“Pardon?”
Evylin smirked. “Jonn requested that you join him up front.”
Thom raised his chin. “Am I in trouble?” he teased.
“The worst.” She nudged his arm. “He’s worried about you, which means you’ll have to deal with his pestering until you convince him you’re fine.”
“An impossible feat.”
“Allore’s grace go with you.”
Thom chuckled and relinquished his spot beside Rafferty to her. He guided his horse forward until he rode beside Deckard at the head of the group.
“Afternoon,” Deckard greeted casually.
Thom returned the greeting and asked, “Would you like to discuss the weather? Or are we to have a heart-to-heart?”
Deckard didn’t bother beating around the bush. “Evylin told me what happened after the Keep.”
“Which part?” Thom asked dryly. “The almost dying part or the revelation of my undeniable magnetism?”
“All of it. I’m sorry I put you in that position.”
“It seems I put myself in that position. Me and my rugged good looks.”
Deckard gave him a flat, if amused, stare.
“Genuinely, Jonn, it was my fault, not yours,” he said. “I was stupid, thinking I could get us out of there. I charged to the front, knowing I wasn’t strong enough. I’m not magical; I’m not special. I’m just a man. And apparently, I have an even bigger hero complex than you.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“You weren’t there.”
“No, but Evylin was.” Deckard raised his brow imperiously. “And evidently, her powers let her see everything that happened during that battle.”
Thom grunted.
“She told me that if you hadn’t rushed forward with Auden and Brea, they would have fallen defending Rafferty, Vayden, and me.”
Thom shrugged, unsure if it was true or not. His leg ached, but he ignored the dull thrumming in his knee.
“I’m fine if that’s what you’re after,” Thom said. “Yes, nearly dying wasn’t pleasant, but I’ve found peace with knowing that I lived. Granted, I don’t intend to lead the charge next time.”
Deckard offered a wry smile. “And what about the situation with Brea?”
Thom shook his head. “What situation? Ilain was off base.”
“Do you know that for sure?”
“Have you met Breata Lohen?” Thom scoffed. “She’s twice my age, twice my worth, and more than twice my intelligence.”
“Yet, you receive all her spare attention.”
Thom rolled his eyes. “Jonn, she’s bored. She likes to flirt and joke around, just like Evie. It isn’t serious, any of it.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she told me.”
