\u201cYou should talk to her, then, Wanderer, before you lose the nerve to do it.\u201d Sif\u2019s voice was rough from behind them, and Phelan twisted, brows knitting. There were dark circles under the warrior-woman\u2019s eyes, her face drawn and pale in the lamplight. Jacqueline had said she\u2019d been resting, but Phelan very much doubted that was actually the case.<\/p>\n
His eyes drifted to the tattered bandages still wrapped around Sif\u2019s palms. How long had it been since she\u2019d let anyone change them? Since she\u2019d let anyone see the self-inflicted wounds there, born form her hands gripping the edges of her blade?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look like hell,\u201d he said, gaze unwavering. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs well I should,\u201d she growled, stalking forward. \u201cYou\u2019re in my chair. Move, if it pleases you, Wanderer, or I\u2019ll move you myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
He quirked a brow at her but got up. Sif maintained her glare as she slipped past him and collapsed into the chair he\u2019d vacated, her gaze softening as she turned to regard Thordin.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you want us to go?\u201d Jacqueline asked her quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay, go,\u201d Sif murmured. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter, engill<\/em> st\u00falka<\/em>. It\u2019s not as if you\u2019re disturbing anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Jacqueline squeezed her shoulder and rose from her seat. \u201cStill. I know you want to talk to him, and I\u2019d rather not have you stay young tongue because we\u2019re here\u2014because I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n The ghost of a smile touched Sif\u2019s lips and she nodded, gratitude in her eyes as she looked up at Jacqueline. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d Jacqueline glanced at Phelan. \u201cDo you want to go and try to talk to her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Phelan said, shoving his hands into his pockets. \u201cNone of us are ready for that conversation yet. When the time\u2019s right, I\u2019ll ask. It\u2019s just a matter of time.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s always just a matter of time.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYou should talk to her, then, Wanderer, before you lose the nerve to do it.\u201d Sif\u2019s voice was rough from behind them, and Phelan twisted, brows knitting. There were dark circles under the warrior-woman\u2019s eyes, her face drawn and pale … Continue reading