All's Fair in Revenge

Chapter 9: Forward

Leaving Mook had been like carving my heart from my chest, but I agreed to meet Liv on the hill outside the gates and the morning sky had already begun shifting from black to muddy purple. If I went back for one more hug, one more sift of his fur, I was only delaying the inevitable.

I arrived before Liv, as anticipated, and set a folded healer's tunic on the raised root under the willow tree. It took all my willpower to ignore the ache in my heart as I placed it and slid a steel ring off my finger; a homage to the sister who'd died for me and a message to the man I'd probably never again see. I hoped he'd move on quick. He deserved that.

Next, I tightened the dagger at my thigh and wrestled into Arin's chainmail cuirass. I then buckled a leather vest over it, a patchwork of carved arrowhead scales with intricate weaving and sturdy leather straps. One of the Heerth's smiths had engraved it with a series of Arin's protective sigils, not unlike the ones I'd foolishly inked onto my arm a night or so ago. What they meant; I had no idea. In fact, they simply became one more thing I'd never have the chance to ask Arin about.

Lastly, I secured a borrowed ax and sword to the worn leather belt at my waist along with a purse filled to the brim with coin I'd swiped from my mother's dresser.

At that point, Liv still hadn't shown, and I was beginning to wonder if she'd changed her mind. As I threaded two braids on either side of my scalp, I almost convinced myself she had. Parting tangles with my fingers, I debated how much longer I could wait. I weaved, taking special care to leave the small braid below my ear out. And I decided I'd give her until the sun peeked over the Cold Mountains. Of course, that was exactly when Liv finally appeared.

Thank Eyr I'd waited.

Almost unrecognizable in a blue two-piece tunic with capped sleeves and white suns stitched along a panel of cloth, she looked as marvelous as ever. Were she not a philandering tart, (her words, not mine) I would have married her ages ago. But Livian of Kin Ragna would not be tied down by the likes of me or anyone else for that matter. I'd settled for Bröd who wasn't half bad.

And Liv never let me forget it.

"Pretty, right?" She twirled, the panels swirling around her. "My sisters would've noticed if I took the last clean tunic, so I grabbed this instead."

"Where did you get it?" The fine material felt softer than wool.

My friend shrugged. "Zooe, of course, so one will miss it." The council banished Liv's cousin several months ago when her mother caught her aiding an Ariesian man in the forest outside her small village of Qira.

"Lovely," I swatted the skirt, "but did you happen to bring any weapons?"

Liv smirked. "That's the best part." She drew a panel of the layered skirt to reveal a belt of throwing knives and a few vials. "Only my favorite ones." She flicked a bottle. "Poison. The stealthiest killer." It was. Kelvian healers like me could rid a body of the nasty concoctions, but only if we could figure out how it affected the body, which was a task considering its recipient was almost always unconscious. "We can only use it once, but I'm sure I'll be able to make more."

"I'm sure we'll find something to use it on."

"Or someone..." Suddenly, she frowned, her eyes falling upon the ring and tunic. "Bröd?" I confirmed with a nod. "This will break his heart, you know."

"It's for the best." I noticed the pack slung over Liv's back. "Food?"

At my question, the tattered leather sack with straps fell from her shoulder. Slipping the clasp open, she revealed, "Several days' worth of cheese, bread, and some dried boar from last night."