Shadowburn (2)

Chapter 23

Thorn looked at Caelei as Sin led Andreas from the room, telling him rather rudely to behave. He'd been surprised that Andreas had spoken into her--their--mind. He didn't like that the man could do that, could touch that place that Sin had only ever allowed him to see. She'd never even allowed Selasia into her head, and Sel' Thenarin only grudgingly.

He sighed softly. He wasn't happy--and his body ached ten times as bad now than it had before. He really should've slept longer--but Sin had awaked him, prompting him to send his mind out and find all the stragglers. He'd found another girl halfway through the other side of the forest, and he knew from the feel of her mind that she had to be the noble girl he'd seen in Sin's memories. He'd called her back, leaving the rest of them to wander as they hadn't gone far.

Now he was twice as exhausted and every bone in his body ached--he wasn't even sure how he was still standing, but somehow he was.

He looked at Caelei, who stared back at him with raised eyebrows and crossed arms, and sighed again. "I'm honestly not sure what it is that you want me to apologize for," he said, leaning against the wall. "I'm aware that I was a jerk--and I'm sorry for that. I'm tired and in case you hadn't noticed, I just had the living daylights beaten out of me by the man who stole the woman I love. So, sorry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you, and I'm sorry for that."

And isn't that a half-arsed, backwards apology. Thorn mentally cursed himself.

"I was not the one who demanded you apologize. And I'm sorry that all of that happened to you. But you are still rude, and you had no reason to take that out on me when I was only trying to be nice. Last time I'm trying that."

Thorn frowned at her. "Don't say that. You were very nice," he smiled wryly. "I just have a tendency to respond badly to good things. I'm one of those spots of darkness that you really should stay away from, if you prefer the light."

"I didn't say I prefer the light. But that I try to see it in even in the darkness."

Thorn smiled again, a wry twist of his lips. "Unfortunately, the only light in me just walked out of the room on the arm of another man. I won't be good company for awhile."

"Then you should consider making your light something else and stop depending on someone else for your happiness."

Thorn looked at her for a long moment. "That's what she said, too. I don't..." he shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't know how to do that."

"Have you ever even tried?"

"I've never needed to."

"And that's your problem."

Thorn stared at her again, studying her in the glittering light of the chandelier. "You are very wise, Lady Nymph. I'm truly sorry for taking out my frustrations on you--it was uncalled for. It won't happen again."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him, suspiciously.

Thorn stood, looking at her. "You don't believe me. Easy enough to see why, I suppose."

"I don't have the best history with arrogant male elves," she said, a harsh, clipped tone to her words.

Thorn switched to Faerndesl, speaking softly but firmly in language of truth. "I am truly sorry, Lady Caelei. I should not have acted as I did, it was uncalled for. You've been nothing but nice to me, and I've been a brute. I apologize." He bowed from the waist, an actual, sincere gesture for once.

When he straightened, she met his eyes, considering him for a long moment. Thorn just smiled wanly, having done what he could.

"Very well, I accept."