I smile at the healers—they’re so gentle and attentive. I move on to the second room, where Rynthea is seated on the bed, sulking as she stares at the floor. Other than a bandage wrapped around her forearm and another on the top of her head, she appears fine.
“Should’ve known you two were coming,” she says without looking up. “I could hear Algar’s annoying voice when you were at the entrance.”
“Yep,” Algar says with a pop of his lips. “She’s swell.”
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
“I lost my scythesword,” she grumbles.
“Yeah.” I step into the room. “I’m so sorry about that.”
She’s quiet for a few seconds, then she exhales. “It was a gift from my father.” She drops her head just enough for her hair to curtain her face. “I promised toneverlose it.”
My heart aches as I watch her continue to stare at the floor. After a while, she raises her head and meets my eyes. “I don’t think I can continue this quest, Zaira. I feel like I’ve lost so much, and it’s only been adaysince I left Kamtaur.”
“I understand.” I lace my fingers in front of me, giving them a light wring. “You won’t go back through Delchester alone, will you?”
“No. I’ll return to Bernwood, go to the nearest port, and catch a boat that’ll take me to Junsho. From there, I’ll travel to Winstoft. It’ll take an extra day or so, but it’s much safer.”
I nod, relieved. “I know we just met, but I’ll miss hanging out with you,” I murmur, sitting next to her.
She laughs. “You call being attacked every hour hanging out?”
I laugh, too. “Fair point. But it’s better to face an attack with a fierce minotaur at my side than none at all.”
She gives me a warm, genuine smile.
I look at Algar. “What about you?”
“I agree about the attacks. It’s been gods-awful. But I’m seeing this through.” Algar flashes a grin, and Zephra whacks him in the face with her tail.
I giggle. Even Zephra considers him a fool for not backing out. I won’t blame him if he does. No one deserves to carry Thane’s baggage—and heavy baggage it is.
Thinking of Thane, I stand up and say, “I’ll check on our sorcerer.”
Algar takes my place next to Rynthea, giving me a knowing look before he taps the patch on her head. She winces with a snarl. He chuckles, throwing his hands in the air when she raises a fist at him.
When I step around the corner, I take a peek into the next room. There is Thane, resting on his back and staring up at the ceiling. His mask, swords, and buffers have been removed and placed neatly on a corner table, along with his rucksack. There seems to be a cloud of gloom hovering above him. In stark contrast, there is a vase of bright-yellow flowers on his windowsill.
I clear my throat, and he lifts his head. When he sees it’s me, he drops his head on the pillow again and puffs out a breath. “Surprised you stuck around,” he says.
“Well, I don’t hate you anymore, and you have Frevella’s sphere, so…”
He doesn’t respond.
My heart starts to beat faster. “You do still have it, don’t you?”
“Yes. It’s in my bag.”
“Okay. Good.” I breathe a sigh of relief and step deeper into the room. Then a cheeky smile sweeps across my face. “So do I get a thank-you?”
“For what?”
“Saving your life.”
He snorts. “Are we keeping tallies? Because if so, I’d say we’re about ten to one. Maybe higher.”
“So you agree. It was my turn to save you, then?”
