Page 110 of Forged in Fading

His words froze her feet in place, and her mouth hung open. She could try to explain through her hands now or her voice later, or…Alvara smiled. That morsel could be hers and hers alone. A pleasant memory to help balance the scales of her mind in favor of the bright spots among the darkness.

When they entered the chief’s meeting hall, every eye fixed on Alvara, and she fought the urge to tug her tunic over her injuries. There wasn’t enough cake in the world to make this experience palatable.

Guards flanked every wall, the only exception where Rav stood, glowering at everyone as he usually did. But when he made eye contact with Alvara, his face softened. She nodded, answering the question in his head tilt to let him know she was all right.

Boden wasted no time speaking directly to the chief with words sharp enough to draw blood. If Alvara had any energy left, she would have tried to pick out a few phrases here and there to keep up, but all she wanted was to lie down on the floor and sleep.

“Would you like to say anything?” Boden’s tone held none of its previous bite as he addressed Alvara.

Not particularly. But this wasn’t about her, not really. “I was on the beach when they attacked.” Thank Vitharen the water that now pressed on her bladder had apparently done its job, though every word felt like nails raking down her throat. “They tried to drown me.” The man’s grip on her neck, the sea forcing its way into her lungs. Salt filled her nose.

“They attacked me with weapons.” Her cuts and bruises twinged, and sharp steel flashed in her mind. The hall darkened. She could barely see beyond a small circle of light at the center of her vision.

“Then one of them strangled me.” The room swayed now, her lungs struggling for air even as the words spilled faster and faster out of her mouth. “They hurt me. They tried to kill me. They hurt me. They tried to kill me…” She slumped to the ground and drew her knees to her chest.

This was it. This was the end. She could feel it—her life force abandoning her body, her heart slowing its rhythm⁠—

“You’re safe. Breathe. In and out.” Boden sat face to face with her, his chest rising and falling in a steady pattern.

He made breathing look so easy, yet she couldn’t spur her lungs into action. Alvara focused on his inhales and exhales until hers matched his.

“Are you able to tell me some of the things you see in the hall?”

A silly question, but she obliged. “Rav brooding in the corner. The chief’s irritating guard. You.” It oddly grounded her, reminding her she still lived to see another day.

“Good. Would you like to leave? Say the word and we’ll go this second.”

Of course she wanted to leave, run away from a night that would mar her mind for the rest of her days. But she wouldn’t run, not this time. “I’ll stay.”

The chief spoke, and Boden tensed beside her.

“What is it?” Alvara said.

“He’s asking who attacked first.” He shoved his rolled sleeves higher up his arms. “As if you enjoyed battling four men for your life.”

She had already explained all of this. “They did. I was standing in the water, and one of them tried to drown me. I stabbed him so he would let go, and then…the rest happened.”

Boden relayed her words to the chief, who lowered his head and studied her before answering. “Oh, for Vitharen’s sake,” Boden muttered. He pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes. “He says you admitted to drawing first blood.”

He switched to the human language, and the words rattled off his tongue, his voice escalating to almost a yell. “I swear if we didn’t need their protection…” He shook his head. “The men who attacked you have been causing minor issues for other elves and no doubt blamed us after the invasion. It is clear,” he enunciated through gritted teeth, glaring at the chief, “that they desired to break the blood oath without risking their own guilt, so they did their best to attack without blades until you drew their blood first.”

Alvara blinked. “They don’t believe me?”

“No, apparently, they’re complete and utter fools. But I believe you, Alvara.” He locked eyes with her and placed a warm hand on her knee. “The chief maintains that they did nothing to directly break the blood oath, but knowing their history, he doesn’t doubt that they attacked you and provoked the use of your weapon. He is willing to offer something on your terms within reason to settle the matter and maintain peace.”

What did peace mean when it only covered up lies? “Guards for the sleeping halls, better supplies for the refugees, and a ship to visit the dwarves.”

Boden didn’t even rise to address the room, but his words weighed heavy with a finality that no sane person would challenge. A vein throbbed in the chief’s forehead as his eyes drilled into Boden’s unflinching face.

Chief Frigar offered a single word in response. Yes.

Alvara tipped her head back and breathed. At least they could try to meet with the dwarves and ask about Helvati’s dagger. And beg for any weapons they’d be willing to give. Though it would have been nice to earn the ship for the journey without surviving an attempted murder.

“The ship leaves tomorrow,” Boden said.

“Tomorrow?”

“It’s for your safety.” He scrutinized each human in the room as if he didn’t trust anyone at this point. “We can’t be sure if there are others who may want to harm you.”