The Game

Chapter Three

"You're supposed to be resting Wren." I rolled my eyes, continuing to hang the clothes up to dry. 

"I've been resting for 2 weeks Tobias. The bruises are healed, I don't have any pain. I'm fine. I can't slack now." 

"And what did you father say about that?" He moved the bed sheet, appearing before me abruptly.

"My father is dead." The words left my mouth bluntly, leaving his mouth to drop open. "I don't think he can speak where he is." 

"Wren-" I smirked at him, hitting him with a cloth gently. 

"It's fine. It's in the past. I mean I'm going to watch him bleed out like I watched them, but it's fine." He rolled his eyes. "If anyone touches him before I get the chance as well by the way, it'll be their blood dripping down my hands instead of his." 

"God you are brutal." I smiled sweetly. 

"Tobias, what are you doing here?" I turned my head, smiling at Alice as she got closer. 

"Just checking in on Wren. You're sure your ankle is better?" 

"Yes. I'm as good as new now." Alice grabbed some of the washing, helping me put it out without me even needing to ask her. 

"Okay good." He nodded, holding his sword a little closer. "I'll stop around after work to speak to your dad." I nod, letting him walk away without another word. 

"What's going on with him?" 

"Hm?" I looked at her, lowering a brow. "Oh. His dad used to work with mine when I was tiny. Apparently we knew each other before I moved here." 

"That's not what I asked. But it's good to know your father likes him."

"I guess he does. He's a family friend." I finished with my clothes, picking the basket back up and balancing it on my hip. "So what are we doing today then?" 

"I have to help out at home but I wanted to drop by and talk for a little bit before I get dragged into the spring harvest preparations." I chuckled at her eye roll. "I heard that the King's men are going around the area. Door to door checking every household for anyone who might be her." 

"I don't know what this fascination with her is. Didn't she die with her parents in the fire?" 

"Well yeah. But surely if they're still looking for her, somethings not adding up. Maybe they didn't find the body." 

"Maybe, but why the push on it now?" 

"Well she'd- she was what like 2 years older than us so she'd be 18 or nearly 18. That's old enough to reign. Maybe they're thinking she's going to come back." 

"Maybe. That would take a lot of work though." 

"Yeah. It would have to be a whole underground operation. But here's the thing! I have a pen pal a few towns over, you know from school?"

"You still do that?" 

"Yeah, we're good friends." She nodded, grinning. "Anyway, he said that they came to see his house, looking at his sister and they were looking over her for some scar? Apparently on that night someone claimed to see her leaving over the shoulder of some man and her arm was bleeding." I stopped, staring at her and moving my bucket to make sure my arm was covered. "That's weird right? That someone would only just mention that now. They could have found her ages ago if everyone was looking for that." 

"Yeah. It would be easy to see that kind of scar. Did they say what it looked like?" 

"I don't know, some kind of seal."