Nikella looked at me. “Get him to eat and drink, then let him rest.”
I nodded vigorously. I would do as she said, but Ruru had answers I needed.
Nikella left, and Jek followed her.
Aiden propped Ruru up on a pile of furs. Yarina handed me the warm soup, and I nudged a spoonful between Ruru’s chapped lips.
It took a moment, but then he sipped it. Slowly, he chewed a few of the meat chunks and soft vegetables.
His eyes opened. He looked startled until he saw Maz, Aiden, and me among the others. Aiden gave him a tight smile and squeezed his narrow shoulder.
Ruru stared at me. “I thought you were dead. When I didn’t hear from you... When Aiden sailed away... I thought?—”
“I was on the ship, too.” I set down the soup and gently hugged him. “I wish I could’ve gone back for you.”
Ruru threw his arms around my neck. “I’m just glad you’re alive.”
I let out a muffled laugh. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
“Of course I forgive you, Kiera. You’re my friend.”
I scrunched my eyes shut and soaked that in. Forgiveness. Friendship. Two rays of light in the darkness that had chased me since that dreadful night.
Someone cleared their throat, and we broke apart.
“I can’t believe I made it,” Ruru said hoarsely, looking at everyone gathered around him.
Maz beamed and reached around Aiden to slap Ruru on the back. “You did, little brother. You’re a gods-damned warrior to make it here all by yourself.”
Ruru smiled a little, and the sight made my eyes prickle again.
“Eat more,” I said gruffly, shoving another spoonful at his mouth.
His brown eyes crinkled at me, but he gulped the soup down. He licked his lips. “I’ll take the bowl, if you don’t mind.”
I smiled and handed it over. He devoured it while we watched. Sigrid tore off chunks of bread for him, which he took with a nod of thanks. She was much more welcoming to him than she had been with me. But then again, Ruru wasn’t a traitor.
“Gods, that’s good,” he groaned between mouthfuls. The light was coming back to his eyes, but the shadows beneath them remained. He glanced between Yarina and Sigrid. “Are you Maz’s sisters? I’ve heard so many stories.”
They both nodded and introduced themselves.
Ruru frowned. “Where’s the third sister you mentioned, Maz?”
A shadow fell over Maz’s face, and he swallowed hard. He opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t emerge.
Sigrid answered for him. “Davka died in battle.”
“Oh, I’m sorry . . . What battle?”
“Later,” I murmured in his ear.
He nodded. “Is my horse all right?”
“He’s taken care of,” Aiden said.
Maz seized on the new topic with enthusiasm, his grin a little too bright. “When did you learn to ride?”
“On that horse.” Ruru took the water I gave him and downed it in a few gulps. “I think my ass is shaped like his back by now.”
