Cheriour let out a low“hmmm”and released me.
My neck made a deep grinding sound as I stretched my head back, working out the fresh kinks.
Quinn stood a foot away,glaringat me. Like he thought I'd pissed in his Cheerios or something. “Why don't you take a fucking picture?” I asked. “It'll last longer.”
Even in the darkness, I saw his cheeks redden. His fingers flexed around his stubby sword.
Belanna laughed, diverting Quinn's attention away from me. “You find this funny?” he asked her.
“Aye, I do.” She chuckled again. “And if yer done throwing yer tantrum, I've got soldiers that still need tending to.”
“I’m aware.” Quinn pointed at the castle. “They're already inside.”
“Perfect. So why don't ye stop belly-achin’ and get to healing? Hmm?”
Quinn sighed. “Belanna...”
“Ach, I know. 'This isn't yer country. I give the orders, not ye.’”Her accent was too heavy to mock Quinn’s voice. “But ye've not given any orders. Yer just traumatizing the woman.”
“Her eyes—” Quinn began.
“Are you seriously hung up on the color of my eyes?” I blurted. “They’re purple. Big deal. If they creep you out, too bad. I can’t change them. Move the fuck on.”
“Watch your tongue—” Quinn started.
My chest burned. “I’ll watch my tongue when you stop throwing knives at people.” Why the heck were my hands shaking?
Cheriour made a muffled sound and tilted his head back, staring at the heavens. AnotherLord, give me strengthpose. Belanna stared between me and Quinn, her eyes bright with excitement. She looked ready to grab a bag of popcorn and settle in to watch the fight.
“You—” Quinn started.
“Quinn,” Cheriour interjected.
Quinn's face had gone white. His lips curled over his teeth. But he didn't seem as angry as…scared.“I want her gone,” he spat. “Innocent or not, she can't stay.”
“Casting her out would be as good as killing her,” Cheriour said.
“I don’t care.”
“I do. If you are to kill her, do so quickly. I won’t doom a human to suffer.”
Quinn started pacing again. But he stopped when he noticed the soldiers perched at the top of the castle steps. They watched us, as though unsure whether they should come down and risk Quinn's wrath. And behind us, a few townspeople had wandered away from their houses to listen to our conversation.
Our impasse was becoming a spectacle. Which worked in my favor.
With short, jerky motions, Quinn rammed his sword back into its sheath, his eyes darting around the houses. “She can stay in the city.”
“I’d rather her stay in the castle. She’s too unfamiliar with our world,” Cheriour said.
“There are no open rooms in the castle.”
“There’s one.”
Quinn’s mouth opened and closed. Opened and closed. He looked like a fish gasping for water. “I'mnotputting her in that room.”
“It's a waste to keep it vacant.” Each word Cheriour spoke was quiet. Carefully measured.
“She could stay with me,” Belanna offered. “I’ll be stayin’ close to the castle.”
