As Serill flinched, Cason realized that the earth blessed man wasn’t just telling them this story to reinforce Brela’s loyalty. He was distracting them from the destruction they were walking through.
His respect for the man grew… again. And seeing Farrah doing the same for Brela fifty feet ahead, the two women sharing whispers, he realized how clever of company the Night Terror kept.
“I guess I’ve always been fascinated by your dynamic,” Serill said, clearing his throat. “Knowing about Farrah and Brela’s past, I didn’t realize you came from…”
“Money?” Elias asked with a grin. Serill nodded. “The women in my life are much stronger than I could ever be. I’m the youngest of five in a family of earth temple legacies.” He mocked a bow. “The disowned son of Lord Arthur Talbot, at your service.”
“Shit,” Cason and Serill breathed at the same time. Not just a name with a long history of success at the temple, but a name permanently etched into history.
“Yes,” Elias replied to their gaping mouths. “My great grandfather, five greats to be precise, was the Earth Scholar during his lifetime. My oldest brother bears the name Arthur, as does his first son.”
“But they disowned you?” Serill asked.
Thank the gods Elias didn’t look bothered by thatextremelypersonal question. His smirk grew. “Imagine telling your very status-driven and wealthy parents that you’re moving to a shit-hole town to work at an orphanage for no pay. Not to mention you’re going to live with two women who you are not married to, one with no magic and one withtaintedmagic. And, at the time, I was only sleeping with Brela, so I can’t imagine what they’d think now.”
Serill’s cheeks flushed and Cason ducked his head at that bit of information. Elias didn’t flinch, and Cason was sure the man could never be embarrassed by anything.
“It was an interesting few days,” he chuckled. “But bringing Brela with me when I went to get my stuff was the most fun I’ve ever had. Imagine how it went with your father, Serill, but with more flirting anda lotmore wicked swagger.”
“Oh, gods,” Cason whispered.
He didn’t even want to think about what might happen if his father ever met Brela. Veil Scholar status aside, it would be bloody. One of them would likely lose a limb, and both would end up with a few extra holes in their bodies. That would be if the meeting went well.
If the General ever discovered the shard in her collarbone? It would be a fight to the death, and he wasn’t sure who would win.
Cason had no intention of ever making that introduction, no matter where their relationship went after this trip. He didn’t think Brela would be bothered by that either, considering her freedom might tempt her to introduce the General to Night Carver instead of shaking his hand.
“So I have another question,” Serill said. Cason hesitated, not entirely sure how personal Serill was about to get. “When did you start going on jobs with Brela and Farrah?”
Elias flashed his teeth. “Nowthatis a good story.”
* * *
“That did not happen,”Serill gasped, shadows from the fire flickering over his gaping features.
“Gods honor,” Brela replied with a grin, waving her fingers in an X-shape over her heart.
Cason shot her a disbelieving glare. “You curse at all of the gods on a regular basis. I don’t believe it.”
Brela feigned offense. “What part of me being chained to a fountain statue in my nightgown is unbelievable?”
“The part where you were twelve,” Serill said.
“The part where you broke the arm off a solid stone statue of Euota to get free,” Cason added.
“The part where you don’t remember what you did to piss off Pierce,” Elias chimed in.
Cason shrugged. “Pretty much the whole thing.”
Brela rolled her eyes. “Iwastwelve, and it was either break Euota’s arm or separate my shoulders, and I quite liked using my arms.” She smirked toward Elias. “And you’re right, I do remember. Pierce said I couldn’t hit an apple with a crossbow at sixty paces.”
“Let me guess,” Cason groaned. “He didn’t like that you hit one further?”
“No, he did not,” Brela chuckled. She leaned back and folded her arms behind her head, her shirt shifting to show the splotchy gray bruise still marring her neck. “But he was more upset that my second shot went through his thigh.”
The laughter that rang out was only muffled noise to Farrah. She’d barely been able to focus since reaching Calcheth, even after blabbering on about nothing important with Brela as they passed through. Elias had been kind enough to give her the easier task of talking with Brela, the one that required less answering of questions, but it wasn’t easy.
And she hated that she wasn’t able to do more for her friend. At least Elias and the prince were distracting Brela enough, getting her to share stories about her past. And Brela waslaughing. Farrah had been fascinated by that smile—that Brela could still have one after seeing the burned scars of the town.
