Page 149 of Loreblood

Footsteps filled the hall. We put ourselves into fighting stances as a gang of younglings broke into the entry room with clubs and daggers drawn.

They all came up short when a recognizable face pushed their way in through the back. “As I live and breathe. Grimmers, it’s your big sister Sephania!”

It was our resident historian and letter-writer, Imis. She gawked at me with a wide grin and rushed me in a hug. Other girls came and shrieked their approval before waylaying me and Jinneth with embraces and chatter.

The whelps playing as sentinels looked confused as they lowered their makeshift weapons. They were clearly from a newer bunch, though I recognized two of them from Antones’ bold buying attempt at the flesh market: Genth and his younger friend Faidy.

“Celebiddy!” Faidy exclaimed, joining the girls to crowd us.

We walked through the narrow corridors of the Firehold toward the huge room that separated the genders. Imis spoke in a rapid-fire tone, talking all about what we’d missed while her hand gripped mine like a vise. I couldn’t forget, at one point in time, Imis was obsessed with me. She had kissed me just to get it out of her system, in fact.

Tajeri, from the shadowgalas, and Palacia, the pretty, blonde, skinny interfolk girl Imis had coupled with and never failed to mention how well-endowed she was—as if to make everyone else jealous—joined us as we moseyed through the rooms and rough-hewn halls.

Our crowd grew and grew as we walked, everyone wanting to know where we’d been and what we’d been doing in Olhav, all at once. We really were like celebrities. It was baffling. Even stooped, surly Old Endolf poked his head out from his alchemy cave to glance at us disapprovingly.

When we reached the mess hall, most of the boys were busy eating their morning meal. I broke out into a grin as Rirth and Culiar ambled over, shocked bents to their brows.

I embraced them like brothers. “Thank the True you’re alive. I wasn’t sure after the madness at Manor Marquin.”

“Looked like a whole heap of shit was happening. We weren’t important enough to follow once we escaped the manor courtyard,” Rirth explained.

He’s right. Skar’s vampires killing Mistress Mortis’ vampires and vice versa. Diplomats caught in the middle.

Culiar sneered. “No thanks to you, girl.” The lanky fighter looked me up and down as we separated. “Have your tits gotten bigger?”

Rirth scoffed. “As if you care. Don’t be an asshole.” The short, expert fighter slapped Culiar’s ass, eliciting a chuckle from the taller lad.

My eyes widened for a flash, seeing Rirth clap his friend’s backside.Wellthat’snew.

Rirth saw the surprise on my face. “Ever since Lukain, well . . .”

“Died?”

“Yeah.” He frowned and shrugged, looking away in embarrassment before glancing over at Culiar. “We’ve been able to be, uh,freerwith Ant in charge.”

“I’m happy for you two,” I said. “Honest.”

“Less fighting is always good, I guess,” Rirth added.

Jinneth said, “Antones took over after Lukain?”

“Who else?” The voice came from behind me, walking through a different entrance.

I smiled at bearded Antones as he entered the mess hall from the shadows, a torch in his hand. The squat soldier’s hair was starting to gray even worse at the temples.

After embracing the former second-in-command, I said, “I suppose congratulations are in order for the promotion.”

Antones scoffed. “Would prefer it never happened.” When he realized everyone was watching us and not at their tables, he scowled at the gathered group. “Back to eating, louts! Sparring sessions and dress-making start in twenty minutes!”

A bustle of activity followed as people sat at their benches, conversations resumed, and everyone got back to their business.

Ant led me and Jinneth through the halls, out of the hall. We strolled along like it was the most casual thing in the world, memories of the various sparring rooms and hovels playing in my mind as we passed them.

“Still keeping a tight leash on the lads and ladies?” I asked, bumping his shoulder with mine.

“Got to keep ‘em ready, Seph.”

“For what?”