“You should talk to her, then, Wanderer, before you lose the nerve to do it.” Sif’s voice was rough from behind them, and Phelan twisted, brows knitting. There were dark circles under the warrior-woman’s eyes, her face drawn and pale in the lamplight. Jacqueline had said she’d been resting, but Phelan very much doubted that was actually the case.
His eyes drifted to the tattered bandages still wrapped around Sif’s palms. How long had it been since she’d let anyone change them? Since she’d let anyone see the self-inflicted wounds there, born form her hands gripping the edges of her blade?
“You look like hell,” he said, gaze unwavering. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at him.
“As well I should,” she growled, stalking forward. “You’re in my chair. Move, if it pleases you, Wanderer, or I’ll move you myself.”
He quirked a brow at her but got up. Sif maintained her glare as she slipped past him and collapsed into the chair he’d vacated, her gaze softening as she turned to regard Thordin.
“Do you want us to go?” Jacqueline asked her quietly.
“Stay, go,” Sif murmured. “It doesn’t matter, engill stúlka. It’s not as if you’re disturbing anyone.”
Jacqueline squeezed her shoulder and rose from her seat. “Still. I know you want to talk to him, and I’d rather not have you stay young tongue because we’re here—because I’m here.”
The ghost of a smile touched Sif’s lips and she nodded, gratitude in her eyes as she looked up at Jacqueline. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Jacqueline glanced at Phelan. “Do you want to go and try to talk to her?”
“No,” Phelan said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “None of us are ready for that conversation yet. When the time’s right, I’ll ask. It’s just a matter of time.”
It’s always just a matter of time.
“born form her hands gripping the edges of her blade?”
from?
I’m getting close to catching up. I’m kind of dreading that moment. Then I’ll have to wait just like SL.
As far as story telling time, I keep thinking that a recurring theme is that the girls didn’t get into trouble very often. Maybe as revenge, Phelan could tell a tale where Neve or his sister got themselves into something they couldn’t get out of. Though that kind of story probably wouldn’t drive future events as much as the story about Cair. Matt’s character is interesting. I can’t wait to see what he ends up doing. He seems to be the quiet one. Its the quiet ones that are trouble.