Chereads / A Book of Oaths / Chapter 69 - #56: Part 2

Chapter 69 - #56: Part 2

[Ridge]

"You...dumped it?" Tristan asks. Her face is slack, frozen in total shock.

My lips curl up in disgust, "You're not getting the bottle back either. Now get away from me before I butcher your leg." She smiles lightly, creasing the smooth skin around her dark eyes. She puts her hands up in playful surrender and takes a step back to make room for me to get past her.

Raforn comes running over. I swing my arm around him and push off the railing I've been leaning heavily on since he rushed off to grab my bag. He starts helping me hobble across the gangway ramp that's been connected to the docks on the Marquess's property.

"Okay, let's go." He glances at Tristan, adding, "Keep your distance, looter." He sounds like an angry kitten, but I appreciate the support anyway.

"Haha I can't believe you dumped it." She rakes her hand down her face, still unable to comprehend it. We keep walking, very slowly. I can't handle much right now, can barely put my bad foot down at all.

"Do you even know what was in that?" She laughs. Her voice is a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

"Fuck off or I'll go get Sileena!" Raforn calls, trying to focus on helping me down the ramp. God this hurts. Tristan leans leisurely against the rail behind us, watching from above as we decend the boat she's confined to, "Puffin." She states simply.

Raforn stops in his tracks. He ever so slowly creaks his head around to look at her with wide eyes practically touching his eyebrows. I think he just almost dropped me.

"What?" He whispers intensely. She smiles like she just felt a fish make a grab for the bait she cast out.

I look at Raforn in annoyance and confusion, "Isn't that like, a bird, or something?" I ask. He addresses me shakily, keeping most of his attention on Tristan.

"No, no it's uh, it's for medicine." He gulps, clearly busy at war over this within his own mind right now, "It's very VERY expensive medicine, and it's extremely effective." He audibly winces as he realizes exactly what I poured into the bottom of the mercenary boat.

"Your personal Doc over there knows his stuff. Too bad he'll never get a license." Tristan rambles happily. She seems content to have gained the upper hand.

"What?" Raforn snaps back, his trance broken.

"Woah~ relax, Doc. So I was right?" She lets out a long taunting whistle. I can hear Raforn grinding his teeth next to me.

"SILEENA." I scream suddenly, making Raforn jump and Tristan frown unexpectedly. My eyes level with Tristans. There is no humor in mine, I settle her with a hard gaze that I hope conveys how much I don't care for her BS right now.

Footsteps start running our way. Tristan drums her fingers against the rail, dark eyes never breaking contact with mine. They seem disappointed though, she was having fun messing with us.

"Wait, what did you mean by that?" Raforn scrambles to ask before someone inevitably appears to break us up.

"Hmm?" Tristan hums, finally looking away from me in favor of more entertainment, "Only that I was watching while you bandaged Sir Knight here up. You make a lot of corrections, don't cha, Doc?" She smirks. Raforn goes red. Mercenaries flood the deck, yelling and pointing for Tristan to get away from us.

Sileena appears behind us, setting her hand gently on my shoulder with a questioning look. I smile, taking her by surprise.

"I think I've decided on that retribution now." I say, mocking Tristan's usual tone of mock happiness.

I hear everyone catch their breaths. Oh. This will be fun.