Look me in the Eyes

Define "Enemy"

Bearing Quinn back to his home, Rolburn and I kept ahead of the Players who'd opted to come with us. Carter was one, along with three of his friends, which kept little shivers running up and down my back. I couldn't help glancing back, making sure they weren't about to break their word and stab us all in the back. But Carter's weapons were hidden and the others had left their with their friends to be taken back to their own homes. I still kept waiting for treachery.

As Carter had promised, Quinn healed remarkably quickly after eating the steak. It made me wonder how fast he could have healed had we tried that method when he was recovering from the injuries I'd given him. Before we even reached the land bridge to his home, he was walking as though he'd never been injured. Eyeing Carter suspiciously, I decided this was probably why none of the past wars had much of an effect on the Players; their food healed them too fast. Or at least...this food did. Does it work on mobs? It didn't smell anything like chorus fruit. I looked away, disinclined to attempt the experiment.

The Players stayed for a few hours in the house. Apparently they had already put back everything they'd taken before, for all signs of the earlier struggle were gone. Neither Rolburn nor I left Quinn alone with them, however, and we sat on either side of him watching their every movement. They talked mostly, and Harley, one of the three girls of the group, made food for everyone. Of course, the conversation quickly turned to Rolburn and myself.

>Where'd you find these guys, Quinn?< A Player named Ferdie asked. He had hair the color of stormy water, ragged as foam on the crest of a wave about his shoulders. He, along with the others, were smart enough not to look me in the eyes again. >Why're they so protective of you?<

Quinn looked at the floor, shrugging silently. Rolburn watched uneasily, patting his shoulder. "We are here now, Quinn. Neither their words nor their bright edges can hurt you. Here." He pressed one of the gold nuggets into Quinn's hand, along with a piece of crystal. "Speak by the whiteness and make them do the same."

The Players glanced at each other. The one named Stanton, one of those who'd been involved in the raiding of the house, spoke up cautiously. >What's...what's he saying, Quinn?<

Quinn's eyes remained on the ores in his hand. >He said they're here for me and he wants everyone to speak the truth. His name is Rolburn, by the way, and that's Percy.< He nodded at me. >At least, that's what I call him. His real name's unpronounceable by humans.<

Harley grunted. >Weird you got these guys for friends.< She slid something red and flat into one of the furnaces. A smell similar to the steak Quinn had eaten began to filter into the air.

>I might say the same about you guys.< Quinn snapped, suddenly looking up. >You went too far, taking my stuff just to get my attention. You can't just do what you want in my house.< The anger in him was smoldering deeper than any of them realized, though I thought I could glimpse its ember, revealed in the story he told us, the one that broke Rolburn's heart.

At his words, the other Players went quiet. Ferdie's lips pursed and he looked like he was getting ready to respond, but Carter put his hand on his friend's arm. The expression on Carter's face was very serious as he shook his head at Ferdie, then he turned to Quinn. >I'm sorry.< He said bluntly. >We should've known better than to come busting into your place and trying to force you to come out. We were worried about you, buddy, but we should've done something else. I'm sorry.<

Quinn noticeably relaxed, and so did Rolburn and I, feeling the tension ease from our friend. >Apology accepted.< He told Carter. >If...< he sighed. >Look, I...I was afraid. Players kill mobs for parts and here I am living with two of them. I didn't want them getting hurt and...it's...it's been...< kicking his feet against the floor, Quinn cleared his throat a few times before he was able to continue. >It's a long story. Just...I need to know my friends will be safe, okay?<