Forged in Frost

The Wheel of Death

The next day's walk back to Lockmire is full of grumblings. Complaints of sore backs from the hard ground, sore heads from drink. Evelyn's own hip aches from a root digging into it all night, but she keeps her mouth shut. In moments, she's very glad she did. Caius is making all those who gripe run back to Lockmire.

She's left alone with Alec and another man, Thad, a quieter type. The stroll is pleasant enough, with little conversation until Lockmire's walls reappear.

"I just want to say." Alec stops Evelyn in her tracks. "You shouldn't have apologized to Leo. It's good you did; you're a bigger person than I. But he didn't deserve it. He was wrong."

Evelyn waves a hand. "He was just messing around."

Alec frowns. "Leo talks about you a lot. He's a little obsessed. I just don't want you to get hurt."

How bizarre, to think of anyone becoming obsessed with her. "Thank you for the warning," she says softly, not knowing how else to respond.

Returning to the city feels both like a homecoming and a foreign visit. So much is familiar, yet Evelyn feels like a different person. Less herself than she's ever been. More herself than ever before. She gazes up toward the castle, to the life she once had, and craves a couple of free hours to record the events so far in her journal. To grasp at some semblance of familiarity.

The main room of the training centre is stuffed with men practising with weapons and talking amongst each other. General Asher speaks with a man next to the door of the meeting room. The sight of him gives Evelyn a jolt of anxiety. She never knows what to expect. Will he be soft and sweet like when they first met? Or will he continue this brusque manner he's adopted since the meeting with Countess Ilvara?

Light from the window brightens half his face. It glitters off his silvery armour, reflects in his sharp green eyes as he spots her. She approaches, and he at once looks away.

"Hello, General," she says.

"I see you've all returned in one piece," he says, making a point of looking at each comrade that passes him instead of her.

"Yes." Evelyn considers how much easier life would be were they at peace. "Could we talk a moment?"

"I'm very busy," he says, smiling and nodding to a man that walks by. "I suggest you make yourself busy, too. We start training today."

"Yes, sir. Of course." She sighs and heads downstairs to resettle herself before breaking fast.

Caius is at the other end of the room. Curiously, he's changing behind her sheet. When he emerges, every inch of him is covered with armour again.

"Is that for me, or for you?" she asks, without thinking.

"Do you mind?" Caius wonders.

"No."

She sits on her bed to pull out her tangled braid and comb out her golden hair with her fingers. While she does so, she watches Caius' shadow on the other side of the curtain.

"I have scars, too," Caius says, after a long silence.

"Oh?"

His shadowed profile indicates his glance toward her. "I don't like people seeing them."

"I didn't ask."

"You weren't asking very loudly."

Evelyn laughs softly. "Scars aren't something to be ashamed of. I mean, I should know."

"Yours aren't like mine."

"When did you get yours?"

"A long time ago."