The Boon of Alon

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Unfortunately, the consequences of my actions come at dinner the same night. Suthi marches right over to our table, where Rev and I have already settled, and sits across from me with only the briefest moment of hesitation. I open my mouth to say—something, anything, the gods only know what's going to come out of my mouth when she's around—but she fixes me with a dark-eyed look.

"You asked me to give you time to stop seeing me as a threat," she says, very deliberately, and I have the distinct impression she rehearsed this. "I did, and you have. You can't expect me to avoid you forever."

Maybe not, but I was hoping she would. I swallow and the determined mask of her face cracks. She looks... scared.

"I—I'm not going to push you, but I am going to talk to you," she continues, regaining her momentum. "I fight for the things I want, Della." She pushes each word out and then falters a little on my name, but she keeps her eyes on mine the whole time.

I couldn't speak even if I knew what to say. My brief, glorious reprieve is over—Suthi is after me again. And not in a deadly way.

"Damn," Rev whispers next to me. Suthi's eyes finally flick away from mine to her and I look down at my plate.

"I don't mean her any harm," Suthi says quickly.

"No, I know," says Rev, mildly. "Just, wow."

"Um..." Lemi has arrived, and Suthi is in her usual seat. "Good evening?"

"Hello," says Suthi. "Sorry, here." She pulls out the seat next to her, across from Rev. I can't help but notice she doesn't have much trouble talking to my friends, even though with me she's a stuttering mess. But so am I.

There's a pause, and I look up to find Lemi giving me a questioning look. She nods to Suthi and raises an eyebrow. I grimace and shrug—what am I gonna do? Make a scene chasing her off from my table? I've finally stopped getting side-eyed after our last argument, and the last thing I want is for the riders to think I haven't learned anything, especially since she's gotten to them first. The question is, can I be civil without encouraging her?

When I glance at her, she's smiling softly at me. I think anything other than outright dismissal is encouraging to her. I look at Lemi instead as she sits.

"This is... new," she says carefully. "Is this going to be a regular thing?"

I wish she hadn't asked. Suthi says "Yes" and I say "No" and our gazes meet and skitter away again. Jeddin comes to join us in the ensuing awkward silence.

"Hey... Am I welcome here?" he asks directly to me. Which, sure, I guess he did kind of pick Suthi's side, but I don't have anything personal against him or anyone else who sided with her. They don't know the whole story—gods know what she told them.

"You're welcome," I say, and he nods and sits on Suthi's other side. For better or for worse, his presence brings some badly-needed balance to our dinner table—he completes the bridge between me and Suthi that Rev and Lemi started. They picked me and he picked her, but the three of them were already familiar with each other before either Suthi or I showed up.

"So." Jeddin is the one who takes it upon himself to start the conversation, too. "How's Sidian, Lemi? She doesn't talk to anyone but you anymore."

"Oh, good!" Lemi pinkens slightly. "I keep telling her I won't be offended if someone else oils her, but she says she wants her choice to be clear."

"But no bond yet," he notes.

Lemi sighs. "She says she has reasons, and I just have to wait."

"You're ready, though," Rev says bluntly. "You're not like us, you can lift your damn sword." She bumps my shoulder.