On Thin Ice (Prequel to Guild)

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Collecting Scars

              The moon lingered over their heads much longer than it should have. It stayed in spite of the brightening sky, stood its ground against the sun that rose to take its place. Much was wrong with this place, and there were plenty of other things to complain about just within this room.

Starting with his wife's vanity and the roll of parchment sitting there. The face smirking defiantly out of it as he darkened her features with charcoal, pondering what technique he'd use to capture those horrifying, spectacular eyes.

Wondering how hard he'd need to squint to recognize the face it belonged to.

Remember her.

He almost did. Dai knew he'd seen her before but he couldn't remember where. Northern. The Bone Collector looked northern. The first wedding? Many Shirub women had been in attendance. But Dai couldn't fathom any of them ever meaning the difference between life and death.

Remember her.

He didn't. And it threatened to drive him mad.

Just like the breaths of the man at the door.

Dai dropped his stick of charcoal, took up the Bone Collector's Blade. Energy pulsed from its hilt to his hand as he whirled around, pointed the blade at the door.

The tray in the servant's hand wobbled, falling an inch before its bearer caught it on his knee.

Yuina stirred. Groaning, she rolled around. Buried her face in her pillow.

Dai scowled and servant flinched, nearly dropping the tray again.

"Set it at the foot of the bed."

The man stared at him blankly.

Kopere, he thought with a scowl. And not a very perceptive one.

Stride unbreaking, Dai crossed to the cowering man and yanked the tray from his hands. He sent the man away when he let out a whimper. He brought it to the edge of the bed and didn't watch it as he placed it on the cool, white sheets. Didn't focus. His gaze found Yuina. Lingered there even as she smiled and a cup of thick, brown liquid capsized, drowning their breakfast in its contents.

Lashes fluttering open, Yuina yawned. "What a shame. That smelled so good."

Sticky words blocked his throat. He couldn't breathe. Couldn't reply or do anything but stand there, staring at her with shards of broken steel scraping his innards.

When he swallowed, it felt like swallowing glass. Hoarse. He felt hoarse and weak, tired and heavy all at once. He hadn't slept last night. Hadn't slept in several.

Exhaustion had eaten away his patience, robbed him of sense and made him angry, desperate enough to blend truth and lie.

I don't care.

He did care.

But he didn't regret what he'd done.

Sometimes I feel the blood on you long after you've washed it off.

So did Dai. The only difference was that he liked it. Blood made his vengeance real. Made it last longer like salted meat or a body preserved in snow.

Dai didn't want to forget. He didn't want to be rid of the blood on his hands. He didn't want to push away anything but the memory of the fear on Yuina's face when he'd torn their enemies apart and ensured they'd have no more of them. That their budding family would be safe behind a wall of bones and infamy.

But that fear had faded, softened with sleep. Or been stowed away like that gods-damned rebel pendant, the arguments strung on its string. Buried. Never to be spoken of again. Hidden behind the warmth of her eyes and the wistful smile blossoming on her face.