Page 122 of To Fight and To Fold

"Thea!" she greeted, smiling—stressed—as she waved Thea in.

"How're things?" Thea asked.

"Bad, as usual," Vaelen answered.

Thea appreciated that Vaelen never hid the truth from her. "What's going on?"

"What isn't going on?" Vaelen whined. "I have no idea what Evergale is doing, aside from causing problems. The new isle is already cramped and I'm worried about taking advantage of our people's kindness and patience."

"And your shoulder?" Thea drawled as Vaelen attempted to smooth out a map with a huff. Her glare was enough to make Thea swallow her words.

"My shoulder is fine. My people are not."

Thea hummed sympathetically. It was true that their people were cramped now; even the training barracks had been repurposed to house whoever would fit.

"Should we start on a new isle?"

Vaelen lowered her head into her hands. "It's barely been weeks since the last one. I hate to expend those resources, exhaust our magic users. What if something happens and they're all depleted?"

Thea began to heat the kettle atop the wood stove. "Well. We can risk it, and make our people happy. Or we can wait. I think only one will give us results."

Vaelen sighed. "Who the hell made you so smart?"

Thea glanced over her shoulder. "I think you know."

Vaelen's smile was downright affectionate, and it warmed Thea's heart as she prepared their cups for tea. She noticed a new chip in Vaelen's favorite mug and made a note to herself.

"We can start slow, I suppose," Vaelen mused aloud eventually. "Only send a few magic users at once to scout for land, that way at least someone is always prepared."

"Sounds like the beginning of a plan," Thea said. The kettle began to whistle and Thea pulled it off the heat before pouring into their mugs.

"How are things with you?" Vaelen asked.

"Good. Skymore is clear. We got everyone out who couldn't get themselves out. And even though Evergale appears to have abandoned it, it feels like a trap to stay any longer. I don't think there's much more we can do there, so we can use those resources too, if we need them."

Vaelen accepted the cup Thea handed to her and offered a knowing smile. "I know we're almost wrapped up in Skymore, Thea. I meant you."

Thea pursed her lips. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Vaelen blew on her hot tea instead of responding right away, and Thea groaned as she sank into a chair. "You've been to visit me thrice in two days."

"You were shot."

"I've been shot before."

Thea's cheeks heated with the knowledge of being seen. "Yeah, well. You're old now, so, someone's got to look after you."

Vaelen barked out a loud laugh. "Old! I'm barely twice your age."

"That has nothing to do with it," Thea said, unreasonably.

"I'll have you know I have a dragon, and she plans to make sure I live as long as she does."

"I know. She and I have an understanding, you see."

Their chuckles died down and the tension of waiting lingered in the air like the steam from their mugs.

Then Vaelen's hand was on Thea's, and she was squeezing in that fond, motherly way. Thea's throat went tight.