He was free to stay here with his family, who loved him and missed him so much. Saeldian’s breastbone felt like it was sinking into their heart. What were they upset for? Working with Kell was unbearable. He’d been nothing but domineering and nasty and—they were angry. That’s why they were fighting tears. Fucking Kell got everything.
“You’re all done, Kell. Congratulations.” Saeldian picked up the bowl and scooped runaway noodles back into it. “I’ll bring the bowl back.”
“Wait,” Kell said. “You tried to figure out how to escape it immediately. Quickwit just freed me. Why are you walking away?”
Saeldian stopped just inside the door and turned back to the four who watched them. “I would never dream of trying to escape the vow. I’ve got a job to do,” Saeldian said. “One that will pay me a lot of coin.”
They bowed to the bullywug. “If you’ll help me get to Hearthaven’s Repose, that would be convenient.”
Shuahn’s chin bubbled out—in surprise? Saeldian couldn’t be sure. “You’re going to stay bound?”
“No reason not to,” Saeldian said. “I’m doing what I promised to do, anyway.”
“Wait. I get it. You can’t ask to be freed. Quickwit,” Kell said, “undo Saeldian’s geas too.”
Quickwit zipped across the room. “Free, free! Thanks to me—”
Saeldian blocked Quickwit aiming to kiss their forehead. “Don’t you dare.”
The pixie pouted. “I want to help.”
“You want to pay off your punishment,” Saeldian said. “You might as well release Lorzok, though. He was just doing it for Kell.”
Lorzok held up his hand to stay Quickwit. “Saeldian. You’d go alone?”
“If I have to,” Saeldian said. “I know you would have been a great help, my friend.”
Lorzok looked sad.
“No,” Kell said. “You don’t get to play at a noble sacrifice.”
Saeldian could smirk like a knife in the ribs. “You don’t like the roles reversed? You got what you wanted. Home, family, and me holding the bag. Enjoy it. I have an early morning tomorrow. Sleep tight.”
“No,” Kell said. “I’m not a cheater. I’m going too.”
“That’s enough,” Shuahn said. “I knew you from a tadpole, boy. You’ll fight the sun just because you were told not to. If you want to go to Hearthaven’s Repose with Saeldian, you have to do something else first.”
“What?”
“Do you want to go to Hearthaven’s Repose?”
“Yes!”
Shuahn looked skeptical. “Why?”
Kell opened his mouth to fire a retort that would throw a dagger at Saeldian’s gut—and then gathered up his calm with a breath. “Because I promised them. We all win, or nobody wins.”
“But you won,” Saeldian said. “You got your win; you’re here.”
Kell glared at them. “I keep my promises, hard as it is to believe.”
“If I have to steal your voice so I can get an hour’s peace, Kell Redsong.” Shuahn’s shining green skin went olive. Because she was annoyed? Saeldian shuddered at the idea of just anyone being able to read their mood like that.
But Kell hung his head like a scolded boy. “What do we have to do?”
“Hearthaven’s Repose is closed to people whose hearts are closed to each other. You can hardly pass up a chance to be cruel to Saeldian, Kell.”
He couldn’t. Any chance he got, he’d snipe at them. It was so obvious, even this stranger could see how he was treating them!
