Page 7 of Storm to Victory
As a few of the other groups drifted away, Fieran mentally ticked off his list, checking that no one was being left out. It seemed everyone had found a group to hang out with for the day except for Lt. Rothilion, who was shifting his feet and glancing around as if he wasn’t quite sure where he belonged.
Fieran suppressed a sigh and glanced at Pip. He’d imagined spending this day with Pip. A day-long date with no work and no intrusions.
Pip looked up at him, and their gazes met. Was that a hint of regret in her own eyes? Then she turned and gestured to Lt. Rothilion. “Saranthyr, you can tag along with us.”
“With all of us.” Adry was tugging Merrik closer. Apparently this was going to be a double date, even if Rothilion didn’t come along.
Rothilion sighed and shook his head, a hint of a resigned-but-pretending-to-not-be curl to his mouth. “I have no wish to find myself the extraneous person.”
“You won’t be extraneous.” As much as he’d hate to do it, Fieran would send Pip off with Merrik and Adry and see to it that Lt. Rothilion wasn’t without a friend, if it came to that.
“You won’t be the only one not paired up.” Mak drifted over to them as well, clearly staking his spot as part of their group.
Fieran bit back another sigh. And now he was going to have Pip’s big brother breathing down his neck. Granted, Merrik too would have Adry’s big brother breathing downhisneck, so it was only fair.
“Fine.” Rothilion joined them with a faint roll of his shoulders. “I suppose it will not be entirely unpleasant. Where do you intend to go?”
“My cousin Draenelynn said that some of the dwarven crafters tagged along and are setting up shop here in Defense City.” Pip took one of Fieran’s hands, although her gaze remained on Rothilion. “We were hoping to find some of their booths.”
Rothilion gave a nod, and the six of them set off. Mak led the way with Merrik and Adry falling in behind him.
Fieran waited until last to make sure Rothilion came along. But he hadn’t needed to worry. Adry was already walking backward, somehow managing to do that and hold Merrik’s hand. Merrik steered her around a loose cobblestone, as if this wasn’t anything unusual.
“I haven’t had the chance to get to know Merrik’s squadron yet.” Adry shot Rothilion a grin, walking and talking in a way that forced Rothilion to fully join their group rather than trail awkwardly behind. “I’m Adry. Fieran’s sister. You’re Saranthyr…”
Rothilion hesitated, shooting a glance over his shoulder at Fieran. “Rothilion.”
Adry’s eyebrows shot up. “Related to—”
“Yes.” Lt. Rothilion cut her off before she could finish. “But considering my damasha is on the verge of disowning me, that connection is hardly worth mentioning.”
Next to Fieran, Pip stumbled. “Your father is threatening to disown you? Why?”
Rothilion glanced at her before shooting Fieran a look. “You did not tell them?”
“No. I can keep my mouth shut when something is told to me in confidence.” Fieran shrugged, trying to ignore the twinge at Rothilion’s surprise. Yes, Fieran talked a lot. But that didn’t mean he blabbed other people’s secrets.
“Linshi.” Rothilion dipped his head in a nod before he turned back to Pip. “My father and uncle are a part of the most traditional among the elves. He was angry that I stayed in the squadron under a Laesornysh, and he was even more angry when he heard I had flown with Prince Farrendel.”
“And there’s your uncle’s strange resentment toward my whole family.” Adry rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure why he’s the one with his knickers in a knot sincehewas the one who broke off his engagement to Aunt Melantha, not the other way around.”
Rothilion made a small choking noise at Adry’s reference to undergarments. Merrik just shook his head in a resigned kind of way, even as he steered her around another pedestrian since she was still walking backward.
After another polite cough, Rothilion dipped his head. “My damasha has likely only held off because openly taking such a stand against Laesornysh would be politically disastrous.”
“That’s messed up.” Adry flexed her fingers, as if she wanted to give Rothilion’s father a piece of her mind…and perhaps acquaint him with her magic.
Not that Fieran wasn’t fully prepared to join her in that, if the occasion should arise.
“I’m sorry.” Pip’s fingers tightened on Fieran’s hand.
“I knew the consequences when I made my choices.” Rothilion faced forward, rolling his shoulders in the elven shrug.
His tone said that the conversation was over. All of them paused for a moment before Adry smiled and made the elven forehead to mouth greeting gesture. “Well, it’s good to meet you.”
She finally faced forward and began a conversation with Mak.
Fieran slowed his steps so that he and Pip dropped somewhat back from the others. “This isn’t quite the day-long date I was planning.”
