Page 108 of Thorns & Fire
‘Observatory Hill is the single best location on the eastern isle of Naarva for studies of astronomy, and for alchemy that aligns with any phases of the moon’
– Drevenor Academy Handbook
‘ENJOY THAT, DIDyou, Embers?’Torj’s voice was low as he extricated himself from well-wishers and fawning women and rejoined Wren, who was sitting in their corner booth feeling smug.
‘Immensely,’ she replied, still grinning.‘Now who’s a terrible drunk?’
‘Drunk?’he scoffed.‘Not even close.You, on the other hand?That’s a different story.’
Wren waved her glass at him.‘I’ve been drinking water for the past hour, Bear Slayer.While you are leaning a little far to the left.’
She watched as Torj looked down, taking stock of his body.‘Am I swaying?Or is that the bar?’he asked, blinking slowly.
‘Come on, Warsword.Let’s get you back to your room before Kipp calls for another toast.’
‘That was your fault,’ Torj slurred.
‘So it was,’ she said with a laugh.
‘Gods, I love that sound...’he murmured, leaning closer.
Wren smiled, secretly loving this uninhibited version of the warrior.‘Is that so?’
Torj blinked at her again, as though he hadn’t meant to say those words aloud.‘I’m going to kill Kipp,’ he grumbled.‘I should throttle him for endangering my ability to perform my duties.’
‘Perhaps tomorrow, Bear Slayer.’Wren was waiting beside him.‘Shall we?’
Torj stumbled, and Wren looped his muscled arm around her shoulders.She knew the sight must be ridiculous.If he fell, she had no hope of catching him.In fact, he’d take her with him.But she couldn’t seem to pull away.She liked his closeness.
‘Are you smelling my hair, Bear Slayer?’she asked as someone held the door open for them and she hauled him through.
He inhaled deeply.‘No.’
Wren laughed again as they staggered across the grounds.‘Oh, how the tables have turned...Last time it was you carrying me back to the room.’
‘You’re hardly carrying me, Embers,’ Torj muttered, and he lifted her up off her feet.
‘Put me down!’she shrieked, laughter still on her lips.
For a moment, she glimpsed the life she might have had: carefree, stumbling home with Torj, chasing each other through the dew-soaked grass.The easy conversation, the quiet moments in between.Gods, it made her chest ache.
She made a show of kicking her legs and he carefully set her down.When she peered up at him, she could sense the shift in his mood.But she wasn’t ready for the fun to be over, not when there was so little of it these days.They deserved one night of laughter, didn’t they?One night of stupidity?
Wren bumped her hip against his side.‘Do you remember how angry you were with Cal when he was drunk on duty?’she teased.
Torj snorted.‘I’m not drunk.I’m tipsy.’
Wren patted his arm, pulling him towards the doors to the main building.‘If you say so, Bear Slayer.’
‘You know,’ he declared, ‘I hate it when you call me that.’
‘Because?’
‘Because it’s not my name.Not to you.’He halted before the grand doors, as though he didn’t want to cross the threshold.‘Are you cold?’he said suddenly, apparently seized by an idea.
‘No.Why?’she asked.He was close enough that his body heat was radiating outwards, keeping the night’s chilly air at bay.
‘I want to stay out a little longer.’Torj tipped his chin to the sky.‘I want to see the stars.’
