KAEL'S POV
Riley.
It was Always Riley.
The bond was muted by the amulet she still wore, but it didn't matter. I had learnt to feel her sharp-edged, restless, anxiety. I'd felt her coming before her boots crunched on the frost-kissed grass. Felt the spike in her pulse, her anxiety and anger.
She stopped a few paces behind me. She didn't speak at first she stood there, breathing too carefully.
I kept sharpening the blade. Slowly, deliberately.
Each stroke was buying me another second to brace myself.
"I need an update" she said flatly
"My mother. You said you'd find out. You said if I stayed, if I trained, if I helped… you'd tell me what happened to her."
The whetstone paused mid-stroke.
I felt the question hit like silver.
I did tell her that.
I did promise her that I would find information about her mother.
That was our deal.
She kept her part.
I had to keep my part of the deal.
I resumed sharpening the blade.
Slowly. Buying time I didn't have.
"Riley..
