Dishonoured 🌿 Book 2.5

Prior Obligations

Turns out Eli and Aidan had more in common than he first thought. Killing time while entertaining him was less of a chore than Aidan expected. Cain joined them on a drive around tour of town that took them from the high school at one end all the way to the sprawling park at the other, and just about everywhere between.

The sun was out, making everything glitter. The trade off was a bitter, dry cold that made his nose ache when he breathed. It was the sort of cold that could freeze eyes shut if they watered too much. So yeah, just like home. Though Cain and Aidan enjoyed the bite, Eli did not. He was accustomed to much more temperate conditions.

Noah and Aidan excused themselves before dinner for a "prior obligation", and Aidan thanked Cain yet again for agreeing to this. Aidan looked forward to Thursdays. While he would have missed it if need be, he would have been disappointed.

Noah hadn't made a character. Aidan couldn't say he was surprised; still, he had hoped. Noah pulled up a seat between Aidan and Ada. She, he noticed, had bags under her eyes nearly as heavy as Aidan's own. She caught his eye and grinned, lifting her hand in something between a wave and a peace sign.

Charlotte sank into the chair to Aidan's left, joining the discussion seamlessly. She bumped his knee under the table after a moment, and Aidan had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning. He couldn't explain why it felt like everyone was staring. No one was. No, that wasn't quite true. Amusement danced in Sam's eyes from time to time as she assessed them.

Once the game started, they were all too focused to share poignant looks. They had a fight to contend with. They progressed into the room where Thaler awaited them, then rolled for initiative. Everything was going as planned until Carson's turn. Thaler had been retreating deeper into the room and casting ranged spells when possible. Aidan figured he wanted to stay away from the business end of Malou's axe. No, he was going for one of their stolen artefacts—an ancient staff that didn't seem to work. Aidan pointed that out to him, and he cackled.

"It simply isn't charged."

He then impaled his hand on the pointed tip and smeared blood across the round, clear crystal embedded within it. It lit up, white at first, then crimson. Though they did some good damage as the charge grew, it wasn't enough. He turned the staff on Malou, who was closest to him just then, and rolled.

They all gaped at the one on the table.

"Uh-oh," breathed Shelly.

Carson rolled for damage. Charlotte was still injured from their last fight, and from kicking in the door. The total was more than her remaining hit points.

"No."

"I'm sorry."

"No!"

She was obliterated in a crimson blast that sucked all light from the room. She shrieked, cursing mightily as she got to her feet. Aidan was sure he wasn't the only one at a loss for how to help. Charlotte got her coat and boots from the front door and brought them to the kitchen.

"I need some air."

No one stopped her. Aidan expected Sam to go after her, but she looked to him.

"What?"

"You should."

"Why me?"

She shrugged, but not for lack of an answer. "You should talk with her."

All eyes were on him now, and he cleared his throat. "All right."

Aidan could only guess that Charlotte had been talking with her earlier, which meant they had been talking about him. If Sam thought he should be the one to talk with her, there must be something that needed to be said.