Kade looked Killian straight in the eyes and said,“I. Would. Rather. Die.” Then, he smiled sweetly and pushed past Killian to head home.
While tucking the last of his things into the saddle bag, Killian’s ears pricked at the sound of a distant knock on the farmhouse door. He froze, listening.
The door opened and Killian heard Kade’s surprised yet disappointed voice. “Oh. Tanya. I wasn’t expecting it to be you.”
Killian didn’t recognize the name.
Making his way to the barn door, Killian kept in corners where the shadows pooled to stay out of sight. The farmhouse was fully visible from where he stood, the light from the windows lighting up the shape of their guest.
Tanya was a short elf, slender with long dark hair she wore down, flowing past her hips. She wore nice, new robes with glimmering beads of red and orange sown into the fabric.
She hadn’t been the first villager to stop by that week, though most tried to avoid speaking to either of them, opting to leave their mourning gifts on the porch and dash away before the big, bad criminal saw them.
“I’m sorry for dropping in like this, darling, I know it’s late. I just wanted to bring this over for you. Peach cobbler, your favorite. I baked it fresh this afternoon,” giggled Tanya. She hada high pitched, singing tune to her voice. It grated on Killian’s nerves.
“Thank you,” said Kade flatly.
There was a pause. Killian could see her straining, standing on the tips of her toes to try and peek around Kade’s taller form. Apparently deeming the coast clear, she leaned in and whispered loudly, “Are you alright? We’ve all heard about what happened in the tavern with Roi.Hehasn’t done anything to you, has he?”
“No, Tanya. Killi would never hurt me.”
“I’m sure your poor father thought the same thing and, well, we all know howthatturned out.”
Kade’s face turned stony. “Thank you for the cobbler. I’m sure it’s delicious as always.”
“Oh, how insensitive of me. I didn’t mean anything by it. You must understand.” Tanya waved her hand dismissively and then laid it on Kade’s arm. Killian bristled at the contact. “It’s just that he’s dangerous. We all know it.” She lowered her voice. “I heard that even before theincidentwith your father that the boy was wild. Never really fit in. Never even tried to. If he tries anything with you—anything at all—you just come to us anytime. Sila will have someone off to the lord’s estate in a heartbeat.”
Sila? So this Tanya was Sila’s wife?
Interesting.
Killian's lip curled in disgust. No wonder she couldn’t keep her nose out of what didn’t concern her. Slimy through and through, the pair of them.
Seeing as Kade hadn’t chased her off yet, Tanya’s confidence grew. She bludgeoned on, “What I’m trying to say is that we’rehere for you. Whatever you need, our door is always open.” She paused. Her next words had Killian’s stomach dropping out from under him. “And I know things must be so hard for you right now, with your mother passing and thatbrotherof yours showing back up, so I took the liberty of talking to my husband for you. He’s agreed we should give you the month. Sila won’t come for the next payment until after summer, no extra interest or anything! Isn’t that wonderful!”
“…How generous.”
“No need to thank us. It’s the least we could do.” Tanya patted Kade’s cheek. Kade’s knuckles were white around the cobbler dish. “Oh, my poor boy. Everything you’ve been through…” She sniffled and dabbed at her eyes. “You’ll have those debts paid before you know it. I’m sure.”
Killian was moving before he was conscious of it. Stalking up the way and pressing too close at Tanya’s back. She jumped at his sudden appearance. Her eyes widened in panic. Cowering, her hands smoothed her dress nervously as she avoided his eyes.
Glowering down at her, Killian sneered, “Something we can help you with?”
Tanya squeaked. “No. No, no, no. I was just leaving.” But in a moment of bravery, she mumbled, “Remember what I said, dear. Anytime.” She then inched her way around Killian and hurried down the dirt path that led back to the village, glancing over her shoulder every few feet as if she were afraid Killian would chase her down.
Only when she was safely out of sight, did Killian herd the too quiet Kade into the house.
When the door closed behind them, Killian and Kade staredat each other, neither of them blinking. Kade on one side of the room, Killian on the other. The air thick with rising tension.
“Don’t,” Kade said shortly, turning his back to Killian. He discarded the cobbler onto the table without a thought. The glassware hitting the wood with a resoundingthunk.
“Don’t? Don’t what?” Killian drawled. “Don’t ask questions? Fuck that. Kade, what debts?”
“I’m handling it.”
“How much?” Killian questioned. “To Sila? Or are there others?”
Kade leaned heavily on the table, his head lowered.
