Page 82 of Fate's Wicked Oath

Mariana folded her arms. “Whatever Fates-forsaken festival is afoot—it can wait.”

“Surely we can linger a day?” Faren appealed to her.

Mariana was frowning, dark eyes flicking from person to person.

“She never stays,” Hattie said.

“How often does she come here?” Faren asked.

Anya waved a hand. “She’s been gracing us with her menacing presence and vague, riddle-like threats for over a year now.”

“Ayear?”

Seeing the amusement on his face, Mariana was quick to protest. “It’s not like that.”

“Like what?” he teased.

In spite of her snarling, Faren recognized a rapport among the folks in this dark pub—he recognized Mariana’s callous demeanor, too. It was the same coldness she’d used at first with the homesteaders. He knew immediately that she cared about these people. That underneath the gruffness was a fierce, tender protectiveness that even Mariana was perhaps not fully aware of or willing to admit.

“Ana,” Faren enunciated. “You didn’t tell me you havefriends.”

“Ana?” Hattie repeated.

“Friends?” Anya asked.

Mariana let out a frustrated growl. The mood in the room changed, everyone jumping on the opportunity to give her a hard time.

“You know, now that I think of it,” Anya went on, “if you take away her brutish manner, and think only of her warnings, it seems she’s been looking after us.”

“Could that mean that Marianacares?” Hattie asked the group.

“Seems so,” Noble said.

Faren was quick to pile on. “Why else would she bother to come all this way?”

Idris was smothering a grin. Hattie giggled.

Mariana scowled. “I’m here for more cure.”

“But you’ve been visiting since before I created it,” Hattie pointed out.

“Not to mention her assistance in rescuing you,” Noble said to Hattie, then to Anya, “and you.”

Hattie brightened. “That’s true!”

“Rescue?” Faren asked Mariana. “Howgallant.”

“I had ulterior motives,” she muttered.

“And now it seems she’s made anewfriend,” Anya said, jutting her chin at Faren.

“Friend, or more?” Hattie teased, sidling up to Mariana and elbowing her in the side.

“He is of no consequence,” Mariana grumbled.

“Then why did you bring him here?” Hattie asked.

But Anya’s expression had turned thoughtful, serious. “So your warning about folks with blank Fates was…a kindness?”