Liam scoffed and looked away.
Reese leaned toward me. "Is there something going on between them, you think?"
"I can't tell," I whispered back. "Liam seems like he can't stand her half the time."
"Bláth seems to like him." Reese peered at them over his shoulder.
I studied his face, desperately searching for signs of jealousy. A tick or a frown to imply he wanted Bláth's attention for himself.
But I saw only nosy curiosity.
Relief surged through my chest.
I caught my brother’s eye, and he smiled insincerely at me. For the past few hours, he’d pretended all was normal.
I knew it wasn’t. Back in the mountain village, he'd signaled to me a need to speak alone, about something important. We had yet to find a moment to ourselves.
Breathing in the warmth of the fire, I turned away.
Reese escorted me to my tent, pulling the flap aside for me to duck through. He lingered on the threshold. “Do you need anything?”
“You’re not my servant,” I said, kicking my bedroll open. “What happened to not coddling me?”
“It's getting harder, each passing day.”
“Why?” I placed a hand on my hip. “Am I growing more pathetic by the hour? Are you beginning to doubt you can mold me into a weapon?”
“Not at all.” Reese’s confident stance shattered. He reddened and played with his hair. “It’s just, well?—”
Brighid shoved him out of the way and stepped into my tent. “I always knew you’d make a wretched teacher.” She flicked her fingers. “Shoo. I need words with the lady before we let her sleep.”
Reese scowled like he wanted to toss Brighid from the tent. Breathing in, he calmed himself. “What’s wrong?”
“It's called girl talk, Reese. Take a hint.”
Sighing, he rolled his eyes. “I’ll take first watch and wake you for second, Sunshine. Call if Brighid tries to dissect you.”
My eyebrows flew up as he walked away, the tent flap fluttering closed behind him.
"Sunshine?" Brighid questioned.
"That's his name for me, when he's in a good mood."
Fiery veins still traced across Brighid’s skin. She rubbed her eyes. “You’ve been acting like a grieving widow, but there’s no cause to despair.” Lowering her arm, she pointed at Cierthine on my hip. “We’ve learned something valuable—Cierthine has everything to do with that storm. Never before has a Paragon weapon disobeyed its living wielder.”
“Save for when it disobeyed Killian,” I mused, shifting my leg to better see my sword.
“But why?” Brighid rubbed her eyes again. “I need to sleep on it.” She chuckled. “Curse you all, for leaving Ferris to his fate in Tsuyan.”
“I doubt he’s still there. In fact, I’d bet my inheritance that the little delinquent’s broken out of his jail.”
Brighid stared at me, ruby eyes burning into me like flames. I thought she might say something, but she didn’t.
“Rest well, Lady Rohan,” she said, slipping back outside.
Alone in the darkness of my tent, I considered going out and checking on Liam. The storm had battered and bruised me, and exhaustion won out. Removing my sword belt, I crawled onto my bedroll and curled up, hoping to silence the swirling thoughts running through my skull.
Sleep didn’t come, though the hours trickled by.
