Paul Crilley: Night of Long Shadows

Wren hated to admit it, but they were probably right. That didn’t stop it from chafing, though. He should have been invited to sup with the king after what he had done. They . What they had done. He couldn’t take all the credit himself. Just most of it.

Although, he had received a rather intriguing dinner invitation from Savia Portellas yesterday. So maybe it wasn’t such a well-kept secret.

He leaned forward and knocked on the door, harder this time.

A moment later it was opened by a bleary-eyed Kayla. She frowned at him, stifling a yawn.

Wren smiled widely. “My apologies, Kayla. Did I wake you?”

“Yes, Master Wren. It’s just gone six.”

“My goodness. Really? How naughty of me.” He turned his head. “Torin, why didn’t you tell me it was so early?”

Torin walked slowly around the side of the house, supporting his weight on a walking stick. “Sorry,” he said. “I forgot you couldn’t tell the time.”

“How dare you!” Wren snapped. “You can’t speak to me like that! Respect your betters!”

Torin squinted at him. “Oh, I will.” He frowned and looked around. “When you show them to me, that is.”

Kayla gasped in fear and tried to slam the door shut on Wren. The half-elf stuck his foot in the door as a dark figure appeared from nowhere and barged up to the house.

Wren opened his mouth to chastise the impudent dwarf with a suitably withering retort just as Col pushed past, yanking Kayla into the street. Wren held up a hand to stop Torin from saying anything more, and leaned down so he was level with Kayla’s ear.

“You’re lucky he managed to crawl out of that office, Kayla,” he whispered coldly. “If he hadn’t been taken to a healer in time …” He paused to make sure he had control of his voice. “I would have found out it was you. Understand? I would have hunted you down, Kayla. No matter where you went, it wouldn’t have been far enough.”

“I was just doing what Xavien told me!” she wailed. “He made me do it.”

Wren straightened up. “We all have choices, Kayla. And now you have to live with yours.” He nodded at Col. The Dark Lantern inclined his head and led her away into the mist.

Wren watched them go, then turned to Torin. The dwarf was staring at him with something approaching sorrow on his face.

“What are you looking at?” he snapped. “And why are you still using that walking stick? There’s nothing wrong with you, you big baby.”

Torin scowled at Wren. “Shouldn’t you be getting your hair done or something?”

Wren frowned at Torin. “Whatever for?”

“Your date. You told me you promised to take that dwarf sergeant out for dinner. You weren’t planning on pulling out I hope. She’d be very disappointed.”

Wren sucked thoughtfully on his upper lip. “No,” he said. “No, I’ll take her. Poor thing. It will probably be the most exciting thing that’s happened to her all year.”

They turned from the door and walked slowly up the street. After a few steps, Torin stumbled, his walking stick slipping on the wet cobbles.

Wren quickly put an arm out to steady his friend.

Neither said anything, and Wren kept his arm around Torin’s shoulders as they walked slowly into the gray drizzle.