36. Brothers in Harm #3
They all turned to greet Ronen. I prepared to stand up, but no one saluted. Then, as Harle returned with a plate, knife, and fork and plonked them down on the table in front of me, the others began repeating the story.
What I’d done.
What the dragons had done.
And what Voski hadn’t done. Namely, tell them all.
“I was starving after a week in flight. I would have gotten there,” he said, but didn’t meet Ronen’s eyes, when the leader shot him a look.
“Well, at least we’re getting there. Yes, it’s true, Grace is our newest sister.
Yes, she’ll be Acknowledged tomorrow. No, we don’t have all the details figured out yet, but we will.
So, make her welcome. Listen to Bren about how to do that.
And eat. I’ll see you in the morning at the Acknowledgement.
Except you, Voski. I need to speak with you. ”
Voski dropped his fork like it had offended him.
Ronen ignored him, turned to me and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“I’m sure this is overwhelming now, but you’ll get used to it.
Just ask Bren,” he said with a smile at her beyond me.
“I still have a lot to do to prepare for tomorrow. Bren, after the meal, take Grace. We’ve cleared the stable across from Kham’s.
It has an unused straw loft. We’re thinking that’s the best place for her, at least for the next few nights.
We’ll warn the stableboys. You can check it out and send them to get anything you think she’ll need.
I’ve already asked for a cot and blankets.
It might not be a permanent answer, but at the very least, it’s a private place to rest tonight and will leave her close to Koa.
They’ll both be more comfortable that way. ”
“Oh, good. We were going to look after dinner—I was helping her find clothes and a bath before the meal.”
Ronen nodded, then squeezed my shoulder once more, before turning and tipping his head to Voski, who shoved out of his chair so that the wooden legs screeched on the stones, and pushed behind the others, stalking for the door.
Ronen’s lips pressed tight, but he gave me one final smile. “See you tomorrow. Rest well tonight. You’ll need it,” he said ominously, then he was gone, calling after Voski and leaning into his ear as they walked out of the dining hall together.
The other men started chatting and teasing again. But I barely heard them.
Voski walked with his hands in his pockets, and his shoulders crawling toward his ears. Ronen looked very unhappy, and I worried that Voski hadn’t done what he’d been ordered to do, and he was now in trouble.
The question was, why?
Did he refuse to tell the other men about me because he didn’t want them to welcome me?
Or did he just dislike me so much, he was willing to brave discipline to avoid helping me?
I tried to smile as the other men told stories about Bren, and asked me bright, and sometimes silly questions.
I tried to remember anything I could about how Bren and I had met in Fyrehold.
But I kept finding my gaze sliding back to the door, and every time it did, that squeeze in my chest grew tighter.
When they asked me how I’d met Voski, all I could remember was the way he’d looked at me through narrowed eyes. That edge in his tone. The words he snarled.
And then, I realized why he wouldn’t have told the other men about me.
He’d hated me from the first. And now I was being welcomed into his squad? Amongst his friends and brothers—and sister?
No wonder he’d glared at me when Bren pulled me to the table.
“Ignore him.” Bren’s whispered words in my ear startled me.
I hadn’t realized I’d been staring at the door again.
“He gets like this sometimes. Other days he’s fine.
But when he moves on, you’ll see. He’s a good man.
I don’t know who shoved a stick up his ass, but one day, he’ll shit it out and then he’ll stop glaring all the time. ”
I almost spat out the mouthful of beans I’d thoughtlessly taken as she began to speak. I had to take a drink of water from the thick tumbler one of the men had brought me.
“He doesn’t want me in the squad,” I croaked eventually, keeping my voice under the level of the men, calling to each other and teasing across the table.
“It doesn’t matter. Because I do,” Bren said with a smile. “And the others will too. You watch. He’ll move past it.”
“Do you know why?” I blurted, my chest panging, tugging me toward that door again. “Do you know why he hates me?”
“He doesn’t hate you, Grace. He’s unhappy. And Voski just doesn’t want to be around anyone when he’s unhappy.”
“He likes being around you,” I pointed out.
Bren shrugged. “I don’t think he did at the start. But he came around. And he will with you, too. You’ll see.”
She smiled again, but I didn’t miss that as I turned to look at the door again, her smile dropped and she glared at the door as well.
But she also gripped my hand under the table. And though that forced me to swallow back the pinch of tears, for the first time I could remember, I didn’t feel alone in the wake of a man’s rejection.