Torinknocks on the door. Koen shifts impatiently beside him, but before either of them can say anything, I clear my throat. They both startle, turning quickly to face me.
Crossing my arms, I arch a brow. “Torin, lovely to hear you still remember your duty. Now, if you could actuallydo it…”
He steps forward, giving me a better view of his swollen eye and bloody knuckles.Oh,that’swhat the guards had been whispering about.
“Where were you?” Torin asks. “You skipped dinner, and you’re only just now arriving at your chambers. And…” His gaze flicks to Aren at my side.
“If you cared about my whereabouts, then you should have done your job. You know…being my personal guard.” I clutch my chest. “I could’ve been captured…or worse.” My voice drips with mock concern.
He rolls his eyes. “You’re so dramatic.”
I turn to Aren, placing a hand lightly on his arm. “Thank you for walking with me. I really enjoyed our talk.”
He nods, unreadable once again. “Any time,” he says, turning away.
We wait in tense silence until his footsteps fade. I turn back to find Koen staring at the stairs that Aren disappeareddown, jaw clenched, looking ready to get in another fight. I’m not sure what that is about. For my own sanity—what’s left of it anyway—I choose to ignore it.
“You both look absolutely terrible,” I say with a small laugh, crossing my arms again. “If only I had an Orb of Vaelith to capture this. I could show all the other guards. Oh, and Alira! They would allloveto see it. The mighty Torin—”
“Okay, we get it,” he interrupts. “Can you heal us?”
I drop my arms, my smile fading. “I can’t.” I had used too much magic healing my father.
“What do you mean? Why?”
I hesitate, glancing at Koen. I don’t talk about my father to many people. Sharing this…with him, especially? It feels like too much.
Torin’s eyes soften in understanding. “Oh.”
We stand in silence.
“What?” Koen asks, looking back and forth between us.
I ignorehis question. “What even happened to you two? I missed one dinner, and this is the result.” I gesture to their bruised faces.
“Tavern brawl,” Torin says simply, like it’s all the explanation I need. Maybe it is.
I sigh and step past them to my door. “Come in. Let me grab a snack, and I’ll do what I can. I’ll at least try to heal the worst and most obvious injuries.”
They follow me into the sitting room. Koen sinks onto the sofa in front of the hearth with a groan, while Torin tends the fire. I take a sweet roll Alira brought earlier and join them, sitting in a winged back chair to the side of the sofa.
“How is King Thalon?” Torin asks quietly.
My head snaps to him, but he reassures me. “It’s okay, Ren. You can speak of it in front of Koen.”
I hesitate, then breathe out, shoulders tight. “He’s…unchanged. I keep trying, but I can’t…” My voice breaks. “It won’t let go.” I feel Koen’s gaze, but I don’t meetit.
“We’ll figure it out. There must be a way to heal him,” Torin says.
“I hope so,” I whisper.
We sit in silence as I finish the roll. When I’m done, I clear my throat. “Let’s get this over with. Who’s first?”
“Sorry, Koen, but I’ll go first. Alira is probably wondering where I am,” Torin says.
“Even sheknows you’re slacking, or else she’d expect you to be standing guard outside my door,” I mutter. “I’ll only do your face. The rest will have to wait until tomorrow.”
He smiles sweetly, sitting on the short, round table in front of my chair. “Thank you, Ren.”
