“Got you!”
I rolled onto my back as his tall shadow detached from the woods, looming over me.
“See now, I didn’t mean any harm.” I scrambled backward. “I only–”
“El?”
I froze, then flopped to my belly, squinting down the road. Two figures sat atop bedrolls not fifteen paces off.
One with a bow drawn.
“Ethyan? Lyana?”
“Off with you then, you big oaf!” Lyana cried, pushing to stand. She stalked over with all the confidence of a port guard, swagger in her step and all.
“She’s a thief!” The man jabbed an accusing finger my way. “Tried to rob me in my sleep!”
I pulled myself onto the road, limbs shaking from exertion, though he made no effort to retrieve me.
“We’ll deal with her,” Ethyan called, his aim steady.
“I expect you will,” he hissed, “or you’ll be missing bits when you wake.”
“‘Tis our risk to take.”
Lyana rushed to my side, offering a hand. I gladly took it, and she grunted as she helped me up. The traveler grumbled a few curses, spat in our direction, then disappeared among the trees.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed so tight she fought to get a breath. Tears pricked my eyes as a surge of relief washed over me like a warm tide. These were my people, allies who had my back. No longer would I have to scheme for escape or flee.
They were the family I chose.
“Robbing a man in the dead of night? Alone?” Ethyan asked. “You must be hungry.”
I loosened my grip and peered through the darkness as he rummaged through his things.
“There’s only a few scraps left from our hare,” he said, “but it’s better than nothing.”
I ran to their blankets and plopped beside him, picking at the thin carcass. “I can’t believe you followed.”
Lyana dropped next to me, a lopsided smile on her cheeks. “Well, we didn’t really follow. Gods above—we don’t know anything about tracking across miles of countryside. But we had a general idea of direction.”
“But look at you, girl! You got away on your own,” Ethyan mused, rubbing at his arm. It had to be sore from the length of the draw he held on the man. He lacked the strength to sustain a draw for long, but he was a fantastic shot when he loosed arrows in quick succession.
I smirked, shaking my head at how easy my escape was. Sainte either trusted me to stay put or Grimm played a furious game, keeping Urien distracted. Now I only had to evade them until my twenty-first birthday, which was closing in fast.
We conversed well into the night as I recounted the experience of my near-drowning and the witch with her ominous knowledge of me. Lyana narrowed her eyes at the mention of Sainte, and I averted my gaze, worried she might notice my guilt.
When all was said, we curled up together on the side of the road, and I slept peacefully for the first time in weeks.
I chuckled as Lyana danced atop the table, her feet prancing along with the bard’s tune. Patrons cheered and moved their mugs to make room as she twirled. Meanwhile, Ethyan lingered in the corner, engaged in a game of knife-throwing with some locals, winning us each a savory hand pie and a refreshing mug of water.
After three days of traveling, I found myself cherishing their company more than ever. Our time apart gave me a newfound appreciation for their presence. Lyana was the friend I never had growing up, ready to listen whenever I needed to talk. And Ethyan embodied the protective brother figure I always wished I had. His caring nature often masked his playful, sometimes obnoxious, demeanor.
I hummed along with the bard as he worked his fiddle, patrons drumming against the tables in time. Lyana, breaths heaving, danced with increased vigor, leaping from table to table as cheers erupted around us. Her energy was infectious, filling the tavern with a sense of celebration. Amidst the laughter and music, I couldn’t help but smile, knowing that despite the chilly night ahead, our bellies would be full and our spirits high.
A sour thought wormed into my mind about a certain man searching for me out in the cold. I frowned, squashing the image before it consumed me with guilt.
