Shady

“Why would you believe them?” She scoffed, looking at him bitterly. “They’ve said it loads of times at this point. They’re lying. And they think I’m too stupid to notice.” ...

Ky shrank. That hurt. “I know. I’m a horrible selfish awful person.” She sniffled, wiping at her face. “But I want to go home. And no one will let me. ...

Ky flinched but glanced back at him. “My mother and siblings actually want me around. Unlike anyone at that place.” She gestured with her chin towards the Keep.

Ky glanced at Rönn, then blushed and glanced away.

“Can you do it gently?” Ky asked Humtur, deciding not to address Rönn’s comment.

Ky glanced up at Humtur uncertainly, then back at Rönn. “Well… I…” she huffed. “It’ll be fine. I have food. And… wait where did my horse go?” She looked around ...

“I won’t die. Haelar says I’m not allowed to die til I’m done heralding for him.” She crossed her arms, looking much more like the petulant teen she actually was ...

“No.” She shook her head firmly. “Serpent Keep is that way. Home is that way.” She gestured the way she’d been going.

“No,” she said indignantly, tugging on her coat to prove she was wearing one. Several, actually. “I’m dressed for the weather. And I’m going home.”

Ky unceremoniously crawled out, standing up and brushing her annoyingly long hair out of her face and straightening her clothes. She looked Rönn over. “What are you doing out here?”

Ky smiled a bit at that, wiping at her face again. He thought of her as a friend? That was sweet. She nodded. “Yeah… he saved me last week. He ...

“It’s okay,” Ky confirmed to Humtur with a nod. “He’s nice.”

Ky wiped at her face roughly, embarrassed, and hefted herself up to peek out the flap of the satchel tentatively. Was Humtur this worried about Rönn? Or was there an ...

Ky hesitated, confused. “…Rönn?”

Ky trembled violently, clamping her hand down over her mouth to muffle her sobs.