Page 148 of The Ashborn

“Is the forest usually this fucking cold?” Broan complained, rubbing his hands against his large arms.

“It is unusually chillier,” Connak confirmed, glancing back from the front of the group. Ruva padded next to Kienna, nuzzling her shoulder. They must have been talking the way she smiled at her wolf. Danek wondered how loud Kienna’s head must be.

“M’Ran is surrounded by mountains, so it catches the draft and limited sun unless it’s peaked,” Connak explained as he slashed through overgrown brush in front of them. Stepping through, he opened the branches for Kienna and Ruva.

Danek grabbed the brush himself and motioned for Connak to keep going. He liked walking in the back where he could observe quietly.

“When were you going to tell me about your affection for Vaerin’s favorite toy?” Broan asked as he stepped through the clearing.

Danek nudged him with his elbow and let go of the bushes. “You’d probably never stop making fun of me in River Storm. You really did not like her.”

“You’re right about that,” Broan chuckled. “Still can’t tell if I do or not. She doesn’t seem as timid anymore, so I imagine she’s alright.”

“You know she took down a Vorthakai in Dove Port?” Danek asked, leaning forward to check for Broan’s reaction. “With a makeshift spear. Then she created a barrier that held back hundreds of them.”

Broan ran his hand over his light, auburn beard. “You’re fucking lying.” He waited for Danek to confirm. When he didn’t, Broan grunted. “I saw Jacob in the villages by the Whiteridge Mountains.”

Danek stopped walking. “What was he doing there?”

“Vaerin’s pawn. He’s trying hard not to find Kienna, but the king’s control over him is deep. The bastard asked me not to tell her, but…I’m fucking scared not to tell her at this point.” Broan’s stare glossed over with a distant haze.

Danek couldn’t think of how to respond. Telling Kienna about Jacob might prove futile. She loved Jacob. Even hinting at his location would send her on a quest she wasn’t meant to be on. She needed to be here, on this path. Connak would agree if he knew. “Maybe don’t tell her,” Danek said, continuing forward.

Danek loved Kienna. He didn’t want her to be in pain. But he didn’t love her to keep her small. To distract her. He loved her because she was never destined to be small. He wouldn’t hold her back from any of it with information that would only hurt her. And dammit, he’d prove to Connak that he deserved a bond.

The silence grew heavy between him and Broan. Danek didn’t realize how much time had drifted between them from the gates of River Storm to now. Broan took to his surroundings quickly, earning his sigil of magic and breaking loose from his chains, moving forward with sure footing and strength.

“Remember when I gave you your first fucking drink back in River Storm?” Broan’s voice broke the silence.

Danek’s brow rose, but he snuffed a laugh anyway. “You mean when you stole three different kegs of ale before the guards caught you?”

He looked at that memory fondly—despite the reprimand they got from Dren. They were barely eighteen when King Vaerin pushed them hard at training, only to slap them with grueling castle work afterwards. They were dead tired, and Broan wanted to skip cleaning the cellars. Danek convinced him otherwise, and they found themselves in a room full of fine wine and kegs of beer. Broan carried them out after their duties, sneaking them back to their home. They got through one keg—Broan doing most of the heavy lifting. Danek had the biggest headache afterwards. He could barely complete training the next day.

Broan roared at the memory. “King Vaerin was pissed. Said we were a disgrace to River Storm.”

Danek could only imagine how King Vaerin thought about the group now, all but Baila abandoning ship and taking root outside of River Storm. His mind wandered to how their lives used to be. They grew up without parents, and that hardship weighed on them. But Broan had Danek’s back, and Danek had his. They trained together to grow stronger and never had to worry if anyone in the world gave a damn about them. They gave a damn about each other.

“Hey,” Danek said, playfully slapping Broan’s chest. “You still dream about building castles?”

Broan’s head shook. “I used to think forging great stone halls would put my name on something. I think I found something better at the Viking Stronghold. I’ve taken to fucking maps, believe it or not, with that Elvish soldier.”

“I’m glad you found your family, Broan.”

Broan grumbled an affirmation, following it up with, “You’re my family, Brother. They’re a bonus. You know Lief, the fucking tiny one, he sings. And Ingrid, fuckin’ hell, she’s in charge of the warband. And I’m…apparently, I’m an heir myself. These people, they’re your family, too.”

Danek’s chest tightened with unexpected warmth. He wanted a family and knew now that he had that in front of him. The people he needed most. He fell lockstep next to Broan, gait less uncertain. “I didn’t let myself have dreams. Or maybe King Vaerin took them,” Danek admitted. “But then…” His eyes flicked to Kienna.

Broan patted his back. “I always wondered why you didn’t take favor with the girls back in River Storm.”

“What do you mean?” Danek furrowed his brows.

Broan wrapped his arm around Danek’s neck and squeezed. “Don’t be fucking dumb. You had a trail of women following you like sad puppies, Pretty Boy. You didn’t entertain one.”

“Well, maybe a few,” Danek admitted, which only boosted Broan into a much jollier mood. Danek thought to ask Broan about his own romantic endeavors but doubted it would be a good idea. Regardless, he hoped Broan would find someone to challenge him one day.

“Brother,” Broan said, more serious this time. “Don’t lay your whole life on her. She’s going to have a lot on her plate. You need to be someone, too.”

Danek appreciated Broan stepping out of character in that moment, though his sentimentality sent a shiver down his bones. He shook it off and pushed Broan with all his Elvish strength into a large bush of berries before running forward. Broan emerged covered in scratches, cursing Danek.