The tapping of Lioren’s boots on the stairs were light and measured, but even then, the rhythm felt too loud. Like she was stomping down the stairs, demanding everyone’s attention. She gritted her teeth as she paused again, testing her feet and looking at her boots. Wondering if Tomas pranked her by putting something on the sole of the boot. But they were just normal leather boots. Sighing in exasperation, she continued down the stairs to the main hall. Bright morning light filtered in from the window slats, painting the staircase in unique shadows and fractal patterns. The main hall was mostly empty as the majority of the patrons were still sleeping but towards the center of the room, by the large central hearth, she saw Tomas and Mira and a third someone. Lioren froze as a familiar, arrogant voice drifted to her ears as if she stood just behind him.

  “I would have come sooner if I had known… I-- I didn't realize how bad it was.” Kale’s voice resonated with false guilt as Tomas sat, slouched with his arms crossed and Mira clutching a ceramic mug with both hands. Kale’s back was to her and her hand twitched toward her dagger, sheathed on her hip.

  “When Rory told me, no one survives wolfsbane poisoning, I came as soon as I could.” His voice cracked just a little and his shoulder slumped forward.

  Something was off about Kale. His shield lay by his chair, shining as it caught an early morning ray of sun. The screech of claws on metal shield sliced through her head as she watched Kale be lifted up by his arm and slammed into the ground, his armor crunched from the impact. But now, his armor looked pristine. Like he just got it repaired or… Her breath hitched but not from the joyous reunion. From rage. The fucking nerve on this guy. She curled her fingers against her palm, nails pressing crescent moons into her skin.

  “Lio, over here.” Lioren’s eyes snapped back into focus as Tomas stood to wave her over. His face was warm and welcoming but turned cold and distant as he returned his attention back to Kale who turned around, face white as the moon. Lioren took a deep breath, trying to steady her pounding heart as she took small, tentative steps toward their table. Tomas offered his hand to hers to help her into her seat.

  Right, wounded ribcage.

  She reached for Tomas’s hand, not because she needed the help—but because Kale needed to see her being helped.

  “Morning, glad to see you made it.” Lioren greeted him and Kale's mouth parted like a fish. Tomas offered her some bread, which she gladly accepted as Mira handed her a plate of fried eggs. She offered Mira a grateful smile, silently hoping the awkwardness from earlier had been washed away with the bathwater. Mira returned it tenfold before turning her more pointed expression back to Kale who was still staring at Lioren as if she had come back from the dead.

  “What were you saying about wolfsbane poisoning?” Lioren asked Kale after taking a bite of eggs. She chewed slowly, deliberately. Savoring each second Kale got more uncomfortable.

  He hesitated, his mouth opening and closing as if he couldn’t tell whether to reply or not.

  A flicker of something dark passed through her—so quick it almost wasn’t there. A thought, uninvited and sharp: how satisfying it would be to drive her dagger into his hand hard enough to pin him to the table. If only for just a moment.

  She blinked, and the thought vanished. She smiled gently, as if she hadn’t noticed his growing unease.

  ““I… I just meant that’s what Rory said. That… usually no one survives. After having a reaction to wolfsbane. It’s something in the blood, I guess. Old legends. I didn’t think you’d—” He stopped, seeing the way Mira’s brow furrowed. Tomas tensed beside her and she placed a hand on his knee beneath the table.

  “Didnt. Think. She’d. What?” Tomas’s voice was low and clipped, each word a hammer on the table. His hand flexed beside her, like he was debating if flipping the table would be too much. Kale flinched, shocked by the venom in Tomas’ words. Lioren took another bite and made herself smaller in anticipation of what she suspected Kale would say.

  “That she would survive… I mean--look, Rory said the reaction is lethal. He has seen it numerous times and there were never survivors.” Tomas moved his hand from the table to Lioren’s underneath and gave it a squeeze. Lioren lowered her head, visibly shaking as if she was reliving being poisoned. Except this time, by Kale’s words.

  “So was it my share that bought your new armor?” Lioren spoke quietly, her eyes stared down at her plate, hidden from everyone else’s. Tomas squeezed her hand harder and Mira took a sharp breath.

  “W--what? Kale stammered, clearly taken aback. He sputtered for a defense as Lioren put her fork down and looked up, tears brimming around her eyes.

  “My share. You know, the money I almost died for. The trail I hunted. The beast I killed.” She let the tears flow freely and her voice quavered, ever so slightly. Tomas shifted as if he wanted to say something, but remained silent. Lioren was strong and she didn’t need someone to defend her. Kale stood abruptly, chair scooting back with a screech. Other patrons looked over in interest. Mira sat stiffly, looking at her hands in her lap. Kale was her brother, but even she couldn’t come to his defense.

  “I--Rory said--”

  “Said I would die?” Lioren finished, her voice cracking on the last word. “So you took the gold, bought yourself new armor and rode in with apologies on your tongue because it’d make you look better.” Lioren rose to her feet, faking a wince as she stood. Tomas rose with her, his hand moving to her elbow to help her stand. She let the tears continue, but as she looked at Kale, her eyes were not that of a victim.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “Lio…” Mira reached out for Lioren, pausing, her heart torn between her brother’s stupid decision and Lioren who she had grown close with over the past few months. Lioren tilted her head to meet Mira’s eyes. They were pleading, but for what, Lioren couldn’t tell. Lioren took a deep breath, nodding her head slightly as if she now understood something. She looked back at Kale and wiped away her tears.

  “I forgive you.” She murmured, almost half to herself. She felt Tomas stiffen beside her, but still he said nothing. She felt his eyes on the back of her head and heard the ever so soft intake of breath as if he wanted to object. Instead, he kept silent and let his presence give her the support he thought she needed. Mira's jaw fell open as she glanced quickly between Lioren and Kale, hardly believing what her ears had heard.

  Kale straightened, almost stunned. “You… what?”

  “I know I haven’t exactly been your favorite since day one. And it’s okay—you thought I was going to die. Honestly, I did too.” Her smile twisted, sweet at first glance, but she tilted her head so Kale would see the threat behind her words.

  “You didn’t know. You just made a choice. And I might’ve made the same one, if I thought someone was a lost cause.” She paused, eyes dipping to his armor for just a moment too long.

  “Though I do hope the new armor is sturdier. Would be a shame to waste my share on something that doesn’t protect you next time.” Kale face changed from stunned confusion to masked fury as Lioren gave him one last small smile before turning to leave. Her plate remained, half finished but she wasn't hungry anymore. Tomas moved to follow Lioren but paused next to Kale. He leaned in close, never taking his eyes off of Kale's simmering eyes. His hand fished around on Kale's belt before he found a fairly heavy pouch that jingled when he picked it up. Kale gritted his teeth but looked away and said nothing. Tomas in turn, stored the pouch on his own person and continued to follow Lioren as she left to go outside.

  As Lioren crossed through the entry way, she heard Mira start to lay into Kale about his abominable stupidity and arrogance. She had once been on the receiving end of a 'Mira Lecture" when she accidentally cut Tomas while teaching him how to throw knives. In Lioren's defense, Tomas did want to see how good her aim was and now, Tomas has a small scar at the base of his neck.

  The morning outside hit her like a hammer. Whistle Hollow had woken up hungry. Shouting merchants, screeching carts, dogs barking, kids yelling. Lioren staggered as the noise rolled over her like waves. Every sound sharp, layered, endless. The pulse in her ears matched the drumbeat of the town. Too loud. It was too much, Lioren slammed her hands over her ears in an attempt to staunch the noise. All around her, the voices echoed.

  "How much is this?"

  "Do you have any meat left?"

  "Kids stopped teasing the dog and go help your mother."

  "Did you hear someone saw a scouting party for the Order of the Four Locusts?"

  One voice rose amongst the others until it was right next to her. A hand on her shoulder jolted her from the bombardment of sound. She flinched before her mind caught up. Her body was ready to strike first, think later. But it was just Tomas. His hands warm. His eyes wide with worry.

  “Lio, hey. It’s alright. You okay?”

  She didn’t answer right away. the sounds of the day echoed in around her. She took several deep breaths as she tried to mentally push the sounds away. The world returned to a normal volume as she nodded her head.

  "It was just a lot. With Kale." She added with a nervous laugh.

  "Yeah," He agreed, but more serious than he had been since she overcame the poison. "Look Lio, I know he deserved everything you said against him... but that didn't sound like you." He tried to catch her eye but Lioren looked away and put on a mask of shame. "Even when Kale picked that stupid job. You thought it was too much, but you didn't say anything."

  Lioren's eyes flashed to his, momentary fury igniting in their hazel depths.

  "So it's my fault now? I almost died for a job he picked and it's my fault because I didn't voice my opinion?" Her eyes flared with false indignation as Tomas flinched and his mouth opened like he was going to protest. But he shifted his weight and remained silent. Lioren could see the doubt and shame in his eyes.

  Just a little snap.

  "I get ripped apart, almost die to a random herb some guy happened to give Mira, and you think I am being too harsh?" She trembled, but not with anger. With the fracturing edge that someone who was barely keeping it together would have. Some people passing by stopped to observe the scene unfolding, but decided to keep walking when Lioren shot them a dangerous glare. "I bled for us, Tomas. For all of you. And now I'm the one who has to explain herself? I didn’t know surviving meant earning back my place." She spit the last word, malice threatening to overtake her.

  Tomas' eyes widened and his face fell completely to shame. A sight that made Lioren's stomach churn despite everything that had happened. With a sigh, she stepped closer to Tomas and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  "I'm sorry," She murmured into his chest and his arms wrapped around her shoulders, squeezing her close. "I know you are just trying to help. I just... I'm just trying to find out if I'm still me." She let out a small breath, one that actually felt like hers. It was the first real thing she had said since she had woken up that morning. Seeing Tomas so wounded had drawn on something deep within her. Familiar, warm, and true. But as it came up to console Tomas, it started to slip back down.

  "I think all of us changed that night." Tomas whispered into her hair and ran his hand down the back of her head. "But we are still here. And I am finally starting to see you. Not the, 'shy girl with the mysterious background who knows the fast way to drain blood from a man'. But the strong, fearless woman who faced down a nightmare creature and killed it. The one who put herself in danger to save her friends." He pulled away so he could meet her eyes. "She is pretty damn sexy, too." He smiled his silly lopsided grin and a laugh bubbled out of Lioren. He placed a hand on her cheek, his thumb tracing her cheek bone and his eyes beaming warmth and care into hers.

  "Now, I know what will cheer you up." He reached for his belt and held up a clinking pouch. "Shopping!"