“Your faith in our ability to not get into trouble is wonderful, Phelan,” Cameron said, crossing his arms. “We don’t have any intention—”
“Calm down,” Thom said. “It’s not that we’d be finding any trouble—it’s trouble finding us. Same as always.”
“Same as always is right,” Matt muttered, drawing the axe-head back out of the fire and lifting his hammer. “If I were you, I wouldn’t complain about J.T. tagging along. He’s good in a fight and better at putting you back together again if needsbe.”
Cameron frowned. “I don’t like it.”
“We don’t have to like it,” Thom said, picking up a whetstone and one of the blades Matt had finished that was still in need of honing. “We just have to deal with it.”
Cameron sighed and shook his head, looking toward Phelan. “The Morrigan, huh? Is she on our side?”
“Such as it can be,” Phelan said, leaning back. “She’s not exactly the type to take sides, but she’s always had a soft spot for…certain people.”
“When he says that, he means him,” Matt said without looking up from his work. Phelan shot him a glare and Matt smiled wryly. “Don’t give me that look, Phelan, you know it’s the truth.”
“Sometimes I wonder how much you may or may not be lying about remembering Cíar’s life, Matt.”
Matt just smiled and kept to his work. Thom gave him a long, appraising look, whetstone and blade half-forgotten in his hands.
A good thing to wonder.
He wouldn’t ask, of course—not yet, anyway. Matt would probably talk to him about it eventually if he gave it enough time. It’d come up sooner if sharing meant Marin would be safer.
As rocky as their beginnings had been, he and Matt had found common ground when it came to Marin. The day Matt had gotten his scars—the one on his face, the one on his hand—had been the day that alliance had been forged.
Thom had shared his fears that day, his secret, and Matt had kept his end of the bargain.
“There’s not much to think about,” Matt said softly. “Not when it comes to him. He lived, loved his sister and her children, and died.”
Phelan stared at Matt for a long moment and then began to laugh.
