The abrupt crack was close in the quiet cabin. Luther’s head jerked to the side, his cheek burning as if seared with a brand. He blinked, stunned, his sluggish mind trying to catch up with what happened.
Ow," he mumbled stupidly. "That’s new."
".What was that for?" he croaked, his hand flying up to cover his stinging cheek.
Mari’s arms were wrapped tightly around Mariana’s shoulders, holding her sister back before she could deliver another strike. "Calm down, sister!" Mari hissed, her voice strained.
"Stop it!" Mariana retorted, her eyes flashing. She kicked and struggled in Mari’s grasp like a lioness on a tight rope. "If anything, I should have knocked him harder! And I should have given that silly Duke and Knave knight a harder one while I was at it. How foolish do you have to be to take the woods at night?! Do they not have any brains whatsoever?!"
Luther massaged his jaw and glared up at her. "For the record—why, exactly, am I being beaten half to death after almost being beaten to death?"
That deflected her anger in a flash.
Her scowl snapped back to him, her voice thick with indignation. "You—! Do you have any idea the risk they pulled you into?
"You fought a dragon!" she snapped. "A dragon, Luther! Do you have any idea how stupid—how irresponsible—that was?"
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"I wasn’t thinking," Luther said dryly, though the corner of his lips curled upward. "Actually, I ran. Pretty fast too, if I might add. Doesn’t that count for something?"
Mariana’s eyes narrowed into deadly slits. "Don’t try me.".
He flinched at her tone, then groaned and rolled over onto his pillows. "You know... I’m positive if you’d kicked them out on the first day, it would have been a real show. The furious lioness of the north, sending them to the border. That’s a wonderful nickname to add to your collection of your great ones, don’t you think?"
Mariana huffed and plopped into the chair Mari had been occupying mere moments before. She folded her arms with a thudding thump and muttered, "I should’ve."
The corner of Luther’s mouth curled into a grin in spite of the weariness washing through his body. He enjoyed provoking the bear when he knew he shouldn’t.
Mari exhaled a slow sigh and shook her head. She grasped the empty water cup off the bed table and said, "Seriously, you two... I’ll go let everyone else know that you’re awake before this gets crazy. Jobin’s been worrying himself sick—she gave Luther a softer glint—" —you’ve slept for a whole week."
Luther’s sneering smile grew harder. ".One week?"
The cup slipped from Mari’s fingers to her other hand as if she hoped he’d trip. "Yes. One week. Don’t look so shocked—your body was sucked dry to its center. It’s miraculous you awakened in seven days." She nodded and drifted out of the room.
Mariana touched him and slapped him hard on the forehead.
"Ah!" Luther gripped his head. "What was that for?"
"Stop spacing out like an idiot." She eased back, unimpressed. "With how close you were to fainting, I’m surprised you didn’t sleep for months. Most would have.".
Luther grunted and rested against the bedpost, massaging his forehead. His joints ached from top to bottom, his chest still bearing a strange light weakness. "So what do I do? Am I grounded?"
"Yes," Mariana snapped immediately, as if she’d been waiting for the question. "You’re not getting out of bed another week. If you even try, I’ll chain you up myself."
Luther smiled at that, cocking one eyebrow. "Yes, ma’am. And honestly... even if I should somehow be able to slip away, Jobin would pull me back anyway. The man is just waiting for a reason to do so."
For herself, a small smile played on Mariana’s lips before she squashed it under another huff.
Mari carried the empty cup down the narrow hallway, her braid swaying against her back. As she turned the corner, she nearly bumped into a familiar face.
"Ah—! Mari!" Betty gasped, her apron dusted with flour. "You startled me. Tell me—how’s Luther?"
Mari’s expression softened. "He’s awake."
Betty’s eyes widened, relief washing over her face. She touched a hand to her chest with a sigh. "Thank heavens... I thought—never mind what I thought. Poor boy..." She braced her shoulders, her energy renewed. "I’ll make him a pie. Something warm and sweet will do him good. He needs building up."
Mari smiled faintly, nodding her head as Betty fluttered away towards the kitchens, already muttering curses at ingredients. Mari lagged behind at a slow pace, relief pitted against exhaustion.
Repartee had given way to a heavy silence. Mariana shifted forward in her chair, her eyes like swords now.
Her voice dropped, cutting the air like steel. "Luther."
He glanced up from where he was working on the edge of the blanket, feeling the shift. "...What is it?"
Her gaze did not falter. "Were you followed?"
Luther went stiff. The teasing smile fell from his lips. ".No. Leastwise—I don’t think so. I couldn’t use my full power, or I would have shown myself. I’ve been cautious.
But even as he spoke, his mind flashed with Aithur. The boy had watched him. Too intimately. But surely, his memory would leave him. Surely...
The notion barely lingered before the room rippled with air. An energy pulse flashed, and a dark portal tinged with ill intent cracked open at the far end of the room.
Mariana sprang up, her magic fizzling at her fingertips.
A body dropped hard from the door, thudding onto the ground. Their form contorted—tied in iridescent ropes that churned with bind magic.
"A hooded mage." Luther snarled, eyes crinkling. He felt it the moment he did—the aura, the crystal band glowing softly on their right wrist. His tone was hoarse, but firm. "A spy."
The mage twisted in agony, his curses spat in a language bitter with pain. The ropes thrashed when he struggled to break free, his spells thrashing.
Mariana snapped her fingers, the spell folding in around him like a vice. The ropes cinched down, and the mage screamed.
She shot Luther a fiery look, the words falling from her lips like a verdict.
".Looks like I caught myself a little spy."