"When are you from?"
"When?"
Maybe he'd made a mistake. He had to have meant "where". Right?
"Yes, "when" is my question because, in my experience, "when" is not always what you think." His words were followed by a monstrous giggle.
My jaw droppe...
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Pacem's face had gone tomato red. It wasn't a very good colour for her complexion, and I was perfectly aware that I was causing her embarrassment. Nevertheless I continued yammering.
See?
People think I'm not aware, but the truth is I truly am (most of the time).
We were in one of the larger locations of Jeremiah's fortress. This one wasn't for purely for selfish uses, but instead a large dining hall for communal eating.
Everyone was chattering away and I didn't see why I couldn't join them.
"I'm not saying whatever you're saying. I'm saying she keeps ignoring me."
"And why do you care that she keeps ignoring you?"
She wasn't being harsh or abrasive; it almost sounded like she was reciting a puzzle that only she knew the answer to.
"Because she's the girl from the stories."
"Look Malvin, I'm not a therapist." She put an apple down on her plate and turned to face me. "But I do know that her story means a lot to you."
"And?"
"She's literally a character from your bedtime stories, Malvin. In retrospect, she means a lot to you too."
I lifted my brow. "You said you thought that she was a crazy bitch."
"And you're a beautiful lunatic. You two are perfect for each other."
She wasn't in a very good mood today.
"You're grumpy," I pointed out.
"I didn't get much sleep last night."
I raised my brow. "Out with your lover were you?"
"Did anyone not see that interview?" she sighed. "Look, just go find her and talk to her. Force her to listen. Otherwise she's going to keep avoiding you and I'm going to have to keep having this conversation."
"Force her to listen?" I repeated.
"Exactly. Just don't punch her again."
Pacem went back to picking at the food and I spun in a circle, glancing around the hall to find Veera.
I didn't bother to defend myself about the punching dilemma. Was I wrong to assume that a champion fighter would block the blow?
Obviously I had misjudged the situation. It didn't help that she couldn't even take down Pacem. I guess she really had lost her mojo after all.
Veera hadn't arrived yet.
I turned back to the food, tapping my knife against the table.
Pacem glared at me, and when I didn't stop, she took the knife away. "I thought you were going to talk to Veera."
