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Chapter Thirty-Five

Vanni

“Goddammit man, I don’t need your help.”

I try again to shove Thomas’s hand away, only to stumble up the top stair, cursing.

“Nay? You are sure?”

I remember locking my room, but he opens the door as if by magic.

“How did you do that?”

Thomas lifts up my key.

“Where did you get it?”

He shoves me inside, none too gently. “You gave it to me.”

I take off my belt and lay it, and the sword, on a chair next to my bed.

“I hardly think you’ll need it this eve,” he scoffs. “God help you if you do.”

Kicking off my boots, I sit on the bed. Thomas moves his lantern from one hand to the other, the light flashing strangely as if we’re out to sea and a thick fog has rolled in.

“I think I’ll rest.”

Thomas laughs. “Aye, you rest. I’ll be up to wake you in the morn.”

I focus on my friend rather than the light. “Wake me? I’m no child.”

Another chuckle.

Thomas thinks I’m drunk, and maybe I have had too much ale, but I’d still be able to defend us both if called to do so.

“She won’t see me.”

I haven’t said a word of Aedre all eve. As the men ate and drank with those they’ve come to know in our time here, I skipped the former and concentrated on the latter.

“Aedre?”

“Aye.”

“Why won’t she see you?”

Maybe I am a bit whittled. I hadn’t meant to speak of any of this, but it feels good to unburden myself.

“I brought her back here, just to hold her. Comfort her. Couldn’t do it when we sent her Amma out to sea. I didn’t mean for it . . . she asked me to . . .”

Thomas shifts the lantern again. It’s making me dizzy.

“She was a virgin. But she asked, and I was too weak to say no. And then she ran out. Fled to Nord. To him.”

Thomas comes closer. Then he’s suddenly at eye level.

“Was she the reason you fought Aldwine?”

He’s squatting in front of me.