept directing her words to Zo.

“I had thought them friends but hey, that’s life. Uncle pays well.” Suddenly, she was struggling not to cry.

“Not sorry I asked.” He patted her leg. “You needed to say. Now all of us understand. Is there anything you want to ask us?”

“Oh.” Having that dumped on her left her floundering. “Let me think on that.”

“Since we’ve got hours before we can leave here, this seems a good time to have a drink.” In Zo’s offered hand was a canteen she knew held something potent.

“Thanks.” She swallowed some then handed it back. Maybe he was right. Maybe it was best she tell them the truth. She just couldn’t see how it mattered anymore.

Once this blizzard cleared, they’d pick up and move on down the mountain and into Omage. Then they’d give her to the priests.

“Do not give up hope. Takk is a complicated mauleon. A good leader.”

She glanced over at where he was currently chugging down more liquor. “Complicated. Huh. Why is he drinking so much, now, of all times?”

“That, I am not sure of. Going home may be bothering him, or you are?”

Her?

She shook her head and though she kept on listening to the talking, she found herself growing sleepier. She saw Takk stand and stalk away down the corridor, not staggering despite how drunk he should be. Finally she closed her eyes and snuggled into Zo. At some stage she woke to see a pile of snow someone had carried in, with both Timin and Kondio trying to make snow angels in the pitifully thin layer. They were rudely mocking each other. Smiling, she fell into a deeper sleep with Zo’s hand on her back.