The Darkest of Truths

Chapter 3

I did what I had promised myself

For two weeks, I kept busy

Every job, big or small, I took them on, and I brought Colin with me. It was nice being able to spend more time with him and I like to think he felt the same way. Plus, he was eager to learn about how I help the community. Not that he needed to learn anything, he was a natural.

If anything, I learnt more from him. Like the fact that he is a gifted hunter. He showed me where him and his friends hunt, and we spent the afternoon tracking rabbits and foxes.

I knew that I was on limited time, so I made sure to treasure each second of what I had. Then finally, the time came.

We had not long returned to Lowen from collecting debts in Highlen. There happened to be quite a few to be collected that day so we treated ourselves to a couple of apples from Yenna's stall. We were munching happily on those apples on our way back to the Den of Desires when a familiar voice called out to me.

"My brother returned home yesterday, once again with his tail between his legs"

I turned to face Thalia, disguised as one of us, just like how her brother does. Colin's eyebrows furrowed in suspicion. He had never met Thalia before, and yet I could tell that he felt that there was a certain familiarity about her. Then there's also the fact that despite her attire, she didn't look quite right. A lingering feeling that she did not belong here, despite looking the part. Like a centre piece of a puzzle that fit the empty space and yet didn't match the picture. The exact feeling that made me suspect Tristian all those years ago, and Colin is much like me.

I sighed

This is going to be annoying.

Don't get me wrong, I do like Thalia. Probably more than I like Tristian, but she has the same naivety as he does that I can't help but find irritable.

I clasp a hand on Colin's shoulder and Thalia finally notices him. "Oh! Aren't you going to introduce me to your little friend?" she asks sweetly, and I could feel Colin tense as Thalia looked at him with a similar expression you would have if you were looking at a child or a puppy.

I glanced at his face and saw that he was trying hard not to look as offended as he felt. Colin was many things, but 'little' has never been one of them.

He was almost taller than I was, and he's not even finished growing yet.

I didn't answer her but rather handed the pouches of Sylum coins to him and said, "finish the delivery for me. I will come and find you later."

Colin simply nodded before taking off in a run in the direction of the Den of Desires. When he was out of sight, I turned back to Thalia who was pouting.

"That wasn't very nice!" she exclaimed, "I never get to meet your other friends here"

"Yeah, and for good reason. Now what do you want, Thal?"

She huffed out a sigh before straightening her posture and clasping her hands together in front of her. So prim and proper, definitely not a Dustlander. "Hands, Thal" I reminded her, smacking her hands away from each other, "you stand out more than Tristian does!"

"I forget! It's a habit" she defended, before shaking her head when she remembered why she was there.

"You keep avoiding Tristian. It's upsetting him and as his sister, it upsets me too"

"I'm not avoiding him. I've just been busy this past while. It's about time you and your brother understand that I've got obligations too! Now more than ever"