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Panic wormed into her stomach. “Yes, Renton. Away. From. Others.”
“And you are.” Renton gave her a look, daring her to scale back down after such a rigorous climb.
“I’m offended,” Gireth said. “We’re not others, Tenah. We’re family. Thought we’d made that clear already.”
Tenah ground a rock beneath her boot. The last thing she wanted to do was turn Corrupt in front of them, putting them all in danger. “You watched me stab my cousin against my will, right?”
“Our professions literally beg for us to get hurt every day,” Vesara replied. “Wait, are we all unemployed right now? Renix above, we are.”
Anger jabbed at Tenah’s ribs. Was this a joke to them?
A hand touched her elbow and led her away from the crew. Renton released her at the opposite edge of the plateau. He sat down and patted the spot next to him. Her heart gave a wild lurch as she begrudgingly obliged, letting her legs dangle over the edge.
From this height, with the clear skies and the golden sunlight, she could see the coast of Aranma thousands of feet below. All proud mountains brushed with lush foliage, white-sand beaches and glistening turquoise seas so shallow in some areas, coral reefs were visible.
“This is…” Words evaded her.
“Elcana Reefs,” Renton said. “Of all the places Boedworth shipped me to, this was by far the most memorable. For the nobleman I had to threaten, memorable for another reason. But I couldn’t shake the way the city made me feel.”
A buoyant sensation in her chest pushed out her frustration. The world was truly a gem. One shadows had treated poorly over the centuries. Where was talk of that in tomes and temples? Everyone was so caught up in the balance of magic and politics and war.
Sometimes things just needed to be. To exist without complication.
“I’ve found nature can be healing,” Renton said quietly, bright eyes locking on her.
They were silent for a span of time, absorbing the sunlight and fresh air. Tenah had to glance behind them to assure herself that the crew hadn’t fallen off the plateau.
Soft snores came from Aeyis’s motionless form.
A small laugh burst from her. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Ashen sleep.”
“I rarely witnessed it myself,” Renton said, “but he got wild on Fen’s cappuccinos last night doing some research. Now he’s crashing and burning.”
Tenah couldn’t help but grin. It had been hours since she’d had any thoughts of the Void or the rift or her father. And even before the manor massacre, she’d ridden a constant line of plaguing stress.
This peace was foreign to her, but within it, she knew she could mold a version of herself that she preferred. One that enjoyed company. That sought adventure. That wasn’t the pillar onto which shadows placed their faith to shift mountains and achieve what had never been done before, not recorded, at least.
From the way Renton was staring out at Elcana, it was evident he pined for a new start too.
His voice was tender when he spoke again. “Move there with me. When this matter with your father is settled. Neither of us have homes to return to.”
What a beautiful future.
Misery spread through her body like an illness.
Her gaze dropped to her marked hands and cracked fingernails. “Renton, I’m not…” She frowned, hating that she had to pry the sticky words from her mouth. “That night in the manor, I made a bargain with Cirel to give me a second life. It’s possible it won’t be a full life. I may never be able to fully heal myself. I may always be bound to him in some form.”
“Sounds like another research project,” Aeyis interrupted.
Not two seconds after, snores rumbled from him again.
“What is happening right now?” Vesara asked, staring down at Aeyis with wide eyes. “Did he even wake up or is he sleep-talking?”
“He does that sometimes. Scares the crap out of me,” Gireth chimed in then leaned over to slap Aeyis in the stomach. Aeyis curled up with a grunt. “Should have joined us for a bit of dice last night, little bro. Vesara still owes me two hundred krotens and dinner.”
“Dinner was never part of the agreement,” Vesara snapped, flipping one of her knives between her fingers. “And anyway, I don’t like to be wined and dined.”
“Intel from a Void Walker was, however,” Gireth replied, his smile widening.
