Eldric and Tamara sat quietly as Lia relayed her story. She told them what she heard from Yolly and what happened on the streets. She was still shaking remembering what the guards did to the young woman, how they invaded Yolly’s store, and how she fled the area. Lia glanced outside, trying to see if she was somehow followed. After all, the people who wanted them dead were out there, biding their time.

“They did not see you? Giving those medicines?” Eldric asked.

Lia shook her head. “She made me take back the remaining jars on her shelves. Hopefully, that’s all of it.” She glanced at her bag, now sitting atop the table in front of them. Some of the contents tumbled and spilled inside in the midst of the commotion.

“Yolly isn’t one to tell other people about where she got them. Besides the ones we made were only salve or medicines for headaches or face paints. Nothing much.”

“They’ll still blame us. They’ll find a reason to blame us,” Lia bit her lip.

Eldric contemplated for a while. “Maybe you should change your home first? Just to be safe,” he added when he saw Tamara about to protest.

Lia glanced at Tamara who looked torn between their safety and helping people. “Eldric is right. It is for our safety too.”

“Nowhere’s safe. Nowhere.” Tamara muttered, her eyes casting a faraway look again. Lia was sure, her mother recalled some other betrayal.

Eldric rose abruptly that earned him surprised gazes. “Anyway, I should get going.”

“At this hour?” Lia hissed, her eyes widened as she spoke.

“There’s no more perfect hour than this,” Eldric replied.

Lia chewed the insides of her cheek. What he said had a point. Tonight was a moonless night, one could travel in the forest down to the town without the worry of being seen. No one would be there. No one would tail him. But these hours were also the most dangerous. No one knew what lurked behind the dark.

“Your wounds…?” Lia asked.

Eldric flexed his muscles and check his torso underneath his clothes. “…are still there. But they’re starting to heal thanks to the both of you. I’ll be okay. I think.”

“But still, could not you go tomorrow? Before sunrise?”

Eldric sadly shook his head. “No, time is not on our side. Many people fall ill as we speak. This man — this organization must be stopped at once.”

Lia did not answer but focused her eyes on the bag and continued chewing her cheek.

Eldric might have seen the look on her face as his features softened and spoke as if coaxing a child. “Come now, it would be hard for me to go if you look at me like that.”

Lia snorted. Tamara giggled.

This type of banter was something that the three of them were starting to get used to. Eldric’s playful remarks followed by Lia’s catty answers and concluded with Tamara’s soft reminders. At first, Lia would turn red and tried to fight Eldric. But she had gotten used to it and just shrugged it off.

She would have been feeling a lot better to send him off as if he was a burden to unload. She would not have been feeling vexed for letting him go back to the city, into the danger. If only…

And if he would not be one of the causes of her misfortunes, she would, albeit reluctantly, call him as her friend.