board by eight sharp. We are, technically, investigating on Iron Dragain’s behalf and Jarnsmor has funded us for the trip. I’ve got individual purses for each of you, but mind that it’ll not be until we reach home that you’ll get paid again, so make it last.”
People nodded or said a word of agreement in response.
“Now, is everyone packed? Anything that we need to get before we go?”
No one said anything at this, just looked at each other as if to say, You? No, I’m fine.
“Conli?” she prompted. “How badly were they injured?”
“Scratches and bruises,” Conli assured her. “Nothing that required any stitches. Assuming they keep the wounds clean, they’ll heal perfectly in a week or two.”
Well enough. “I’m not sure if everyone knows this or not, but Conli is staying behind to see after the Blackstone people. So Fei will be in charge of any injuries for the duration of this trip. Conli, does Fei already have the black bag?”
“I do, Siobhan-ajie,” Fei assured her calmly.
“That said, I do not want injuries,” she said this as strongly as she knew how.
“Wolf? Tran?” Grae had a smirk on his face. “I think she’s talking to you.”
“I wasn’t in the fight this morning,” Tran pointed out.
Wolf put an innocent hand to his heart. “And I didn’t start it.”
Grae rolled his eyes heavenward. “According to you, you never start it.”
He looked wounded by this, as if he couldn’t understand why Grae was picking on him.
Not one person in the room believed his innocence either.
Siobhan blew out a year’s worth of sighs. “Moving on…no fights, people. Not if you can help it. I especially don’t want injuries when we’re on foreign soil far from home. Now, that out of the way, Rune? Did Sylvie outfit you?”
“And then some,” he assured her, brightening perceptibly.
“He now has three shirts, two pants, an extra pair of boots, a coat, and a new belt,” Sylvie listed this off while ticking it away on her fingers. “Plus the books and papers that Markl requested I buy him. I bought a leather satchel for him to put it all in, but the strap is a bit damaged. Beirly, can you fix that for him tonight? The bag is in perfect shape except the strap.”
“And you got an absolute steal on it because of that,” Beirly guessed dryly.
Sylvie grinned like a cat that had just polished off a dish of forbidden cream.
“I’ll take a look and fix it, one way or another,” Beirly promised. “Rune, bring it to me after this.”
Rune ducked his head in agreement, bewildered but pleased by this ready offer of help from Beirly.
“I think that’s all we need to cover.” Siobhan stood from her chair, clapping her hands in dismissal. “Go to bed, and remember, stay out of trouble before we leave.”
People started moving, some heading toward their rooms, others trying to catch someone else’s attention. Siobhan had her own back to the room, heading for bed, when she heard Conli call to Rune.
Eh? Conli said Rune was fine…she turned back to see what it was he wanted.
Conli had caught Rune’s attention, but it was Denney that stepped forward, closing the distance between them. She had a serious set to her jaw, as did Conli. Siobhan cocked her head slightly. What was this about?
“Rune.” Denney’s voice shook ever so slightly but she stood steadfast in front of the assassin.
Rune went abruptly still, almost motionless, as if he didn’t even breathe. He watched her cautiously, having no idea what to expect from her.
“What you did for me earlier…” Denney’s lips curved in a helpless smile. “For protecting me the way you did, I cannot find the words to thank you. Because of that, I hope you will take this as my thanks.” From inside her vest, she drew out a mid-sized hunting knife and presented it to him on her open palms.
Siobhan’s eyes went wide. What he did for her? Protected Denney? What was this about? What had Rune done that was so weighty that Denney felt the need to give him a present in return?
The whole guild had taken notice of this interaction by now and had turned back to watch the scene play out.
Rune seemed oblivious to their attention as he reached out slowly with one hand that never quite touched the knife. “Are those…marks?”
“You weren’t registered with your own hunter’s marks that I could find,” she explained, still holding the knife out toward him on steady hands. “So I registered a set of marks