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“Excellent.”

“He’s not the only one that’s had to carry her around,” Leif said. “The little thing acts like her legs are broken.”

Her cheeks grew redder, and her eyes looked like they might pop out of her head if she didn’t speak. “Ok fine one more thing: I got little legs, not broken legs, that means small strides. It’s only obvious I couldn’t keep up with jumbos.”

“She’s got a point,” Aunt Evalyn said. “I like her.”

“I knew you were my second favorite,” Tif said, grinning and bobbing her stubby finger at Aunt Evalyn. “Layala will always be my number one. I’m her lady’s maid, you know.”

Aunt Evalyn smiled further, wrinkling the skin around her eyes and mouth. “You told me that at least three times over the last few days.”

Tif tapped her finger against her lips and looked up to the clouds as if the memory might be there. “Did I?”

“And she’s the best lady’s maid too,” Layala said.

“That’s debatable,” Thane murmured as Fennan and Piper approached. She wore a wide-brimmed black hat… was it the same one the horse hand wore? It must be and it hid her bruised face well.

“We’re going to find a healer,” Fennan said. “We’ll meet you at Kail’s place later.”

Aunt Evalyn grabbed her bag off her horse saddle. “I’m going with them,” Aunt Evalyn blurted. “My backside has never hurt so much. If I never ride a horse again, I’ll be happy. And I set Fennan’s arm, but I want to make sure they use the correct medicines on it. Piper’s ribs are fractured as well. Afraid I’m out of the pain relief bottle Adley gave us.”

Aunt Evalyn was always one to jump in and help but Layala had a feeling it had more to do with not wanting to be around Thane and Layala together. She couldn’t be upset with her; it took time for Layala herself to appreciate Thane. There was always the chance she simply wanted to sneak off and gamble too, maybe a bit of both.

“I’ll reserve rooms for you then,” Thane said. “By the looks of things Kail’s inn will be full soon.”

Aunt Evalyn, Fennan, and Piper started down the dirt road, until it changed to cobblestone a few yards in. With a frown, she watched Aunt Evalyn waddle like she was in pain. Could it be more than from riding? Even if Aunt Evalyn was always strong, this type of journey would be hard on any human.

“Do you think she’ll be alright?” Layala asked Thane.

He watched her for a moment. “I think the last few weeks have taken more of a toll on her than she’ll admit.”

“She never was one for travel. She prefers staying inside and sending me to scavenge for plants for her for the last five years or so.” Layala tugged her fingers through her tangled black tresses. “Has she been rude to you?”

He lifted a shoulder and then grew a slow smile. “Nothing compared to you, my dear. But I suspect it will take time for her to accept me as not an ‘evil, maiden-sacrificing villain’, and even longer for her to accept us.”

“Well, whether she accepts us or not, I’m so thankful you brought her. I truly missed her.”

With a nod, Thane grunted and folded his arms.

“What was that for?”

“Piper and Fennan. Notice anything?”

The two of them stood close together, hands brushing. Then Fennan slid his arm around her shoulder, pulling her to his side.Hmm what’s going on there?Maybe when they were stuck in prison together, something changed. Even if it wasn’t romantic, at least they had a bond. “You don’t like them close?” She couldn’t imagine why.

“It’s not that,” he said and picked at the callus on his hand. Pieces of his dark-brown hair that almost looked black in this lighting fell over his face while he looked down. She had the urge to reach over and swipe it behind his ear.

“Looks like the three of us are with you then,” Gunner interrupted, and put a hand on his hip. He puffed a breath to blow a brown curl off his forehead.

“No fighting.” Thane gave him and Leif pointed looks. “I don’t worry about Siegfried but you two…” Layala knew Leif was mischievous, but Gunner had always seemed mild-mannered, and she didn’t know Siegfried well. She’d seen him around in Doonafell, but he didn’t say much.

Leif put one hand over his heart like he was offended. “Me, get into a fight? Why, it’s unheard of.”

“Uh huh,” Thane mumbled. “You start it,” he moved his pointer finger to Gunner, “and he finishes it.”

“Siegfried finishes it usually,” Leif added and shoved him on the shoulder. “It’s always the quiet ones that are scary.” Siegfried rolled his eyes.

Hand in hand, Layala and Thane started down the cobblestone street. Down the center of the roadway, vendors inside canopies and tents offered goods and services. Cooking meats sizzled over fire pits, fish dangled from hooks, and large bunches of spices and plants stung her nostrils. Layala spotted the franzen leaf for healing, and a long string of fluffy green gaudrey’s root. The poison she once thought of using on Thane could be for people or pests.