part0009

Raikidan and I made our way through the forest. The gaps in the canopy casted dapples of light over the forest floor and our skin, giving it refreshing warmth over the cool air. Raikidan led the way without hesitation, even alerting me when we left his territory. That was two days ago. We’d yet to come across a road of any kind, but I didn’t complain. The two of us were better off not risking being spotted in such an open location.

“So, the reason your weapons don’t rust is due to a special material it’s made of?” Raikidan asked.

Yet another question… I nodded. “Yes, that’s correct. It’s a commonly-used material for weapons, even among the other races.”

He glanced my way. “What was it like being part of the military?”

My fist clenched. We’d managed a full day before he started playing twenty questions with me, again. At first, I was willing to answer, as the questions were harmless enough and hadn’t been personal. But as the days passed, they continued, making them more annoying than anything, and some of them, like this one, were getting personal. I knew we needed to work together, but I had no intention of making some personal connection with this dragon. “I ran away and couldn’t care less if I lived or died. What do you think it was like?”

He looked at me, his brow creased. “It was just a question. No need to snap at me.”

I didn’t answer him and continued our direction forward.

“Okay… what about this question. What do you like to do for fun? Besides killing others.”

Pain pulsed in my chest. “I don’t enjoy killing.”

“Then why did you become an assassin?”

I shook my head. “Did you forget I was created for a purpose? I didn’t choose what I did. Making choices against my creator ended with me dealing with you!”

“No need to shout… or be rude. I’m just trying to understand you. If we’re going to work together, I need to know things about you.”

“It’s one thing to inquire information to know your partner of a tentative alliance. It’s another to ask personal questions. I have no intentions of being your buddy.”

“Seriously, what is wrong with you? One minute you’re fine, the next you snap at me, and then you’re fine again, only to cop an attitude the next. It’s like your emotions are all messed up or something.”

The pain in my chest returned, and I looked in a different direction, my shoulders involuntarily sagging. There’s that phrase again…

Raikidan stopped walking. “I see. I was wondering why I hadn’t seen you smile once since we met. And I mean a real smile, not some sick twisted grin. Not even when I’ve complimented you, which would have made others smile. You act this way to protect yourself. You don’t want anyone close, so you can’t be hurt.”

More pain flared in my chest. I stopped walking, but didn’t look at him. “No, that’s not it…” My hands balled into fists. “I lack the capability to express and feel most emotions.”

He came up to me. “What?”

“I was created to be the first soldier without any emotions.”

“Wait, you mentioned your creator deemed you unworthy because of emotions.”

I nodded, my eyes focused on the ground. Where to start on that explanation… “Nu-humans and humans differ, but living weapons like myself are different from regular nu-humans. Nu-humans have enhanced physical characteristics—greater physical strength, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Living weapons have all that, but to a much greater degree.

“Further, almost all living weapons are experimental, with changes to their DNA such as adding other creature-type characteristics, more desirable human characteristics, or removing them. Once they find a characteristic they like, they keep it in all new designs.”

I took a deep breath. “My design was to be emotionless, but the design failed. I experience emotions, but not the way others do, nor am I capable of expressing them correctly. So, in emotional situations I get confused, and that confusion comes out as frustration.”

I crossed my arms. “They did, however, manage to get something out of it. I’m unable to express sadness in the form of tears, experience fear, or possibly even feel happiness.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Possibly?”

I nodded. “I understand how happiness works. I know the right responses and how it can affect others. Still, because you cannot teach someone how to be happy, it’s unknown if I’ve never experienced it.”

“You’ve gone this far living like this. What is your opinion about it all? How do you really feel about being created this way?”

How do I feel? No one had ever asked me that before. They’d always just accepted it and moved on. Why is he the first to ask?

“Personally, I don’t really care. It’s not like it can be magically fixed.” I started walking away. “It’s not like I’m worth fixing.”

For a good minute I walked by myself, but Raikidan finally caught up. I chuckled when a thought came to me at the same time. “It’s weird. I’ve never talked about myself so much to a stranger.”

“Maybe that’s a sign not to see me as a stranger.”

I snorted. “Not likely.” I regarded him for a moment. “You know, you’re a lot more curious than I would have expected you to be.”

Raikidan was the one to look away this time.

“What? Curiosity isn’t a bad thing—most of the time. It’s how we learn.”

His eyes narrowed. “Your tone now is confusing. You’re not tensing to bite me again.”

I chuckled. “Might as well get used to it. I’m temperamental.” He snorted, and I had to stop myself from laughing. A realization came to me. “Hey, you’re going to need to change the form you take. If you’re going to help me in Dalatrend, you’ll need to look like a nu-human, and if we’re going to this town, it’s best if you use an appearance that’s more acceptable.”

His brow furrowed. “More acceptable? What are you talking about?”

I paused a moment. “Oh, right, you don’t know the history between humans and nu-humans.” I took a deep breath. “For as long as recorded history goes, humans have felt insignificant compared to the other races of the land. We were generally considered the weakest, even though it’s said we were the first, and other races evolved from us. To change our position, humans advanced their technology, and thus their culture, but even after doing this, they were ill-equipped for surviving in Lumaraeon compared to the other races. Therefore, they collected the best human scientists, engineers, chemists, and biologists of the time, and started experimenting on a genetic level.”

I stopped a moment and rubbed my arm. Raikidan seemed completely engrossed in my story. “After hundreds of failed attempts, they finally had a breakthrough, and as a result a new breed of human was born. That new breed took shape in the form of a little girl. The little girl’s life force was stable and growing, so more were soon created. They called this new breed of human… nu-human . As the nu-humans grew and developed, they were integrated into society. Ordinary families took the children in to teach them how to live normal lives, and all was good. That is, until the nu-humans became greedy.”

Raikidan still listened intently, as if he were feeding off this information.

“With their enhanced senses and looks, they felt they were superior to the regular humans. Their arrogance drove a rift between the two types of humans, and civil war broke out. The battles raged until the humans lost the will to keep control. The nu-humans imprisoned their makers and turned them into their slaves. They had planned to slowly drive the humans to extinction, but after realizing the work they would have to do once the humans were gone, they spared the poor, lesser versions of themselves.”

I looked Raikidan in the eye. “So, now that you’ve heard the history, you can understand why you can’t look like an ordinary human.” I smirked. “Unless, of course, you want to pose as my slave.”

Raikidan’s eyes darkened, and there was a dangerous edge to his voice. “Not going to happen.”

I closed my eyes and nodded. Despite my protests, this dragon was starting to grow on me. “I’m glad you said that. To be fully honest, I’ve never liked the idea humans were beneath us. While that fact had been taught to us since day one, it never set well with me.” I looked to the sky; a bird darted through the trees catching my eye. “When I escaped, I learned how closed off my city was. Humans had more freedom the farther west I went. It was as if those in power were perpetuating a lie to keep us controlled.” I grunted in contempt. “Not too far from the truth. The citizens are slaves in their own right. They’re so brainwashed they believe they shouldn’t leave the city. When in reality, Zarda’s greed for power keeps them contained in their cages—where he can control them easier.”

Raikidan stepped closer to me. “Sounds like a rotten way to live.”

I looked at him and grimaced. “That’s why there’s a resistance movement. We want him gone and the people free.”

Raikidan responded with a slow nod. “Noble goal. I hope to help you achieve that, especially since it’ll sate your desire for revenge, but there’s one slight problem.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What’s that?”

A sheepish grin crossed his face. “I can’t take a nu-human form yet. If the difference between the two human types were cosmetic, it wouldn’t be an issue, but as you’ve indicated, there are other differences as well. I need to observe you longer before I can make that change.”

I eyed him for a few moments, then let out a long sigh. “Very well. We’ll just have to have a good story if you meet someone as a human and then happen to again later as a nu-human.”

Raikidan crossed his arms. “You act like I’m new to being a dragon. We’re good at being secretive.”

“Right, that’s why you saved a nu-human.” He gave me an unamused look and I chuckled before waving him to follow. “Now let’s keep moving. This conversation isn’t helping us get places.”

At some point, the forest thinned, and before long we stepped out onto a dirt road. Few towns had the ability to produce the materials to sustain vehicles, so there wasn’t a need to maintain roads like they did in cities. Even advanced technologies were limited. Such were the perks of living in cities in a broken land on the verge of war again. Will we ever see peace, like before the War of End?

Raikidan peered around. “I think we’re close. I wasn’t expecting to find a road just yet, so I’m not sure.”

I also gazed around, the sounds of the forest alive even here. The trees swayed in the breeze, and small birds flew above in the blue sky. Something is familiar about this place.

The wind, no more than a gentle breeze, was a welcome relief to the midsummer heat as I strolled through the forest. I walked the familiar path as I had so many times during the past years. But this time was different. This time I hadn’t tread this path for some time.

My stare caught Raikidan’s attention. “What’s up?”

I shook my head to clear it and peered around again. “I know this road.”

His brow rose. “You recognize a road?”

“I traveled it a lot.” I spotted an old wooden sign and ran over to it. Elemental symbols were carved into the wood. “I was right. I have been here.” My eyes shifted to Raikidan as he approached. “And we were correct in our assumption about the nearby village. It’s the West shaman village. We’re close. Follow me.”

Before he could protest I took off, an eagerness adding to my speed. As I led the way, my pace slowed, the memories of why I’d left coming back.

Everyone here who knew how to was fighting. Instead of turning me in, instead of making it safe for them to live, they chose to fight for me. They were choosing to die for me.

My shoulders sagged. Maybe going back isn’t a good idea.

I jumped when a hand landed on my shoulder. I looked at Raikidan, whose brow creased with concern. “Are you okay, Eira?”

I nodded. “I’m fine. Lost in thought. It’s been a while since I was here last.”

“Is that why you led us off the road?”

“I what?” I looked around to find he told the truth. The forest around us had thickened and the canopy choked out the sun. “Shit. Well, no going back now. Stay close to me. If you wander off you may have to deal with the Guardian, and you’re not equipped with the knowledge to convince it you’re not an enemy.”

“What do you mean by ‘guardian?’”

“They’re ancient beings, created during the War of End to protect towns and villages. They’re humanoid in shape, but featureless, and without emotion or independent thought outside their programming. Many would call them golems.” I glanced his way. “The West tribe has one to protect their people from invaders. They had more, but only one has survived the sands of time. It’s programmed to attack outsiders who stray too far from the three main roads leading to the village.”

“Sounds dangerous for those wandering the woods with no ill intent.”

I nodded. “True, but the shamans have a safety measure in place in case that happens. Those trained in the way of the Guard are sent out on daily patrols, keeping an eye out for such situations. It also keeps poachers at bay, as this area is a prime target for wild game.”

“So, say I did get separated from you, and it attacked me, h—”

“How would you fight it?” I chuckled. “By running. There isn’t a mortal alive that could kill a Guardian on their own. A group may be able to do it, but due to their design, they can take all sorts of damage.”

Raikidan’s shoulders pulled back as he crossed his arms. “Don’t underestimate us dragons. You nu-humans may be stronger than this human form I take, but even I know you’d struggle against me in my natural form.”

I looked him up and down, a smirk spreading across my lips. “Of course, I’ve never fought a dragon, so you could be right. Though I doubt you’d make it out unscathed if you could take it out.”

Raikidan’s head lifted as he eyed me. “You tried to fight it once, didn’t you? That’s how you’ve come to your conclusions.”

I held up my hands. “Guilty as charged. I stumbled upon the tribe by chance. A Hunter perused me through these woods when I stumbled upon a resident of the tribe. My presence, along with the Hunter’s, called the Guardian to the very spot to protect the villager.” I shook my head. “What a mess that was. But I learned quick how strong these creatures are, and will never make an attempt against one again if I can help it.”

Movement in the forest caught our eyes. Raikidan’s stance changed to a defensive one. I chuckled and shifted my path toward the movement.

“What are you doing?” he hissed. “You don’t know what it is yet.”

I snickered. “What are you, a dragon or a mouse?”

His eyes narrowed. “I’m trying to be sensible.”

Several hundred feet away, a tall humanoid figure with a shadowy appearance came into view. Closing my eyes and placing my hand on my chest, I looked within myself until a pulsating warmth called to me. This warmth wasn’t the same as the flame I contained in my body. I pushed the warmth into my chest while muttering an ancient incantation, mixing it with my flame, and then extracted it by forcing the will to my hand. Pulling my hand away, a red and white flame rested on my palm—fire mixed with spiritual energy. Several symbols of unknown origin to me rotated around the flame.

The figure drew closer, but I stayed put—even when it reached me and towered over me with its impressive size.

I grinned. “Hello, Guardian. It’s been some time. I wasn’t sure if you’d recognize me or not.”

The featureless figure looked to Raikidan.

“He’s with me. A visitor I accidentally led off the road.”

The Guardian peered down at me again and then turned around, heading the way it came. I motioned Raikidan to follow and I set a pace behind the Guardian.

Raikidan bent closer to me. “Why are we following it?”

“It’s going to show us back to the road.”

“How do you know?”

“I was here long enough to understand its actions.”

His brow rose. “Is that how you knew how to make that strange fire?”

I nodded. He accepted my answer, and the two of us followed the Guardian in silence. The forest eventually thinned again. When light from the sun was able to seep through the trees, the Guardian stopped. In front of us was the path we had wandered off. The figure stepped aside, motioning us to keep going.

“Thank you, Guardian,” I said before continuing along the path.

“You’re so polite to it,” Raikidan said when the Guardian had disappeared from sight.

“It may not have independent thought from its programming, but it does remember allies and it has a tendency to favor them, prioritizing its favorites if multiple people are in trouble,” I said. “I try to at least stay off the bottom of that list, just in case.”

Raikidan chuckled as he bent closer to me. “Smart.”

I pulled back, my brow creased. “Uh, personal space, remember?”

Raikidan smirked but said nothing. Gods, his space issue is annoying. He’d pushed this boundary many times on our excursion. He seemed to get some sort of sick enjoyment out of pushing my buttons this way. I hated it.

It wasn’t long until the road brought us into a clearing. On the opposite side of the clearing, near a pond, an old man sat on a small stump, feeding bread crumbs to a pair of ducks, his pointed ears giving away his elven heritage. A smile spread across my lips as recognition dawned on me.

The ducks swam away at our approach and the old man turned to face us. “Visitors? How may I help—” His eyes widened. “E–Eira? Eira, is that you?”

I smiled at him. “Hey, Mel’ka.”

His eyes welled up with tears. “You’re alive… You’re really alive!”

Mel’ka hobbled to me, and in his hunched-over state, wrapped his arms around my torso and buried his face into me. I continued to smile as I stroked his balding head. “I didn’t think you’d miss me that much.”

He looked up at me with tear-stained cheeks. “You’re such a kind young lady. And you listened to my stories with more interest than anyone else in the village.”

I chuckled, a few of my favorite stories by him coming to mind immediately. “Because you tell such great stories.”

He reached up and ruffled my hair. “And you’re good to your elders. Not enough young ones like that these days.” He hooked my arm in his. “Now come. The others will be happy to know you’re here, safe and sound. We’ve all been worried about you.”

My eyes widened in surprise. I hadn’t expected him to say that. “Everyone?”

He chuckled. “Well, Maka’shi doesn’t count. I doubt she worries about anyone anymore.” He shook his head. “She’s not the woman she used to be. It’s a shame.”

I refrained to comment. I didn’t have a high opinion of the half-elf woman. Leader of the West Shaman Tribe, and ice-touched, Maka’shi was anything but a pleasant woman. Unlike the average shaman, she mistrusted strangers and hated me in particular. If anyone would have a fit with my return, it’d be her.

The three of us walked for a few hundred yards, Mel’ka going into his story-teller mode. It was a story he’d told me more times than I wanted to count, but I enjoyed it. Raikidan even showed interest in the tale.

We emerged from the forest and came upon a new clearing with a small village nestled inside. The buildings had little pattern to their layout. Some stacked on top of each other, others with more room, and gardens or crop patches in need of daily tending. Shops had signs hanging above or next to their entrances and cobblestone paths connected them all.

Several people outside their homes looked our way, their faces expressing shock and… happiness? Before I knew it, shouts of excitement rang through the village. “Laz’shika has returned!” “Eira is back!” “Come quick!” People of all races rushed out of their homes, some staying by their doors to wave, others crowding us. The excited buzz of energy alive in these people shocked me. I hadn’t expected this reaction at all. It made it hard to figure out how I was to react myself. It’s overwhelming…

“Excuse me!” came a voice in the crowed. “Excuse me, please let me through.”

I know that voice! The crowd in front of me parted and a young human woman—about mid-twenties, with porcelain skin, stunning icy-blue eyes and long brown hair that curled in ringlets past her shoulders—rushed toward me. A small silver chain threaded through a ring hung around her neck as a type of necklace, as did another longer chain attached to a long, jagged, blue wire-wrapped crystal. The young woman’s eyes welled up with tears when our eyes met. “Eira!”

“Valene…” Her presence stunned me to the point that I almost fell over as she crashed into me.

“You’re alive.” She sobbed. “You’re here.”

I shook myself and wrapped my arms around her. Standing a few inches taller than her, I pressed my face into the top of her head, inhaling her scent. My enhanced senses picked up her natural smell and the odor of various flowers I knew her to work with. A smile spread across my lips. “I’m so glad to see you.”

I looked up when another person pushed through the crowd and I smiled at the stout, pot-bellied human man with bronze skin. “Hey, Daren.”

His hands flew up to his balding head and tears welled up in his blue eyes. “‘Tis true. It really be ye, lass. Ye really be alive.”

I shrugged, a small smile on my lips. “More or less.”

Valene pulled away just as Daren rushed me. He pulled me into a tight embrace and spun us around. He laughed, Valene laughed, even I started to laugh. Soon, everyone around us laughed. It was a strange sound to me after all this time. I almost forgot what it felt like.

The laughter abruptly stopped, and Daren put me down. I looked at him, but found him looking elsewhere, his lips pressed together and his eyes tight. Why does he look so nervous?

Turning around, my eyes narrowed, and my lips slipped into a frown. The crowd had parted again, this time for a short woman with long white-blue hair and light skin. “I should have known it was you, Maka’shi. Only you have the ability to kill joy by entering a room, or a crowd, in this case.”

Maka’shi held her head high, her hair falling back enough to reveal slightly elongated ears, a telling sign of her mixed human and elf heritage. “Your manners are as poor as ever, Laz’shika.”

I snorted at the short, self-important elf. “We’ve never been buddies, so why pretend now?”

A pleased smile spread across her lips. “Yes, that’s true. Now, care to tell me why you’ve returned after five years?”

So, I have been gone that long. I thought I had lost count of the number of seasons that had passed. “I’m returning to Dalatrend to deal with my problems. I left some things here and had hoped to retrieve them.”

She regarded me for a moment. “You’re not running away anymore? That’s new for you.”

My eyes narrowed. Several townspeople murmured amongst themselves, their disapproval apparent in their tones. Maka’shi looked past me. “I’m guessing your friend there has something to do with this change?”

I looked back at Raikidan to find him watching her with a cautious eye. “Yes. Raikidan has offered his assistance. He has skills that may help us turn the tides against Zarda.”

Maka’shi eyed him a bit longer, then focused on me. “Are you still hunted?”

I nodded; this wasn’t the time to lie. “The number of Hunters has slowed over the years, but they’re still after me.”

“Then you will be gone by sundown.”

The people around us gasped and murmured amongst themselves. Valene stomped her foot and rose her voice so Maka’shi couldn’t ignore her, surprising me. “That’s not fair! She just got back. We all missed her.”

Maka’shi held firm. “Do not forget, Valene, she’s the reason this village suffered five years ago. Why you suffered memory loss, and why we lost so many lives. Even Xye!”

My blood ran cold. She’s lying… he didn’t…

“Don’t you dare!” Valene shouted. “He followed her when she told him not to. That was his fault, not hers.”

Maka’shi pointed to me. “She caused that attack. Had she not been here, he’d still be alive.”

“Had she not been here, three years before, he would have fallen off that cliff while foraging and died! You don’t have the power to predict who will live and die.”

The crowd murmured in agreement, but I knew Maka’shi wouldn’t budge. I didn’t expect her to. She was right. Had I not stayed here, the village wouldn’t have come under attack.

“That is enough, Valene. Your leader has spoken. I wasn’t planning to stay long anyway. To be frank, I didn’t expect such a warm welcome.”

Daren placed a hand on my shoulder. “Lass, we dinnae hate ye for what happened. Now, enough o’ this nonsense. Ye be stayin’ for one night at least. Rest thae tired bones an’”—he looked me up and down—“get a proper meal in ye. Ye be too skinny, lass.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You always say that.”

“Aye, but it be even more true now.”

Maka’shi’s eyes darkened. “I have made my stance clear. She and her companion are to leave by sundown.”

Raikidan let out a deep sigh no one could miss. I looked at him to find him with arms crossed with a bored expression as he leaned back on his heels. “Are you almost done, Eira? I’d like to get off my feet after walking for as long as we did.”

Daren slapped me on the back. “Hear that? The lad be tired. We cannae turn him doun now, can we, Maka’shi? He be a weary traveler, after all.”

Maka’shi sucked in a tight breath, her fingers curling. I looked between the two men and noticed the glint of amusement in Raikidan’s eyes. Cheeky dragon! I wasn’t sure how much he knew of shaman customs, but he rightly guessed them to be hospitable to travelers. Thanks to Zarda, Lumaraeon was on the fringe of war again. Travelers weren’t all that common these days, but the shamans did their best to welcome them when they could. Maka’shi trusted few, and tended to scare away most travelers, but the people of the village weren’t like that… for the most part.

“Very well,” Maka’shi said through tight teeth. “One night. That is all I’ll permit.”

She then spun on her heels and left. The people around us cheered, and many of them welcomed me back before they dispersed.

Valene squealed with delight and latched onto my arm. “I’m so happy! You’ll have to have dinner with us, and I’ll get your room at the inn ready.” She looked at Raikidan, looking him up and down. “Daren decided to renovate most of them, so your friend will have to share a room with you.”

“That’s fine.” She raised a brow at me and I shook my head. “Don’t go there. It’s not like that.”

She chuckled. “I guess you haven’t changed that much.” She looked back at Raikidan, a small smirk spreading across her lips. Her gaze lingered on him for a few moments before she pulled me toward the inn.

I wanted to take in the town, see how well it had recovered in the last few years, but Maka’shi’s words plagued me. “Valene…” She looked at me. “Is it true, about Xye?”

She frowned and looked down at the ground. “Yes. He didn’t listen to you when you told him to stay put.”

My gaze fell. I can’t believe… he’s gone… That idiot! “I need to find Shva’sika.”

“She’s not in town,” Valene said. “She left a few weeks ago to visit with some of her family up north.”

“The lass should be back in a day or two,” Daren said. “Ye can talk tae ‘er then.”

“Only if she returns before I leave.”

He chuckled. “Maka’shi may be our leader, but even ye know she won’t have the power to send ye away as long as the rest o’ us want ye here.”

A warm sensation spread through my chest, bringing a small smile to my lips. “Thank you.”

The area around us opened up and I spotted Maka’shi. She stood in the center of the clearing, her hands held up to an enormous glowing crystal that hovered above the ground in an elegant wooden structure that acted as an accent, and neither a cage nor a dais. In my time spent here, I never learned how the crystal defied gravity, but I suspected it had to do with the type of energy that poured out of it.

“What is Maka’shi doing over at the Spiritual Crystal?” I asked.

Valene glanced over at the half-elf. “Seeking answers or something like that. There’s rarely a time she’s not there anymore. Lot of good it does her.”

I watched her, noting the blank gaze as if her mind had all been vanquished from her body. “I suppose at this point, it’s best to let her do her crazy bitch thing.”

Valene giggled and nodded.

The four of us came to a large two-story rustic building. From the outside it looked cozy, snug, and inviting. Daren opened one of the double doors and Valene led us inside. To the left was the common gathering area, filled with chairs, couches, stocked bookshelves, and a cozy fireplace. To our right, rows of well-crafted tables and chairs filled the dining area, and a bar set in the back to serve patrons. Large chandeliers hung from the ceiling and paintings filled the walls, all of landscapes found across Lumaraeon. Tucked away beyond the common area, on a far wall, was a staircase leading up to the second floor, and behind the bar was a door that I knew led to the spacious kitchen Daren hardly left.

“I see you did some redecorating,” I said as I peered around.

Daren chuckled. “Valene’s idea.”

Valene crossed her arms, her lower lip sticking out. “Too bad we don’t get enough visitors to enjoy it.”

I patted her on the shoulder. “One of these days that will change. I promise.”

She nodded, a big smile on her face. “I’m going to go prepare that room for you.”

She ran off, leaving Raikidan and me with Daren, who was already heading for the kitchen. I chose to follow. “If you need help with food prep, I’d be happy to.”

The corners of Daren’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “I wouldn’t say na tae ye help, lass.”

Once in the spacious kitchen, Daren rattled off the ingredients he’d need for our meals and I went to retrieve them. The two of us fell into casual conversation, as if no time had passed. I’d always gotten along with Daren—hard not to with a man as genuinely kind as him. I swore there was no harsh bone in his body. No matter how badly you treated him, he would always smile and welcome you back.

Daren wasn’t a native of the town; he had stumbled upon it by accident like myself. He fit well with the people, though, and worked with the inn’s previous owner, taking it over when she retired. Valene’s mother, Valessa, had arrived in town sometime after that and the two became good friends. She’d already been pregnant with Valene at the time, and while the two had shown interest in each other, they’d done nothing about it for over a decade. In that time, Daren had taken Valene under his wing, and when Valessa had died of an incurable illness, he naturally took her in.

Daren glanced back at Raikidan. “Tell me aboot yer friend over thare.”

I looked back to find Raikidan still leaning against a wall, watching us work. “He’s not a friend.”

Daren’s brow rose, but Raikidan cut in before he could ask questions. “We’ve agreed to help each other. We haven’t known each other long, so there’s only a basic trust here.”

My culinary companion looked between us, shrugged, and went back to cooking. I would have gone back to my prep work, but Valene entered the room. She took immediate notice of Raikidan, but he didn’t pay her much mind. Anyone can see where this is going. I’ll have to make sure she understands it’s best to set her eyes on someone else.

“Room all set now?”

She nodded. “It was the one you used the last time you were here. I’ve kept that one clean, so it wasn’t hard tidying up.” She looked at the work Daren and I had accomplished. “I see Daren still isn’t letting you cook.”

I let out a short laugh and finished slicing a potato. “We all know I’m a terrible cook.”

Daren regarded me for a moment. “Ye are not terrible.”

Valene sputtered a laugh. “Yeah, right. We all know you say that to be nice.” She gazed at me tentatively. “I was going to go to my mom’s garden to pick some flowers to have as a table setting. Want to join me?”