Page 96 of Keeper

Chapter

Fifty-Four

EVERLY

I followCenric into his command tent. The space is empty, save for a large table, covered in maps and scrolls, and ten chairs.

He gestures to one of the chairs.

The wooden seat creaks as I plop down. “Well, aren’t you a fountain of conversation this morning.”

He ignores me as he moves to the other side of the table and leans over a map.

I clear my throat. “So, are you still mad at me?”

No response. Not even a grunt. I might as well be talking to one of the tent poles.

“You know, the silent treatment isn’t exactly a mature way to handle conflict.”

Still nothing.

I cross my arms and stare at him, determined to out-silence the master of brooding.

One minute passes. Then two. My resolve wavers.

“This is ridiculous. Are you trying to bore me to death? Because if so, it’s working.”

Those blue eyes flick up to meet mine for a moment before returning to the map.

“I saw that. You can’t ignore me forever.”

He shifts and reaches for a scroll, and I leap on this minuscule sign of life.

“Was that a sigh? Are you sighing at me? I’ll have you know, I’m an excellent sigher. I could out-sigh you any day of the week.” To demonstrate, I let out an exaggerated sigh.

Cenric’s lips twitch. It’s barely noticeable, but I catch it.

“Was that almost a smile?”

Cenric’s eyes remain glued to the map, his fingers tracing invisible lines across the parchment.

My stomach twists into knots, each second of silence adding another loop. Is this how it’s going to be from now on? I’d have better luck getting conversation out of a shrub.

“Cenric, are you angry?” The words tumble out before I can stop them. “Please don’t be angry at me.”

His head snaps up at that, his eyes locking onto mine. They scan my face, searching for...something. What, I’m not sure.

“I’m not angry, Everly,” he finally says, his voice low and controlled. “I’m processing.”

“Processing?” I echo.

He nods.

My throat tightens as Morwen’s words echo in my mind.Trust Cenric. Let him help.

The concepts feel foreign, like a language I’ve neverlearned. I’ve always relied on myself, always been the one to solve my own problems. But now, I know I cannot do this alone anymore.

“Cenric,” I begin, my voice raw. “I want to tell you about what happened to me when I arrived in Karra.”

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