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“Why me?”
Talodus gives me a blank look. “You two live to get under each other’s skin. What better way to make you mad than to cause so much rumpus you can’t speak over it?”
I feel myself shrug, but I stop, straightening my posture and moving away from the leaves. “I’m not sure what rumpus is, but this is satisfying.”
“To hear yourself talk?” Connak snarks.
“To step on the leaves,” I retort. “I’m not sure why, but I find it enjoyable.”
They both turn to look at me, and the sudden attention has me scowling. Talodus is wide-eyed, but Connak only grins.
“Are you feeling okay?” the guard asks.
“Yeah. A little anxious about this meeting, but otherwise, I’m fine,” I confess.
Connak clears his throat. “You find something other than fighting and arguing enjoyable? Since when?”
I scoff. “I know how to have fun.”
“No, you don’t,” Tal mutters.
“Since when?” Connak repeats. “You’re worrying me.”
“Since Ada,” Talodus answers for me. “Did you tell Nook about how she hurt your feelings?”
“She didn’t hurt my feelings,” I defend, though I don’t know why I’m lying to them.
I wouldn’t exactly call it hurt feelings, though I don’t have another word to associate it with.
“Right,” Tal drawls, slowly nodding. “She sliced open your chest with a freshly sharpened blade, flaying you open until your organs lay on the ground for all to see.”
I narrow my eyes, glowering at him. “I told you that in confidence.”
“She stabbed you?” Connak inquires, his grin growing into something triumphant. “I’m sorry I missed that.”
“Ada didn’t stab me,” I insist. “She’s not violent.”
“Yet,” he quietly adds.
“No, but she choked you,” Talodus continues.
I throw my hands up. “She did. But she also put some things into perspective—”
“Quite a few times, by the looks of it,” Connak cuts in.
“And now I’m trying to enjoy myself more and step away from always being on duty,” I finish, not that I need to justify my actions.
“You?” the hunter asks, disbelieving.
“Is there someone else here who sounds just like me?” I glance around. “No? Then yes, me.”
The honking of a Red-Crowned Crane stops our bickering. They were closer than we thought. Talodus cups his hand over his mouth, replicating the call of the sacred bird, to respond to our visitors.
“Are you sure about this?” Connak inquires, his voice a hushed whisper.
“There’s no turning back now,” Talodus remarks.
“I’m sure. This is the right thing to do.” I nod as I smooth my shirt. “This war isn’t about us. We aren’t the ones who will be on the front line. Ada and Madigan will be.”
