“He stole it,” Kailia answered simply.
“I did not steal it,” Cethin cut in.
“You knowingly took and currently possess something that does not belong to you without permission or payment. That is the definition of stealing,” she fired back.
“Perhaps you abandoned it after you shot it at me,” Cethin retorted. “Consequences, tiny fiend.”
“You stealing from me is certainly a consequence of saving your life.”
“I was under the impression you could create more of these arrows,” Razik cut in.
“She can,” Cethin answered.
“When I have all my arrows,” Kailia snapped. “Which I do not.”
“Wait, is that why you were picking up the arrowheads that day?” Razik continued, as new pieces of that day clicked into place.
“Yes. I have them all except for one,” she said, glaring at Cethin.
“For fuck’s sake, Sutara. Give her back the arrow,” Razik said, wondering why the fuck this was even a debate.
“I will in time,” Cethin gritted out. “She knows this, but beyond that, it’s none of your business, Greybane.”
“It will be when— Fuck!”
Razik ducked as an arrow flew directly above his head. A moment later, a bird fell from the air, landing on the path ahead of them with a soft thud onto the forest floor.
He turned to find Kailia still with her bow raised, gaze focused on her kill. “Are we keeping score on this hunt?” she asked, slowly lowering her bow. “If so, I am ahead.”
Cethin glanced at Razik, where he’d stopped his horse to dismount and collect the game. Rubbing at the nape of his neck, Cethin said, “The Cadre often makes the hunt into a friendly competition, but we don’t have to?—”
“Then I am ahead,” Kailia cut in, her eyes seeming to brighten.
“A fan of competitions, Lia?” Razik drawled as he remounted his horse and tossed the dead bird over Wren to Kailia. She caught it, but not before blood splattered across her tunic.
Sliding her gaze to his, she held up the fallen animal. “You threw this at me.”
“Your perception is truly astounding,” Razik said dryly, urging his horse forward again. Those in front of them had kept going, while Draven and Ariadne had stopped behind them. “Perhaps next time, you can use that skill to not shoot a fucking arrow at my head.”
“I shot the arrow at the bird,” she said, lifting the animal higher in emphasis.
“And nearly took me out in the process.”
“It wasn’t even close to hitting you. I have better aim than that.”
He stared at her for a few extra silent seconds. “Lia, if I hadn’t ducked, my ear would have a new piercing along with my godsdamn skull.”
She had the audacity to roll her eyes. “You are as dramatic as your king, Raz.”
He felt his eyes shift to vertical slits at the insult, smoke wafting on his exhale.
“Okay, everyone take a moment,” Wren interjected, always trying to diffuse situations. “Kailia was just caught up in the excitement of the hunt?—”
“Which I am winning,” Kailia interrupted.
“Not for long,” Razik muttered under his breath, straightening his tunic as he looked straight ahead.
No one spoke for quite some time after that.
