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Wilder gave a heavy sigh. ‘Fine.’

‘There’s the warm welcome I was after.’

‘Perhaps it’s time you lowered your expectations.’ Wilder fetched two glasses from the cabinet and sank into the armchair beside his comrade. ‘What brings you out here, anyway?’

‘Came to make sure you weren’t in the same state as our esteemed brother in arms.’

Wilder snorted. ‘Please. He didn’t even land a blow.’ He motioned to the bottle in Torj’s hand. ‘Did you bring it for decoration, or are you actually going to open it?’

‘Thirsty are we?’ Torj laughed before removing the cork with his teeth and splashing amber liquid into each glass.

Wilder fuckinghatedthe fire extract everyone bought from Marise, but knocked it back in a single swig anyway, the liquor burning his throat and warming his belly instantly.

‘Looks like you need it, brother.’

‘Give me a real pour next time.’

Torj chuckled again and refilled the glass, a more generous dram this time. ‘So what was this thing with Vernich about?’

‘As if you don’t know,’ Wilder grunted, nursing his drink. ‘Heard you were there at the end.’

‘You mean with the shieldbearers? Thought you didn’t care about their training?’

‘I don’t. But it’s hardly a good look for the guild when two end up half dead thanks to a Warsword’s lessons.’

‘No,’ Torj agreed, sipping his own drink thoughtfully. ‘I tried to intervene, but you know what they’re like. That fucking code of theirs doesn’t allow for —’

‘I don’t care what it doesn’t allow for.’

‘You saying I should have done more? That I should have forced it out of them? Humiliated —’

Wilder made a frustrated noise. ‘I don’t know.’

Torj let him stew for a moment before he said, ‘Attacking Vernich was a mistake.’

‘No shit.’

‘Now he knows you care for the lady shieldbearer.’

‘I don’t.’

Torj laughed darkly. ‘You can’t play that game with me.’

Wilder took a long sip, letting the liquor ease his temper. ‘It doesn’t matter. She’s nominated you to be her mentor after the initiation.’

‘Has she now?’ Torj raised an eyebrow. ‘My popularity never ceases to amaze me.’

‘I feel the same way about your idiocy.’

‘You say idiocy, I say charm,’ Torj replied. ‘Why wouldn’t you take her on yourself?’

‘You know my thoughts about that whole dynamic.’

‘I do. Not that it matters. You’ll have an apprentice whether you want one or not. Why not choose the one you… like best?’

‘It’s not that simple.’

‘Isn’t it? Fuck, Hawthorne… Starling really did a number on you. You ever going to tell me what happened out there? What did he do that was so terrible? I only ever hear good things.’