"I thought you were going to buy cigarettes."
I turned slightly and saw Lurya standing there, arms at her sides, watching the rain that had started again. The dim light from the stable lamps reflected in her golden eyes, giving her an almost ethereal air.
"I did." I raised the cigarette and lit with the fingers.
She looked at me and walked in that direction, watching me, analyzing me as if I were some kind of complex theorem.
"I thought you had left."
I gave a dry laugh and blew smoke out through my nose.
"It was tempting."
Lurya stood beside me, keeping a certain distance, and nodded toward the horses resting in their stalls.
"I never imagined you had the patience for something as delicate as horses."
I tapped the ashes from my cigarette outside and brought it to my mouth.
"Not everything in my life involves dealing with blue-blooded elves and beating people up, you know?"
She tilted her head slightly, as if considering this information
"Based on what I've seen this far, I would say yes."
I took another drag, letting the silence answer for me.
"You're quiet." She studied me briefly. "Does that mean I'm right?"
I exhaled the smoke and took a moment to respond, watching it dissipate into the air.
"It means I just pulled my head out of a troll's ass, and I'm not in the mood to wax philosophical about my life right now."
She chuckled softly.
"Fair enough."
The silence stretched on for a moment.
"About earlier..." I ran my tongue over my teeth, choosing my words. "The... thing with the dagger."
Lurya raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, you mean the moment you pointed a blade at me and threatened to stick my guard's guts up my ass?"
I let out a dry laugh.
"Yeah... that moment."
She crossed her arms and stared at me, clearly amused.
"What about it?"
I let out a heavy sigh.
I let out a heavy sigh.
"I was an asshole."
Her gaze fixed on my face, as if she wanted to confirm that I was serious.
"I admit that's not what I expected to hear."
"I was fed up, tired... and I ended up taking it out on you guys." I was silent for a moment, watching the ember at the tip of my cigarette burn against the darkness. "I know you're investing a lot in this. I don't have to make things even harder."
She smiled slightly.
"Fair enough."
I took another drag and slowly exhaled the smoke, watching it disappear into the cold air.
"What I said about your mutt... It was nothing but cheap provocation. I knew it would bother you, and I did it on purpose."
Lurya sighed.
"Yes, that was very clear." Lut'hner almost pulled his hair out in anger after you left.
I let out a nasal laugh.
"I'll try not to make things worse with him."
"Was that your apology?"
I just shrugged.
She blinked, as if she knew she wouldn't get a direct answer. But then, to my surprise, she nodded with a slight smile.
"Consider it accepted."
We were silent for a moment, just listening to the sound of the rain.
"You never let your guard down, do you?"
Her question came out of nowhere, but it didn't seem random.
"No."
"Not even when you're alone?"
"Especially when I'm alone."
She shook her head, looking almost... tired.
"What a hellish life."
"You have no idea."
I looked down at the cigarette ember, almost burned out.
"What about you? When was the last time you slept peacefully?"
Lurya smiled slightly.
"Probably when I was still young enough to believe the world was fair."
I nodded slowly.
"So... never."
She let out a small sigh, but didn't deny it.
Distant thunder echoed across the sky.
"We need to leave before dawn."
"Yes, ma'am."
She hesitated for a moment before adding.
"Just... don't disappear in the middle of the night."
I turned my face to face her, raising an eyebrow.
"Why on earth would I do that?"
She gave me an enigmatic look.
"Because you always look like you're about to run away."
For a moment, I didn't answer.
But then I chuckled softly.
"If I were going to run away, I would have done it before spending money on horses."
She smiled.
"A valid point."
I took one last drag on my cigarette and watched the little filter burn.
"Get some rest. We'll be hitting the road soon."
"You should too."
"I'm going to stay here a little longer."
She nodded slowly, watching me for a moment before turning to leave.
"Good night, Duncan."
I watched her disappear into the darkness.
She acts like she's just another elf on an important mission. But elves who carry that kind of money have stories, records, lineage.
Her?
Not a single mention. This stinks of trouble.
I let out a sigh and pulled out another cigarette. I lit it with the tip of the filter glowing red.
I leaned back against the pillar as I listened to the sound of horses snorting and the rustling of hay under their hooves, and took a long drag when I heard footsteps approaching.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him arrive, but I didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
Lut'hner stopped a few feet away, arms crossed, his face partially covered by the shadows of the night.
"Yes?" I asked, exhaling smoke slowly.
He took a few seconds to respond.
"You play dirty."
I let out a low laugh.
"I thought that was clear since the tavern."
He clenched his jaw, his brown eyes analyzing my every move.
"I spent my whole life training to fight with honor. To protect. To follow a code."
"And I spent mine learning that codes mean nothing when it's a life-or-death situation.
Lut'hner took a deep breath, as if holding himself back.
"I don't trust you."
"And you shouldn't."
He hesitated.
I lowered my cigarette and turned to look at him more closely.
He was tense, but not like someone about to draw his sword. It was different.
Something deeper.
"Why did you come here, then?"
Lut'hner looked away toward the horses, as if searching for the right words.
"I don't like the idea of depending on you."
I gave a half smile.
"Great, I hope you don't."
He snorted, shaking his head.
"But Lurya is placing her trust in you. And if she does... then I'll try to do the same."
That took me by surprise.
I raised an eyebrow, throwing the cigarette butt on the ground and crushing it with my foot.
"Really? Just like that, all of a sudden?"
"Not suddenly," he gave me a meaningful look. "Unfortunately, I have no other choice."
We stood silently staring at each other for a while.
"You don't like me, and I don't like you," he continued. "But if we're going to work together, I want to know at least one thing."
"Hm?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Have you ever fought to protect someone?"
I didn't answer right away. Flashes of memories came before I could stop them.
Bloodied hands. Screams. Broken promises.
I swallowed hard and answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
Lut'hner stared at me, waiting for more. But I had nothing else to say.
My answer seemed to be enough, because he nodded. Then he pointed a finger at my face.
"If I ever realize that you're not on our side..."
I slapped his hand away.
"You'll try to kill me," I finished for him, smiling sidelong.
He didn't smile back.
"I won't try. I will."
We stared at each other for a moment, like a silent challenge in the air.
Then I shrugged.
"Good luck with that. So many people have tried, and I'm still here."
He snorted and turned to leave.
An orphan with no past, but who managed to make it into the Royal Guard? That doesn't happen without a push from someone higher up. And now he's throwing it all away for her? It doesn't make sense.
I sighed, feeling the weight of the conversation and thoughts settle on my shoulders.
I walked over to an empty stall and lay down on the dry hay. It's good to start getting used to not sleeping in a warm bed and having fresh food.
Tomorrow, the road began.
And I had no idea how this journey would end.