Page 28 of Stitches
“Never mind. You needn’t say anything you don’t wish to. But being with child, and after a scare like that? You should go see Luccite immediately.”
They both nodded, and Amuro said, “I’ll take her there now. Thank you, Ash. Thank you for saving them.”
Them.
Ashmedai would gladly lay down his life for any of his people, but the guilt that accompanied knowing he might not have gotten there in time was so much greater when it could have been two lives lost.
As the couple headed out of the wood, most everyone else was actingless spooked than they plainly were, starting to gather up the day’s kill for skinning and butchering back in the city. Several of them passed Ashmedai strained smiles or fleeting looks, even with all the rollhounds returned to help keep guard. The people were terrified, and it was obvious something else was going on.
Ashmedai would need to call another city council meeting sooner than usual.
The only exception to the palpable unease was Yentriss, who never failed to maintain a clear head.
And thankfully, she was distracting Levi.
“You’re good with those daggers,” she said as Ashmedai approached them. “Long range can also be useful, but illusions might not always save you. I could teach you the bow, see if you have any aptitude, so you’re even more prepared next time.”
Ashmedai was going to cut in and say that he thought that a marvelous idea, only to watch Levi’s expression go slack, his violet eyes drifting from Yentriss to stare at nothing.
“Levi?” she said sharply when he didn’t answer.
“Hm?” Levi snapped back like coming out of a trance. “I’m so sorry, Yentriss. Yes, I would very much like to learn the bow from you. I think the hunt must have left me a bit jittery.”
“Jitters will do you no better than paralysis,” she said coolly. “We’ll have to work on that. Ash,” Yentriss said as she noticed him.
He smiled to be cordial, but responded with a subtle nod to dismiss her, to which she went off without comment to help the others.
Levi’s gaze was drifting again.
“Levi?” Ashmedai took his hand.
Levi jumped. His eyes looked damp.
“Was it another daydream?”
“I-I…. Yes?” he answered, more like a question.
“What did you see?”
“Ididn’t. I mean… I don’t think I saw anything, but after Yentriss offered to teach me the bow, I thought I heard another woman’s voice.”
“What did she say?”
“She said… ‘Son, there are many things you still need to learn.’ I don’t know why it’s affecting me so much. I don’t even understand why I’d imagine such a thing. Because Yentriss is Kenner’s mother, and I never had one of my own?”
There was no easy answer, so Ashmedai settled on, “Perhaps.”
Levi sniffled. “I’ve had others this week, even the other day before I gave you your belt. I didn’t want to worry you. I was hunting deer.”
“There are no deer here anymore.”
“I know….”
Ashmedai wasn’t sure what to say.
“I really did enjoy helping with the hunt for the most part.” Levi mustered a smile. “It was thrilling. You were remarkable.”
It had been a long time since Ashmedai had seen the most powerful part of himself as anything but vile. “I was going to say the same to you,” he deflected. He meant it after all—Levi’s illusions and his dancing daggers.
