Thealos blushed, noticing that she had just finished changing into her traveling pants and boots. She shivered in a thin chemise and quickly tugged on her shirt, tucking it in. “Where’s my cloak?” she asked, rubbing her arms.
Thealos saw it crumpled nearby and unfolded it before draping it over her shoulders. “I didn’t mean to walk in on you,” he said. “The gown you were wearing was pretty, but it would have only tangled you where we’re going. Allavin is back. Talbin and the others at the Catpaw are safe.”
“Good,” she muttered, tugging the cloak about her. “But I was really looking forward to sleeping in that bed tonight. You should have seen the stuffed mattresses, Flent. Roye never would have paid for those.”
“No he wouldn’t have,” Flent chuckled, rubbing his meaty hands together for warmth. He packed the gown into her traveling sack and cinched it closed. “Haven’t had a good sleep since Sol. Hate, I sure miss the smell of the ocean.”
“I don’t mind the ocean, it’s the bird droppings and dead fish I don’t miss,” Ticastasy quipped. She cocked her head. “What about you, Quickfellow? Wish you were home instead of down in the Shoreland like this?”
Thealos sighed. “I told you I miss my sister a lot…but this is where I’m supposed to be. I’m glad you were able to hear what Jaerod had to say tonight.” He thought about the feeling of safety he had grown up with, believing that the Crimson Wolfsmen kept intruders out. But it was only illusion after all. Their defenses wouldn’t work against a threat like this. “It’s not easy being so far from home, is it?” He gave Flent a firm pat on the back. “You don’t have to come with us,” he said. “You could go back to Sol or head north to Dos-Aralon from here.”
“What for?” Flent muttered. “There’s nothing in Sol worth going back for. So Roye can yell at me and call me some stupid rook again?” He shook his head. “No, I don’t think I’m ever going back there.” He looked up at Thealos. “I would have died that night in Sol, if you hadn’t healed me. I owe you for that, Shae.” He paused then grinned. “What, thirty pieces or so? My life’s gotta be worth about that.”
“Ten and you’re pushing it.” Ticastasy gave the Drugaen an affectionate hug. She also looked up at Thealos, giving him a smile. “He’s my best friend in all the world. That made you my friend when you saved him.”
Thealos dropped to a low crouch, feeling his cheeks burn. “I haven’t forgotten that both of you offered to help me in my time of need. I don’t forget my friends either.” He touched his hand to theirs. “If we make it through this, I promise you won’t have to work in Sol ever again.”
“A while ago, we used to talk about opening our own place,” Ticastasy said. “What did we want to call it, Flent? The Ragged Staff? We decided to be the owners, so we’d get to keep all the Aralonian pieces. Maybe we should open it up in Dos-Aralon, what do you say? After this foolish war is over. I’m…never going back to Sol either,” she said with a hint of regret in her voice. She looked at Flent knowingly. He nodded and patted her hand.
Thealos stared at her in the darkness. He knew she couldn’t see his face, and he was glad. She had lost her meager belongings leaving Sol. He felt responsible for that – for all of them. She was the first human – except Jaerod – who had stood up for him after leaving Avisahn. He owed her something.
“The Ragged Staff, is it? It’ll be the nicest tavern in all the realm,” Thealos promised, giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze. “Nicer than the Catpaw. Nicer than the Foxtale. I can get you a good price on Silvan wine.”
“And Spider Ale?” Flent asked hungrily.
“You silly Drugaen,” she laughed. “The Shae don’t touch ale.” She leaned back and rested her head against Flent’s chest. “Maybe it won’t be Dos-Aralon. Maybe we’ll build it down here in Landmoor. Promise to visit us, Quickfellow?”
Thealos smiled and gave her a little hug. “Of course I will. I have plenty of Aralonian pieces Flent hasn’t cheated from me yet.” He butted Flent with his elbow. He envied their friendship and the years they had known each other. But it was something more. Maybe it was the fierce loyalty of friendship Ticastasy had for Flent. All his life he had struggled to make his own way, and he had struggled alone. Those he had grown up with had chosen callings like they were supposed to. He alone had defied the Shae hierarchy. He saw a little of that defiance in Ticastasy. He stared at her in the dim moonlight and felt a mixture of feelings, both tender and strong. Flent and Ticastasy were his only friends outside of Avisahn. His only real friends. Jaerod was a mentor, but he had motives Thealos couldn’t begin to comprehend or relate to. These two accepted him the way he was.
Or who they think me to be, he thought darkly. A Silvan prince.