Page 67 of The Fury She Holds
“Maybe it’s meant to be,” Rainier muttered under his breath.
Tal scoffed. “If you don’t need my input, I’d like to sleep before the gulls start shrieking.”
Faron jumped at the opportunity to follow Tal. “I’ll see what I can find out. I should get going before my servants notice I’m gone.”
Egan scoffed and mumbled something that sounded like “privileged.”
Tal didn’t say goodnight to the others or see if Faron followed her. She left the common area and trudged to her room. When Faron caught up to her, he tried to strike up a conversation, but she was too tired to engage.
“So, this is where you live?”
“Yup.” She yawned.
“It’s pretty impressive.” Somehow, he sounded sincere.
“Not as impressive as your mansion I bet.”
“If that’s what you would call it. I didn’t realize you lived like this. I have hundreds of extra rooms and several houses. You could all stay there. It would be safer.”
Tal laughed. “And you don’t think there’s anyone rich enough in the kingdom to be a contender for power?”
“Most definitely not.”
“It’s a generous offer, but I can’t accept. The others might, but we have responsibilities here. We can’t travel long distances every day to meet them.”
He nodded. “Understood. Have you ever thought about living elsewhere?”
“No. Have you seen the rest of the houses in this part of the kingdom? We're better off down here. No one bothers us.”
“You really have made a home for yourselves.” He observed the hanging blankets and curtains separating their bedrooms from the main tunnel.
Tal stopped in front of her own and turned her back to the entrance. “Thank you for your help with this. I have nothing to offer you, so if you decide you don’t want to get involved, I understand.”
“Even if you offered something, I wouldn’t accept. You need help. I’ll do what I can.”
“Why?”
“Why wouldn’t I accept, or why am I helping?”
“Both.” It wasn’t like anyone, much less a noble, to help someone like her—poor, orphaned, and a nobody.
“Because you need the help,” he said as a matter of fact. When Tal didn’t respond, Faron attempted to lighten the mood, “And hopefully, if I stay close enough, I’ll get the undivided attention of a beautiful woman.” He winked and received an eye roll in return.
19
Tal swiped her bedroom curtain aside. “I smell sausage.”
Faron leaned his back against the tunnel wall, failing to keep his face neutral. He held a pastry between them. Before he could respond, Tal held up a finger as if to say, “Don’t you dare.”
Faron nodded to his hand instead. “I saved this one from Sybil.”
Tal swiped the offered treat and bit into it, scowling. “If she drank all the rose water this time, I’ll singe her bedsheets.”
It had been three weeks since Tal welcomed Faron into their home, and every morning since, he’d arrived with a basket of food. Aside from the masquerade, they had never eaten food so fresh and delicious. From the bread with jam, still-steaming meats, quail, ripe fruit, and many things they didn’t recognize, they didn’t let a single crumb go to waste.
The first time Faron offered the gift, they didn’t know how to react. While Tal still slept, Carrick had been struck dumb at the delicious aroma emanating from the basket. Sybil, on the other hand, didn’t hesitate to take it out of Faron’s hands and dig in. When Tal finally awoke, Faron had already left, and she lost herchance to give him an earful. Her pride gave in once she tasted the chocolate cakes he included. They accepted every delivery after with only a little reluctance. Tal once asked Faron why he brought the food, but he shrugged and said it would go to waste if they didn’t eat it. She could read the lie on his face, but didn’t reject his help.
“I caught Syb and Egan on their way out. They’re taking over our shift—something about a vision last night?” They made their way into the common area where Rain scrutinized something in his notebook. He greeted the two, grabbed a slice of bread and returned to his work. Faron and Tal sat on the floor, the basket between them.
