Page 108 of Ashborne: Defiance

“Wait, she followed you, Vos?”

Voski’s hunted expression shifted to barely concealed panic. He shoveled food into his mouth like he hadn’t eaten in days. Which I supposed we hadn’t.

My stomach chose that moment to suddenly remember my intense hunger, and growl audibly—loud enough that the men standing nearest heard it.

“Wait, you’ve been traveling too? And haven’t eaten yet?” said the pleasant, younger one who smiled so big when we entered. He made a great fuss of running to the tables at the back for food.

Bren dropped into a chair next to me and started introductions, but my head spun.

Gil, who I remembered from Fyrehold.

Harle, the one running to get food.

Oros, who’d introduced himself already.

Einar, the one with white hair and odd eyes.

Then Bren introduced Jhoare—a golden, sunny man—who was the handsomest man I’d ever seen. He kissed my knuckles and smiled, which made my cheeks warm.

“It’s a very great pleasure to meet you, Grace,” he said with the heated kind of grin I expected from a flirting noble.

I giggled without realizing I would do so.

“Laying it on a bit thick for a sister aren’t you, Jhoare?” Voski growled.

“What crawled up your leathers and died?” Gil asked casually.

The men chuckled as Voski had stopped eating and planted one elbow on the table, resting his jaw on his fist. He glared at the man standing over my chair. When I moved, Voski’s gaze snapped to meet mine, his dark eyes gleaming with an edge of anger.

I shrank under that attention. But luckily, was saved from having to respond by the arrival of Ronen.

“Oh, good. You’re all being introduced. I wanted to make sure everyone had heard the news.”

They all turned to greet Ronen. I prepared to stand up, but no one saluted. Then, as Harle returned with a plate, knife, and fork and plonked them down on the table in front of me, the others began repeating the story.

What I’d done.

What the dragons had done.

And what Voski hadn’t done. Namely, tell them all.

“I was starving after a week in flight. I would have gotten there,” he said, but didn’t meet Ronen’s eyes, when the leader shot him a look.

“Well, at least we’re getting there. Yes, it’s true, Grace is our newest sister. Yes, she’ll be Acknowledged tomorrow. No, we don’t have all the details figured out yet, but we will. So, make her welcome. Listen to Bren about how to do that. And eat. I’ll see you in the morning at the Acknowledgement. Except you, Voski. I need to speak with you.”

Voski dropped his fork like it had offended him. Ronen ignored him, turned to me and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure this is overwhelming now, but you’ll get used to it. Just ask Bren,” he said with a smile at her beyond me. “I still have a lot to do to prepare for tomorrow. Bren, after the meal, take Grace. We’ve cleared the stable across from Kham’s. It has an unused straw loft. We’re thinking that’s the best place for her, at least for the next few nights. We’ll warn the stableboys. You can check it out and send them to get anything you think she’ll need. I’ve already asked for a cot and blankets. It might not be a permanent answer, but at the very least, it’s a private place to rest tonight and will leave her close to Koa. They’ll both be more comfortable that way.”

“Oh, good. We were going to look after dinner—I was helping her find clothes and a bath before the meal.”

Ronen nodded, then squeezed my shoulder once more, before turning and tipping his head to Voski, who shoved out of his chair so that the wooden legs screeched on the stones, and pushed behind the others, stalking for the door.

Ronen’s lips pressed tight, but he gave me one final smile. “See you tomorrow. Rest well tonight. You’ll need it,” he said ominously, then he was gone, calling after Voski and leaning into his ear as they walked out of the dining hall together.

The other men started chatting and teasing again. But I barely heard them.

Voski walked with his hands in his pockets, and his shoulders crawling toward his ears. Ronen looked very unhappy, and I worried that Voski hadn’t done what he’d been ordered to do, and he was now in trouble.

The question was, why?