She moves to me, handing off her spoon to Omar, who takes up stirring the stew without needing to be asked, and wraps me in a big, cozy hug. A hug that lasts and lasts. For a second I stay tense, not ready to let my guard down right away. But Agatha holds me tightly like she’s never going to let me go, and without an end in sight I finally let my body relax. I melt into her, suddenly feeling all of the emotions I realize I must have been repressing.
“You’re so brave,” Agatha says, rubbing my back. “You’re doing the right thing.”
After another minute she pulls away, moving back to her pot.
Mal looks up but doesn’t stand. She’s pressing the end of a stick into the grass at her feet.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t make a fuss,” she says. “My knees aren’t what they used to be.”
“It’s good to see you, Mal,” I say, and she gestures to a couple of logs on either side of the fire.
“Please, sit.”
We do, as Agatha begins spooning portions of stew into metal bowls.
“You probably know why we’re here,” I say, but Mal waves off my comment.
“Eat first. Then rest. You’ve been traveling for a long time. We’ll talk business in the morning.”
Agatha hands me a bowl, and Omar, who has fallen right back into his assisting ways, has taken it upon himself to break up a long baguette of crusty white bread. He hands me a chunk. And while I want to get straight to it, to convince Mal to help us recruit the rogues, the delicious scent of the stew has mymouth so flooded I’m not sure I’d even be able to form coherent sentences. So instead, I do as Mal says and focus on eating.
The stew is warming and filling, and as I guzzle my portion, I suddenly realize just how hungry I was. And not just for food, for the sense of hearty comfort it provides.
“This stew is amazing,” I mumble, mouth full, then I look around and realize not everyone I expected to be here is present. “Where’s Kairos? Is he in the house?”
Mal’s head drops, her lips twitching like she’s not sure what to say.
“Kairos has moved on to the Lunar Plane,” Agatha says for her friend. “I came as soon as I heard.”
My heart aches for Mal.
“Oh, I’m so, so sorry.”
Mal lifts her chin, her voice breaking as she says, “Thank you.”
By my side, Omar has stopped eating and is staring into his bowl.
“How did he ...?” he says. “If it’s okay to ask.”
Mal half shrugs, half twists her head on her shoulders, like she’s shaking off a shiver.
“Just his time,” she says, and for the first time I take a proper look at her.
Her face has aged in the year or so since I saw her last. The grooves around her mouth and chin are more pronounced, her eyes seem to droop, her hair that was once styled in two tight braids now hangs in a single loose twist over a shoulder. It’s whiter than I remember as well. Her shoulders are curled forward. It’s like this past year she’s been weighed down, pulled to the ground, whether by grief or something else I don’t know.
“Mal, I’m so sorry,” Mia says, and Olivia nods in agreement.
“What can you do?” Mal says, then pressing on her stick with one hand and against her knee with the other, she rises. “Agatha,can you show our guests to their rooms? I’m gonna turn in early.”
Agatha nods.
“We’ll talk more in the morning, Blood Wolf,” Mal says. “I know you’ve plenty to say, but for now I’ll say good night.”
“Good night,” I say. “And Mal?”
She’s already turning to leave but waits a beat for me to continue.
“It really is a pleasure to see you again.”
