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‘Good,’ Thea told him, warming her hands around her mug of tea. ‘Because I’m here for the long haul.’
‘I know,’ Kipp said. ‘That’s why I put three silvers on you.’
Thea baulked. ‘You’replacing bets on me?’ She didn’t know why she was surprised. She had known Kipp and Callahan for exactly one afternoon, they owed her nothing.
‘Sure am,’ Kipp said proudly. ‘Bet Lachin three silvers that you’d pass initiation with flying colours.’
Cal nudged her with his elbow. ‘Kipp’s betting against the others,’ he said. ‘He’s saying you’ll win.’
Thea didn’t know if it was the cold or the lack of food in her stomach that was making her obtuse, but the pieces clicked together. ‘Oh. Well, I’ll aim to make you rich.’
Kipp looked pleased. ‘When I’ve got Lachin’s coin, we’ll head out to Harenth. I’m dying to return to the Laughing Fox for some of their sour mead.’
‘The Laughing Fox?’ Thea asked.
‘It’s this jester’s favourite tavern in Harenth, apparently,’ Cal supplied, shaking his head. ‘Though I suspect he hasn’t set foot in any tavern —’
‘I’ve been to loads.’
Thea drizzled honey over her porridge and shovelled it into her mouth, unsure when they’d be able to eat again. ‘I didn’t realise shieldbearers could leave the territory…’
‘Not for free time,’ Cal scoffed. ‘We’re often sent on errands for the Guild Master, the commanders, and the Warswords. Delivering messages, picking up goods and supplies for the fortress and such.’
‘And sometimes we mightaccidentallystumble into a tavern on the way…’ Kipp added.
Cal rolled his eyes. ‘One tavern. One time. Allegedly. And it’s all you bloody talk about.’
‘It wasn’t just —’
Thea sat back and ate her breakfast as they bickered. They reminded her fondly of Sam and Ida, and her and Wren, but she made a vow to herself not to become too reliant on them. Theyhad kindly taken her under their wing for now, but who knew how long it would last? She needed to find her own two feet as a shieldbearer, and she needed to find a way to make the others respect her, or better still – fear her.
Even as she thought such things, the glares she was getting from the other tables bored into her. She had no doubt in her mind that Seb was sowing the seeds of some underhanded mutiny against her. If there was one man in Thezmarr whose masculinity could be threatened by the mere presence of a woman, it was him.
‘Who’s dog was that on your bed last night?’ Cal asked. ‘I’ve seen him round the fortress for years, but he never approaches anyone like he did with you.’
‘A friend’s,’ Thea told him.
‘I see…’ Cal replied, a suggestive hint in his voice.
‘Not that kind of friend,’ Thea said quickly, though at the insinuation she couldn’t stop the memory of Hawthorne surveying her naked torso flooding back.
Cal raised his hands in surrender. ‘No judgement.’
A shadow fell over their table. ‘By all means,’ Esyllt’s voice grated like a rusted blade. ‘Let’s all gather round the fire and tell our life stories rather than work.’
All three of them scrambled to their feet.
‘Courtyard! Now!’ The weapons master was apparently already in a foul mood.
They practically fell over themselves to get to the doors.
Someone shoved Thea from behind and she went sprawling across the stone floor, hands stinging.
‘Watch where you’re going, stray,’ Seb snarled, doing his best to step on her as she tried to get up.
Kipp hauled her up, surprisingly strong for such a wiry frame.
Seb had pushed his way ahead, but he called back loudly, ‘Heard you even sleep with dogs, stray. Won’t be long before they throw you out with the rest of the ferals.’
