“I mean, it has to be something like that if a high society SolFae and a stargazing LunaFae feel sorry enough to travel with you,” Tellus said, continuing to try and push Rone into a response.
“Some really nice hospitality you got here,” Traijen spoke up sarcastically. Though the look on his face said, he was ready for a fight.
“Oh, we can be really hospitable when we want to stargazer. The problem is, I don’t want to be. See, I don’t like your kind half-blood. You’re a mutt, a mixed breed. Not fit to walk the same land as true DokalFae’s. And it was a mistake to come here.”
Rone had to force himself to choke back his growing rage. He knew a fight here would most certainly draw far too much unwanted attention, but he could not let Tellus just get away with this either.
“Funny, I was under the impression this village was built for outcasts and exiles. If you’re such a true DokalFae, tell me again why you’re here and not in Luna’Dwell?”
The look on Tellus’s face was more than a little amusing to Rone, as it twisted into a mask of both anger and embarrassment.
Tellus looked as if he was about to burst when the voice of Derik drew their attention toward the street again.
“That’s enough, Tellus. Leave the mercenary alone, before I decide to let him kill you.” Tellus spat on the ground in protest and stormed off down the street.
“My apologies Rone, Katrina told me how you saved her from her wounds and agreed to see her safely home. We may be exiles, but we are not all like Tellus.
Your free to gather what supplies you need, provided you can pay for them. But after that, I think it best you be on your way. Most of us wish to be left alone, and your group's presence here would draw too much attention from those in the city.
It’s not often we see a SolFae and a LunaFae walking around in the badlands. Even as part of a mercenary group.”
“I understand,” Rone said, nodding.
“If we could get that payment we agreed upon Katrina, we could be out of the good captain’s hair in a few hours.
“Of course, I’ll show you to the market where you can get the supplies for your trip home as well,” Katrina said, turning to Derik and thanking him for telling her what he knew about her sister’s death.
After the captain had dismissed his men and moved away down the street, Katrina turned to Rone and gripped his hand. Her usually beautiful face now wrinkled with worry and grief. She still had not decided whether to tell him all that she knew. But she had decided to make him take her with him.
She had to at least try to atone for what she has done. And, if possible, keep Rone from sharing the same fate of her sister. Besides, she couldn’t stay here anymore, not now that Leana was gone. Nor did she have anywhere else to go.
The desperation she felt was all too apparent to Rone, as it resonated in her voice when she spoke.
“Rone, I am not accustomed to begging, but I am doing so now. Please let me come with you. There’s nothing here for me now. My sister is gone, my home is gone, everything I had is lost.
At least with you, I can still do something useful. You could use maps to get you through the badlands, but they would fall short of an actual guide would the not?
If you allow me to come with you, I promise to help you any way I can. Please, Rone, don’t leave me here.”
Something about the look in her eyes and the tremble of her voice pulled at Rone’s heart. He knew he should say no to taking her with them, but at the same time, found it nearly impossible to do so.
He related to her tragedy, her world like his was falling down around her. Max was dying, his home was dying, and all he wanted was some way to make it stop.
“Surely you aren’t considering this, Rone?” Trisha asked, sounding more than a little agitated. Rone looked at Trisha then back at Katrina.
“What is your problem with me, Trish? I’ve done nothing to you!” The anger and grief Katrina felt was now bubbling to the surface in waves as she turned to face off with Trisha.
“If you must know, I don’t trust you!” Trisha shouted back angrily.
“You show up out of nowhere as some damsel in distress, then woo your way into tagging along with us. First to Dusk Haven, then all the way here.
We get here, and once again, you need saving. Rone has enough on his plate with this quest. He doesn’t need you clinging to his arm, or weaseling into his bed. He needs to focus on what is essential.”
Rone stared at Trisha in utter surprise. He knew she didn’t trust Katrina, but this seemed to be much more than just that.
“Trish, that’s unfair. You know when we found her, she was wounded, and she cannot help what has happened to her any more than we could.”
Rone was about to say more when a quick raise of Katrina’s hand kept him from it.
“So, there it is, the real reason you are so avidly against me being a part of your little group. You're worried I’m going to steal Rone from you! Why else would you care who is in his bed?” Katrina asked as she stormed up to Trisha’s face.
“Oh please! Don’t you even try to turn this around on me,” Trisha said, pointing her finger at Katrina.
“I could care less who Rone sleeps with! I just hope he has the decency not to let it be someone like you! You bat your eyes and flash your smile, just hoping to manipulate him into carrying you along. Why would you even want to go? You owe him nothing, and he has no gold to keep you up.
So, either you see him as a conquest, or you have some other agenda. Neither of which we can afford to tolerate.
Katrina stood there, flushing with anger. Looking like she could strike Trisha at any moment.
“You tower society, bitch! You know nothing about me! Do not presume to know what my motives are. As for Rone, your right; I do like him. He is kind and brave. Something I have not seen from a man who did not want something in return.
So maybe I do want to be with him. Or perhaps I simply have nothing left. I just lost my sister for god’s sake, not to mention I’ve also lost my home for a second time.”
The two women had all but come to blows now as their anger only seemed to deepen. Rone felt his own temper flare, as he heard some of what Trisha was saying.
“Enough! Trisha, I told you from the start we will do things my way. First of all, my bed is neither of your concerns. Secondly, how about a little compassion Trisha.
You may not know how it feels to lose something as precious as your home or your family, but I do.
This matter is closed, if Kat wants to come with us, I’m happy to have her along. We could use a guide, and I gave my word I would ask her for nothing I did not have to.
Well, I don’t have to ask her to stay here, and I’ve decided I won’t. So, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry, but this is no longer open for debate.” Rone looked at each of the companions to see if they had something further to say.
Each one seemed shocked at his outburst, but only Traijen finally spoke up.
“Hey brother, I’m here for you. If you say she comes, then she comes.” He said, raising his hands in an expression of submission.
“Good, now let’s get our supplies and be on our way,” Rone said, turning to head towards the village square.
Both women watched him as he walked away, one with admiration, the other disbelief. As Traijen hurried to catch his friend, Katrina started after him as well. Leaving Trisha to be the last to follow and sticking her tongue out at all of them while their backs were turned.
She knew this conversation was not over, but for the moment, she would let it go. As she sped up her walk to catch the others, she couldn’t help but wonder why she really did dislike Katrina so much. Back at the tower, she would have loved to make friends with such a free spirit.