Ulla smiles. “That doesn’t mean I don’t know anything about animals. I do read quite extensively. Some Enduares are excellent artists.” She extends her hand and hums a few notes. A few small white rabbits peak out of a burrow beneath the snow.
Everyone watches her, and the rabbits tentatively come forward to snag a few of the dried leaves that we brought. They sit on the ground, listening to her song.
I smile, warmed by the fire and those around me.
It isn’t until Ra'Salore takes a step towards her that Ulla stops singing and the rabbits dash away. She brings a gloved finger up to point at him.
“No hunting, my friend; we have enough meat. You too.” She shifts the accusation to Niht.
Niht puts his hands up. “Fine, fine. I promise, cross my heart and turn to stone.” One of the rabbits comes over to him, and she gawks. He laughs and reaches down to stroke the creature. “I cannot help it if they come to me, though I kill their kin.”
Ulla smiles. “You are a big child.”
He grins. “Yes. I’m hoping when I find my human mate, she doesn’t fear my age since my soul has retained a certain youthfulness.”
Ra'Salore snorts. “You are an immature dolt.”
“It surprises me you think you would find a mate amongst the humans,” Ulla says, ignoring Ra'Salore.
Niht shrugs and takes the spit off the fire. “I met the queen. She’s fiery and talented. Very proficient. The one with red hair is beautiful, too. I like their small heights and ample bottoms.”
I growl at him, and his eyes go wide.
“I only meant?—”
“Nice to see you don’t think Enduar women are enough for you,” Ulla says bitterly through downturned eyes.
That eases the tension, and I feel a twinge of guilt, but Niht crosses over to her slowly, swishing his tail behind him.
“I am also named after Lo’Niht. The greatest scholar on love in our history, my dear,” he all but purrs. “If you were interested, all you had to do was ask.”
Ulla rolls her eyes. “You would be so lucky.”
He grins, a wicked thing spreading across his face. “Oh, I would count myself amongst the luckiest.”
“And I would count myself amongst the cursed.”
Ra'Salore chokes on his food, but Turalyon and I start to laugh. I throw my tent down atop the snow as Niht lets out a few huffs of his own.
“That was very clever, Ulla,” Niht says, grinning.
“Thank you,” the healer replies with her own smile.
Turalyon sits down next to me on the leather mat I’ve put down to keep away the chill of snow. He smiles up at the stars.
“Thank you for bringing me, My King.”
I reach around and pat my hand on his back. “This is the easy part, friend.”
He stills. “My King,” he starts. “Permission to speak my thoughts?”
“Of course, Turalyon,” I say, reaching out to pick up another piece of meat.
“I know that you’ve entrusted me with several missions the last few months, but do you really consider me a friend?” he asks.
I nod. “Of course I do.”
“Then, as a friend, can you tell me of the war?” he asks. “Iremember the bloodshed, the lava. I had just finished thedual’moraanwhen we realized we might die.”
