"No." He started walking, Thessaly falling into step beside them. "You're the woman who just told a Valdaran magistrate exactly what he could do with his contract. You're the woman who stopped a war with words. You're—"
His voicecaught.
"You're the woman who stoppedme."
Delia was quiet for a moment. Her breath warm against his neck, her body slowly relaxing into his hold.
"Someone had to," she said finally. "You were about to ruin my dramatic moment."
Laughter escaped him, rough and surprised and utterly genuine. Several orcs turned to stare. He couldn't bring himself to care.
"My apologies."
She pressed closer, her arms tightening around his neck. "Next time, wait until I'm finished being heroic before you lose your mind."
Next time.As if she intended to stay. As if she planned to spend years here, decades, a lifetime.
"I'll try to remember," he managed.
"See that you do."
Around them, the courtyard was settling back into its normal rhythms. The tension of moments before was fading, replaced by the ordinary sounds of a stronghold going about its business.
But nothing was ordinary anymore.
Not for him.
They reached the doors to the inner fortress, and Thessaly pushed ahead to hold them open. The corridor beyond was cooler, dimmer.
"My quarters," Ralvar said quietly.
Thessaly nodded. "I'll bring tea." Her expression softened as she looked at Delia. "You did well, little human. Very well."
"I just... said what was true."
"Yes." Thessaly brushed a strand of hair from Delia's face. "Sometimes that's the hardest thing there is."
She disappeared down an adjoining corridor, and Ralvar continued toward his quarters.
He reached his door, shouldered it open, and carried her across the threshold into the warmth of the room beyond.
Delia was asleep before he laid her on the bed.
Minutes later, a knock at the door announced Thessaly's arrival. Ralvar admitted her quietly, took the tea and the wrapped bundle of herbs, and listened to her instructions without really hearing them.
"She'll sleep for hours," Thessaly said finally. "The body's way of recovering from fear. Don't wake her unless you must."
"I won't."
Thessaly studied him. "You've been awake for days," she observed.
"I'll sleep."
"Will you?"
He met her eyes. "Eventually."
Thessaly's expression softened. "Watch over her, then. But rest when you can." A pause. "You both earnedit."
