Page 62 of The Curse of Golden Blood
I brushed his hair away from his temple, taking in the subtle changes, the ways his old freckles had faded under his sunburn. But here, nestled above his right eyebrow, lay a scar I knew very well.
"There it is." I grinned. "The one you got falling out of a tree."
"The old war wound." He waggled his eyebrows.
The corners of my eyes crinkled, and suddenly I was laughing. With a snort. I clapped a hand over my mouth, but keptright on laughing, bending at the waist. Tomos joined in, doubling over. It was the kind of laughter that never quite reached the brain, skittering on the fringes of reason. I couldn't remember the last time I'd laughed like this.
With Pelbie, probably.
"How's Pelbie?" He asked, seeming to read my mind.
I blinked, sobering at once. "She's also here, actually."
His eyes widened. "What? Seriously?"
I nodded. "She's being trained to be a healer. She's learning how to make potions and salves."
He gave an incredulous shake of his head, his mouth half open. "I can't believe it." He glanced around. "So she's safe?"
"Safe as she can be."
Tomos nodded, his gaze returning to mine. "And you?"
"I'm all right," I lied.
"You're lying," he said flatly. "I can see it in your eyes. You've got that look."
"What look?"
"The one that says, 'I'm not telling you something because I think you'll worry.'"
My silence was answer enough.
He sighed. "Mira, what happened? How much trouble did you get into, to require a guard?" Tomos stiffened. “Lord Gyvren gave me strict orders to keep you in my sight. What did you do, Mira?”
I turned away, staring at my feet. "I...I can't explain it right now."
Tomos frowned, watching me. He knew I was evading his questions, but he didn't press. He had never been good at pushing for answers when I didn't want to give them.
He gave a short nod. "Well, I'm here to keep you safe," he said. "And I will."
"I know."
He grinned and ruffled my hair. "I missed you."
I elbowed him, but couldn't hold back a grin.
"And you've changed," he said. "You seem older."
"It's been years since we saw each other. Of course I've changed."
He tilted his head to one side. "Yes," he said. "But this is different. You seem… different."
I lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. "That's what happens when you're alone for a while."
He frowned. "Are you in danger?"
I considered the question, letting my mind return to the memory of the dark night on the cliff's edge.
