19. Chapter Nineteen #3
“Alright,” I said, eager to distract myself before my thoughts strayed further.
“First stop is Avod’s workshop. He’ll get you fitted with some weapons.
Then, we’ll visit Ness to learn more about Seers and see if they’ve uncovered anything useful about your abilities.
After that, we’ll swing by Henry’s for a proper cloak and hat. And finally, dinner tonight.”
I couldn’t help the grin spreading across my face as I outlined our plans. Her eyes lit up in response, and I caught her looking at me with a soft, admiring smile.
“What?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“You’re just so… passionate,” she said, her voice warm. “Whenever you talk about something that matters to you, it’s like your whole face lights up. It’s… refreshing.”
I swallowed, caught off guard by her words. No one has ever took note of me that closely before. Before I could respond, she tilted her head, her expression turning curious. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
She nodded toward my chest. “What’s the silver crest you always wear?”
I glanced down at the pin on my cloak and fondled it absently.
“Oh, this? It’s my Wing Pin. It dates back to the earliest days of the Uprising.
Back then, it was a way to identify each other.
If someone recognized the pin, they knew they could approach us for asylum,” my voice softened as I spoke, memories of the rebellion’s struggles stirring in my chest. “Now, it’s more of a tradition than anything, but it still carries the weight of what we stand for. ”
She studied it with quiet admiration. “I see… It’s beautiful.”
We stepped carefully across the swaying boardwalks suspended high above the cavern floor.
Each creak of the planks echoed into the expanse below.
I could feel Eva’s hesitation through the light grip she maintained on my arm.
Her steps were tentative, and her wide eyes darted down to the abyss below us.
I had walked these paths so often that the movement of the bridges was as natural to me as breathing, but for someone new to Riftreach, I imagined it was nerve-wracking.
The citizens of Riftreach began to notice us, their curious gazes lingering on Eva and, more specifically, on her arm looped with mine.
I could almost hear the whispers. Drake, the lonely grump…
with her? Sure, I’d been seen with women before, but they never lingered beyond a night, and I certainly never escorted any of them through the city like this.
It stirred something strange in my chest—a mix of pride and protectiveness.
We reached the rocky outcropping where Avod’s forge stood, carved into the jagged stone and glowing with the orange light of the roaring flames within.
The sharp clang of metal rang out as we approached.
I spotted Avod, his broad back turned to us, hammering with precision on the glowing blade laid across his anvil.
The heat from the forge warped the air around him.
Avod and I had been through hell together—literally, in some cases.
We’d been young scouts together, causing trouble and getting into more than our fair share of fights.
Now, though, things were different. The stumps where his proud horns had once stood were a stark reminder of the time he’d spent as a prisoner of Aberdeen before his escape.
Those bastards had taken more than just his horns; they’d taken pieces of his soul.
He never spoke of what happened, but his silence said enough.
A grin spread across my face, and I couldn’t resist. “Ay, tits for brains.” Avod froze mid-swing and slowly turned, fixing me with a mock glare from the corner of his eye. Then, with zero hesitation, he hurled his hammer at me. I dodged easily, laughing as it clanged harmlessly against the stone.
“You’re the fool, troll fucker!” he barked back, grinning as wide as I was. We closed the distance and pulled each other into a fierce hug, the kind you only share with someone who’s saved your life more times than you can count.
“I missed you, brother,” he said, clapping my back.
“Missed you too.” I stepped back and gestured toward Eva. “Avod, meet Lady Evandra. She needs to be armed—and you’re the only one I trust to do it right.”
Avod turned to her, his straight-toothed grin lighting up his rugged face. “My Lady, welcome,” his voice carried a warmth that disarmed most people. I caught the subtle way his eyes flicked to mine, his eyebrows lifting mischievously. He knew me and my fondness for redheads too well.
Eva, ever the embodiment of humility, bowed slightly. “Right, I saw you at dinner yesterday. It’s a pleasure to see you again, Avod.” I nearly choked. She bowed-- to a blacksmith. This woman didn’t have a pretentious bone in her body. I loved that about her.
Avod, clearly charmed, recovered quickly. “And you’ve got good manners, too. I like her,” he looked at me again, the glint in his eye now outright teasing.
I cleared my throat, suppressing a grin. “Eva needs blades. Can you help her?”
“I think I can manage,” Avod said, smirking. “What’s your style, Lady? Long sword? Rapier? Cutlass?”
She hesitated, her brow furrowing in thought. “I… uh… I’m pretty good with butcher knives?”
Avod and I exchanged a look before he stifled a laugh. “Alright, let’s start small,” he walked over to a rack and retrieved two matching daggers. They were utilitarian—simple leather-wrapped hilts and sharp, polished steel blades. No frills, but they were deadly and effective.
“Here,” he said, flipping the daggers expertly and offering the hilts to her. “Try these.”
Eva took them gingerly, testing their weight and balance. She sliced the air a few times, mimicking the motions of chopping vegetables. I couldn’t hide my grin.
Avod arched another eyebrow at me. “She’s a natural.”
“She’ll need proper training,” I said, still watching her with amusement. “But these will do for now.”
Avod fetched two thigh sheaths and knelt to strap them on. He was all business, but the sight of his hands brushing her thighs made my blood stir. I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to relax. He’s my friend. Calm down, Dragonblood.
“All set,” Avod said, standing and giving me an apologetic glance after catching sight of my flexing jaw.
“Thank you, friend.” I clapped his shoulder, letting him know we were good. As we turned to leave, I caught the subtle smile playing on Eva’s lips as she tested the daggers. I couldn’t help but think how natural she looked with blades strapped to her thighs.
“Oh, one more thing.” Avod shifted on his feet, his usual confidence giving way to a rare flicker of insecurity. “Uh, how’s Fen?” His voice was careful, almost too casual.
I raised a brow at him. “How should I know?” I replied.
“Right,” he nodded curtly, his gaze dropping to the ground. “Thanks. Have a good day, you two.”
“Thank you!” Eva chimed in as she admired the weapons now strapped to her thighs. She took a playful step back and struck what she must have thought was an intimidating pose. “Do I look like an assassin?” she teased, tilting her chin and flashing a mischievous grin.
I chuckled, shaking my head. “No, because I could do this.” In one smooth motion, I pinned one of her hands behind her back, her startled gasp filling the air.
“And this,” I murmured as I swept her legs out from under her, catching her weight effortlessly before she could hit the ground.
“And this,” my hand slid gently to her throat, my fingers brushing against the rapid pulse at her jugular.
I loomed over her, my face mere inches from hers.
Her wide eyes locked onto mine, and I saw it—a spark of surprise mingled with unmistakable desire.
I wanted to close the gap, to taste those lips that were so temptingly close once again, but I restrained myself. I’m her Captain. The thought hammered against my skull, a poor defense against the heat of the moment.
“Don’t worry… we’ll practice,” I said, my voice low and steady as I eased her upright, releasing her. Her shock lingered; her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite find the words.
I cursed myself silently. You’ve really gone and fucked it up now. But before I could spiral further, she looped her arm through mine once again, a small smile playing on her lips. I couldn’t help but grin back.
“Drake,” she said suddenly, her voice light, almost teasing. “I think Avod likes Fen.” I blinked, caught off guard.
“Why would you think that?”
“Why else would he ask about her?” She looked up at me from beneath her lashes, her grin sly.
I frowned, genuinely puzzled. “Yeah, I guess. But who would like Fen?” The thought baffled me, and I quickly dismissed it, shaking my head.
We strolled leisurely through the winding paths of Riftreach.
Eva’s face lit up with every discovery, her wonder contagious.
Little winged children darted past us, their laughter ringing through the cavern.
She stopped to admire a cozy cafe on the corner and then a bookshop nestled between two homes.
I watched her as much as I watched the city, fascinated by her unbridled curiosity.
“What’s that?” she asked, pointing to a glowing lantern overhead.
“A lantern,” I said flatly, unable to hide my smirk.
“Well, yeah,” she huffed, “but how does it stay lit?”
“One of our Riftborn can project daylight. She lights them in the mornings and puts them out at night.”
“Wow,” her eyes widened, the gears in her mind visibly turning. “What about that?” She gestured to a vine climbing the side of a building.
“Chasm creeper. Not magical, just a plant.” She continued pointing at things—flowers, signs, even a peculiar set of stairs carved into the rock—and each time, I answered patiently.
Her insatiable curiosity might have annoyed anyone else, but I found it…
endearing. Besides, I couldn’t trust anyone else to show her around.
Someone less charmed by her might have been more of a dick about her incessant questioning.
We stopped at a self-watering herb garden, Eva marveling at the way droplets cascaded perfectly over the vibrant greenery. A lavender-skinned woman approached us hesitantly, her hands wringing the fabric of her dress.
“H-hello,” the woman stammered, bowing deeply. Her dark, inky hair spilled forward like a curtain. “I’m so sorry to disturb you, Lady.” She hesitated, her voice trembling. “My husband is missing. He went on a scouting mission last week and hasn’t returned. His name is Ronnie. Can you… see him?”
Eva’s face fell, her empathy immediate. “Oh, I-I’m so sorry to hear that.” she said softly, glancing at me for guidance.
“She wants you to use your Rift,” I explained gently.
Eva swallowed hard, taking the woman’s trembling hands in hers. “I’ll try,” she promised. However, doubt churned in her stomach like a storm. She’d never done this on purpose—never summoned the Rift by will alone. Not without fear, not without chaos. And certainly not in front of an audience.
She closed her eyes, forcing her breath to steady. “Come on. Please work,” she whispered. An invisible breeze stirred her hair as if the Rift itself was answering.
The lavender woman gasped as Eva’s eyes rolled back, leaving only the whites visible. She froze, her expression locked in the eerie stillness I’d come to recognize. The woman trembled but didn’t pull away, her knuckles whitening as she gripped Eva’s hands.
For a moment, nothing happened.
“Does he have curly black hair?” she asked, her voice distant, almost echoing. Otherworldly.
“Yes!” the woman sobbed, falling to her knees as tears streamed freely down her face. “Yes! That’s him!”
“He’s okay,” Eva assured her. “He broke his leg, but his companions are taking turns carrying him home. It’s slowing them down, but they’ll make it.”
The woman wailed in relief, dropping to her knees before Eva. “Thank you, thank you!” she cried. Eva blushed furiously, bending to help the woman to her feet.
“Really, it’s okay,” she murmured, clearly flustered by the gratitude. They embraced briefly before the woman bowed to me and departed. I stepped closer to Eva, taking her hand in mine.
“Thank you,” I said, brushing my lips across her palm. I relished the way her blush deepened to match her hair.
“Hey,” I teased, “you didn’t pass out this time!”
Eva grinned, her earlier embarrassment melting away. “Oh yeah!” she said brightly.
I threaded my fingers through hers and nodded toward the eastern corridor, where Rift-lamps pulsed like fireflies trapped in crystal. “Come on—Julian’s expecting us. Something about a… special exercise.”
Eva arched a brow. “Special how?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” I flashed a halfhearted grin, but a knot of unease tightened in my chest. Julian summoned us to the truthroom .
I’d only done it once when I was a new recruit and what I saw terrified me for weeks.
Whatever waited beyond those doors, I wouldn’t let her walk into it alone.
Side by side we followed the spiraling hall, the hum of the Rift growing louder with every step, until a round crystal doorway slid open on a whisper of air.