I’m busy strapping on a new set of boots—courtesy of Erot—when a knock comes at the door.

  “Come in,” I say, knowing who it is.

  Sorina comes in and slams the door shut behind her. The hinges rattle. She breathes like a furious bull.

  “You know, I have half a mind to slap you again.”

  “That seems to be a recurring theme for our relationship,” I mutter, taking off my coat. The Catolican blacks will be missed, but they do stink up a storm now. I’m glad to be rid of them.

  Too much blood is seeped into that cloth.

  “What were you thinking, Raiten? This plan is foolish. You understand that, right?”

  “To a degree.”

  “Damn you, take this seriously,” she pleads.

  I clear my throat before turning to Sorina. “Can we, do this later, I have to change—”

  “Don’t be an idiot Raiten, you’ve done enough of that.”

  I work my mouth and strip my undershirt off, trying my best not to meet her gaze. And just when things were looking better—she got another reason to be angry at me. Probably my fault again though.

  Red, striped scars line my body. Lightning scars, plus some wounds from battles that, despite my regeneration factor, left marks in their wake. I notice Sorina staring, so I quickly put on heavier clothing. Dull-greens, faded by sun and rain and time. The uniform is rough-spun, with reinforced stitching at the shoulders. I try putting on the mud-brown gambeson, but my head gets stuck halfway into the thick piece.

  “A little help?” I ask, voice echoing within the armor.

  Sorina sighs and I feel her three fingers hook down atop the collar of the quilted armor, pulling it down roughly. She’s drawn very close, mouth set in a mix of anger and worry.

  “Are you not willing to at least wait till morning?”

  I shake my head. “Others could die while I wait. Besides, I don’t want to sleep tonight—not willing to risk Thraevirula attacking.”

  “But you said she hasn’t attacked in a few days? I thought we were out of her range.”

  “Maybe. I’m not willing to find out.”

  I look at the leather gloves that Erot gave me with the set, consider them for a moment, then remember my plan and sigh. Might as well. After all, you’ll be limited. Use all the protection you can. My hands are a bit too big for the gloves, so they fit snugly against my fingers, the leather creaking like an old chair. I make a fist, opening and closing the hand before sitting on the bed.

  Sorina sits next to me, also looking at the floor.

  “Why are you so worried?” I ask. “I’ve faced far worse.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “I’m annoyed,” she begins. “That you aren’t even considering making it a joint attack.”

  “Why risk the people? I’m expendable—”

  She slaps me. So hard that I nearly topple from the bed. Anger flares.

  “What in the hells do you want from me?!?” I stand, rubbing my face. “This is the best option. You know that—”

  “Is it, Raiten? Or are you just trying to throw your life away?” She stands as well, nearly nose to nose, at me. Where the hell did that notion come from? It’s almost as if… no there’s no way she could know that.

  Sorina continues. “I already know what you’re going to say, but you can’t stop me. I’m coming with you.”

  “As if.”

  “Don’t be a fool—Umbrahorn and I are the only reasons you survived the journey back here.”

  “Which is why,” I say, gritting my teeth. “I need you to defend the farm. There’s a good chance that when I start killing them, they might flee and reroute to the farm. If they do, in significant numbers, then these people are going to die without you two.”

  “Then Umbrahorn can stay behind. But you won’t refuse me.”

  “Yes, I will.” I shove past her towards the door, but her three fingers clamp onto my wrist. “What are you so afraid of? Huh? I told you, this won’t be an issue—”

  “Are you actually planning on using the amulets?”

  Shit. Does she know? “I will,” I say cautiously. “If I must.”

  She narrows her eyes. “But most likely you won’t. Right? You want to save them for Masaru.”

  I consider lying, but a half-truth will suffice better. So I nod.

  “Raiten you’re going to die if you do this alone.”

  “And like I said, better me than them—”

  Her grip tightens. “Don’t say that. Don’t you ever say that.”

  I soften at the way her expression falls, eyes wetting.

  “I’m not going to die, Sorina. I promise.”

  “You think it was easy for me, Raiten? Alone at the fortress, no help, nobody to rely on, huh? Remember what I told you when we first went out? You are the only friend I’ve had in a long time.” She brings me close. Her breath, shaking on my neck. “And you… left. For what? Why do you have a death wish?”

  Suddenly, my suspicions grow. And a deep, unsettling anger twists in my stomach for the person who occupies my mind and whores it out.

  But I can’t show that to Sorina. I’m not even sure if she saw what I think she saw.

  So, I do the only thing I can for my friend.

  I hug her close. It's very sudden, and awkward, and mushy and not something I’m apt to do. But she did it for me on the journey back.

  So I might as well return the favor.

  “I’m not going to die,” I repeat again. “After all, my master taught me too well.”

  She sniffs into my shoulder. “That’s unfair. Using me against me.”

  “Well, life is unfair I suppose.”

  “Piss off,” she says, laughing weakly now. It is perhaps the most joyous sound I’ve ever heard.

  Something else compels me at that moment. A strong desire to do something. I look down at her face and she smiles, and I see once more, how beautiful she is, even with the stray tears glossing her eyelashes.

  She can sense it too, I think.

  Instead of acting on that desire, I just hold her closer and stay there, savoring the feeling of warmth.

  Before the cold of what’s to come.