Page 45

Forty-Four

Silver moonlight painted the dirt road with broad strokes, as Lira walked beside Korl away from his home. She was acutely aware of his massive presence—the measured rhythm of his breathing, the subtle scent of smoke and metal that clung to him, the way he purposefully shortened his steps to match her pace.

Though she was grateful for his company, Lira couldn't shake the prickling sensation at the nape of her neck. She scanned the tree line, the darkened storefronts, the shadows between buildings, looking for any sign of movement. There was nothing, but the feeling of being watched was like a shadow she couldn't outrun.

"You keep looking back," Korl said.

“Just seeing if your dads are watching,” she lied.

He twisted, grunting when he spotted the massive figures backlit in the doorway, thick arms wrapped around each others’ waists. Lira didn’t mind that Vorto and Klaff were watching. She thought their protectiveness was sweet.

As they approached the stone bridge that would take them back to The Tusk & Tail, Lira slowed her pace, reluctant to reach the tavern so soon. Korl matched her, coming to a stop in the middle of the bridge.

Without speaking, they both leaned against the low stone wall. Below them, moonlight danced on the rippling surface of the stream.

"I should have told you sooner,” Lira said finally, her voice barely louder than the water below. "About being a rogue."

Korl's massive shoulders lifted in a shrug. "It's all right. I'm used to my dads picking up on things I don't."

Something in his tone made Lira turn to study his profile—the strong jaw, the slight tilt of his head as he gazed at the water. It struck her then, how often she'd cataloged the details of others, tucking the information away for later.

"Sometimes noticing everything is exhausting," she confessed. "Sensing tension, picking up on hidden agendas, always being aware of every exit in a room. It’s become second nature, but sometimes I wish I could just be ."

The orc turned to face her, his dark eyes reflecting the moonlight as he waited for her to continue.

"Observing quietly has always been one of my talents," she said, her fingers tracing the rough stone beneath her hands. "But I think that's one of the real reasons I wanted to come back to Wayside. It was the last place I remember where I didn't have to be on my guard all the time."

A fish jumped in the stream below, creating a splash that momentarily silenced the crickets.

"I missed just being the Lira who baked with her gran, instead of Lira the rogue who dwelled in shadows. Don't get me wrong—I was good at what I did. But what I really loved was the camaraderie of my crew. When that was broken..." She paused, swallowing hard. "So was I."

Korl remained silent, but Lira could sense his attentiveness in the way his body angled toward hers.

"Seeing my old crew again has reminded me how much I missed that feeling," she said. "But now I'm starting to feel it with the tavern, with all our regulars. It's becoming a community. Maybe not quite a family yet, but it's getting there."

The words hung in the air between them, honest and unvarnished in a way Lira rarely allowed herself to be. Korl grunted softly, a sound she was beginning to recognize as acknowledgment rather than dismissal.

After a moment of companionable silence, the orc pushed himself away from the wall and began walking again. Lira fell into step beside him, crossing over the bridge to the gravel road again.

"I understand not being able to be yourself," Korl said. "I never wanted to be a guardsman."

Lira looked up at him, not terribly surprised by the admission. But like he’d let her talk, she gave him space to continue.

"I did it because Val needed a partner, and because it made my dads proud. But I've always wanted..." He trailed off, as if embarrassed.

"Wanted what?"

"To be a tinker," he said, the words coming out in a rush. "I like fixing things. Understanding how they work, making them better."

"Like our oven.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Like your oven."

They walked in silence for a few more steps before he spoke again. "If you can go from a rogue to a baker, maybe I could leave the guards. But Val..."

"You're worried about leaving her," Lira finished for him.

He nodded, his brow furrowed.

"I'm sure Val wants you to be happy," Lira said, remembering the way the tall guardswoman had spoken about him. "She thinks the world of you. "

"She'd be fine," Korl admitted, his voice tinged with what might have been guilt. "She's always been the stronger one. I just..." He struggled, his hands opening and closing at his sides. "It feels like abandoning her."

"It's not abandonment to follow your heart," Lira said softly. "Besides, she wouldn't be alone. She'd still have you, just not as her partner in the guard."

They’d reached the tavern now, the weathered sign creaking gently in the night breeze. Lira turned to face Korl, suddenly aware of how close they were standing. The tavern was dark and quiet, likely everyone inside asleep by now.

The glowing moon overhead illuminated half of Korl's face, casting the other half in shadow, but his eyes were fixed on her. Lira felt herself leaning toward him almost imperceptibly.

Korl's gaze dropped to her lips for the briefest moment, and her breath caught in anticipation of him kissing her.

Instead, he cleared his throat and took a small step back. "Sleep well, Lira."

Before she could respond, he turned and strode away, his large frame melding into the shadows.

What had just happened? Or more accurately, what hadn't?