“So it’s your parents’ fault. Well, you’ll have to thank them for me. I’ve never seen anyone get so worked up as Butcher does every time you say ‘holy phoenix tails.’” He chuckled again. “I may have to start using it just to get under his skin.”
I snorted out a laugh. “Ha, yeah. He would freak if you did that. Give me some warning first so I can watch. But…” After only a brief hesitation, I shrugged. “No-can-do on the parents thing. They both passed away years ago.”
He was quiet for a few seconds. “I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “It’s been a long time, so…”
“That’s still difficult, no matter how much time has passed.” He twisted the rings on his fingers back and forth, around and around. “Is your sister still in Sunada?”
“Yeah,” I croaked out. “She and Cody are there, but they’re not staying there for long.”
“They’re going to meet you wherever you’re going?”
“That’s the plan.” We fell quiet for a time as we finished off the snack. “Kayla and I always dreamed of leaving Embergate and traveling the world. We talked about booking passage on an airship and finding a place in another kingdom. I… didn’t think it’d ever happen, you know? Thought it was just one of those silly daydreams that never come true.”
“Looks like it’s coming true now.”
I smiled a little. “I hope so.”
“Why didn’t you do it before? Book passage, I mean?”
I snorted. “There’s no way in hell we could ever afford tickets on apprentice salaries.”
“Apprentice?”
“Yeah. She’s a seamstress, almost a master herself. I’ve been apprenticing with a blacksmith for years. I think Master Redman is ready to upgrade me to partner, but we haven’t gotten around to discussing it. He’s been hinting at it for the last couple of months, though. I… guess that’s not happening anymore.”
“A blacksmith. That’s how you know how to fight?”
“Yeah. Master Redman was a soldier, and we have to test out our wares before we can sell them, so he taught me.”
He hummed and pressed his shoulder to mine. “You’re very good.”
The praise made my chest warm, and the fact he was leaning into me made my belly flutter. “Thanks.”
I felt his eyes on me for a long time before he asked, “How’s your head?”
“Totally fine. I can’t even feel it anymore.”
When he hesitated, I turned to him and found him still staring at me. When our gazes met, he whispered, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you that day. I just…” That made my chest warm further.
He trailed off, and I sent him a sad smile and gave him a small shoulder-bump. “I know you didn’t. It’s really okay.”
He frowned at me, but eventually gave me a nod.
Wanting the attention off myself, my mouth opened up and asked, “How’s your leg?”
Reaper’s face went through an interesting myriad of emotions ranging from rage to horror to frustration, so I wasn’t surprised when he let out a clipped, “It’s fine.”
I swallowed around my nerves and found my courage. Maybe I shouldn’t say anything, but I couldn’t help it, not where he was concerned. “I know it’s bothering you. You don’t have to hide it from me. My master lost his leg in battle, so I, um, I know a little about prosthetics and how some of them hurt.” I gesturedto his because I knew it was a kind that wasn’t that comfortable because it wasn’t made to fit him specifically, but it was likely the most expensive type Reaper could buy.
He clenched his teeth, his jaw going back and forth as he stared off into the distance. I expected him to tell me to leave or perhaps yell at me, so when he spoke, I was surprised it was in a quiet tone. “It’s been years, but sometimes I can feel it like it’s still there.”
I nodded in agreement. “Master Redman lost his about twenty-five years ago, and he sometimes still gets the phantom pains. He said it happens less now, but I don’t think it’ll ever go away completely.”
He barked out a humorless laugh. “Aren’t you a ray of sunshine. Thanks for that.”
That made me smile despite the circumstances. “Sorry. I just… don’t like lies.”
