Vorn looked at me, his eyes narrowed fractionally. “Alright?”
“She's fed, and she's warm,” I repeated his words back to him without inflection. “That's more than some.”
He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded once and moved back toward the main shelter.
“Come back to bed. You’ll catch a chill in this cold,” he said gruffly, ducking back into his shelter.
The whole fucking kingdom was cold. I closed my eyes as I heard her move again, a whisper of movement that seemed to scream loudly in the silence.
I stood in the cold after he'd gone, wrestling with my decision to remain silent.
When I finally turned back, I sawhim. Just a shape in the dark at the edge of the other shelter, still, arms crossed, watching the adjacent tent with the same flat expression he turned on everything.
Nicco.
He had seen her too, or at least knew about her. His posture showed he'd been standing there long enough to form his judgment and reach his conclusion.
He turned his head slightly, and our eyes met across the darkness.
He said nothing. I said nothing.
He went back inside.
I stood there thinking about what I'd just agreed to — what we'dbothjust agreed to, without a single word passing between us — and I waited for the feeling of it to settle into something I recognized.
I knew it never would.
I went back inside, lay down by the fire, stared at the embers, and knew sleep wouldn’t come for a long time.
Tomorrow we would leave. The woman would still be here when we did. And neither Nicco nor I would say a word. I told myself that was practical. It was what needed to happen to avoid bloodshed.
I almost believed it was worth the cost.
The morning came too soonand not soon enough. Vorn was still asleep when I got up. I’d pulled my boots off when I came back in last night, and my feet had been grateful for it.
I dressed, boots back on, cloak wrapped tight around me, and was pulling my satchel over my head when Vorn spoke.
“Never had you pegged for a sneak-out-before-sunrise woman.”
I actually laughed. “You should travel with the bards.” I checked my gloves and pockets. “They’re always looking for jokers.”
Vorn sat up and rubbed his beard. “I’m happier here.” He pushed his blankets off. “Wait for me.”
It wasn’t a request, and I didn’t pretend it was. I stood with my back to him as I heard him get his own boots and cloak on.
When he walked past me and out of his tent, I followed quietly. I did my very best not to look at the smaller shelter as we passed, and Vorn didn’t look at all.
The others were also up and ready to leave. Some of Vorn’s people watched them, but they mostly seemed immune to them.
Nicco was the first person to see me, and I wasn’t prepared for him to turn away from me as I approached. Why was he pissed off at me now? I thought we had an agreement?
“Everyone ready?” I asked, trying to make my voice light.
Captain Marson stepped forward. He looked less polished than when I first met him. Weeks on the trail could do that to you, but he was still much more elegant and refined than Vorn or me.
“We thank you for the shelter.” He glanced at his men, who all murmured some form of thanks like obedient children.
Vorn turned to look at me, laughter dancing in his eyes, and I briefly considered elbowing him in the ribs as I brushed past him and joined the others.
