Chapter 8: Talfryn

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Chapter 8: Talfryn “Hey,” said a voice at the door. Talfryn rolled over, thinking it was still too early in the morning. “Don’t make me come over there and do something inappropriate.” “Like what?” asked Talfryn, rolling back around again. Akton stepped inside the room and shut the door behind him, a sleepy half-grin on his face. He leaned up against the wall. “That was supposed to worry you,” he said. “Not make you curious.” Talfryn yawned. Akton had stayed the night last night—on the cot, after the shifter corpses had been moved—but had rejected any further medical care. Perhaps he was hoping Talfryn thought he was tough, but really that only confirmed to him that Akton had to be a shifter. Talfryn himself healed faster than normal because of his own shifter magic—it wasn’t a leap to figure that Akton didn’t want anyone knowing that his bruises were already fading and his gashes already knit. “I can get up without my mother sending a messenger,” said Talfryn, considering sitting up but then deciding against it. His c**k was very alert this time in the morning, and though he found Akton desirable, he didn’t want to screw things up with him before they had to travel together. “Maybe I volunteered.” “Toss me those clothes on the chair,” said Talfryn, pointing to where he’d set his clothes the night before, at his little desk. Akton raised an eyebrow. “Sleep naked?” he asked, but he threw Talfryn his clothes. “Don’t lead me on if you don’t mean it,” said Talfryn, waiting for Akton to look around the room before pulling his pants over his undergarments. By the time Akton turned back his c**k was mostly deflated and he was buttoning his shirt. “Don’t take everything so seriously,” said Akton, then turned and opened the door again. “Come on.” Talfryn followed him down the stairs, thinking how easily he moved also indicated his injuries were fairly well healed. His ass was nice, too. Mayor Verne was at a table, talking to Glenna, when they entered. Akton grew stiff, but Talfryn moved to heat water for tea. Verne looked like he could use something to settle his stomach, and he and Glenna always stocked enough mint. “This could have been much worse,” said Glenna as Verne shook his head. He glanced over at Talfryn once before his eyes lingered on Akton, sizing him up. “You’re saying these travelers—some of them shifters—were here to enlist people?” he asked, shaking his head. “Why?” Glenna slid the parchment over to him and he looked it over. Talfryn risked a glance at Akton, who was standing very stiffly. Talfryn himself was irritated Glenna had gone to Verne anyway—but the mayor was already here and it couldn’t be taken back. He hoped Verne would understand. “This was very serious,” said Glenna. “They had a pack of shifter furs on them.” Verne pushed the parchment back, shaking his head. “They kill their own,” he said, sounding disgusted. “They’re following a directive,” said Talfryn, but Akton stepped forward until he was a mere step from Verne, green eyes hard. “They kill everyone,” he said, and there was a cold bitterness in his voice. He’d seen people die. “Do you know what they did to the town I was last at when no one cared to join their little army? They burned Eizyn to the ground. Then they came after me.” “The same would have happened to Teorg,” said Talfryn, thinking he should interrupt before things got too heated. “Akton, please, sit. Tea?” Akton sat loudly and continued glaring at Verne. Talfryn made enough for everyone and then sat as well, between Akton and Verne. Eventually Glenna spoke. “They weren’t all shifters, you know that, Verne,” she said. He shook his head. “What am I supposed to do with this? I wanted information that would diffuse tensions. None of this helps. If this goes around Teorg everyone will be angry and suspicious.” “Don’t let it go around, then,” said Talfryn. “I mention this to you only so that you’ll know,” said Glenna. “Neither Talfryn nor I think it’s a good idea for anyone else to know this. At least, not yet.” Verne shook his head again. “Based on this paper, I’d assume there were more about,” he said. “I might be able to coax some volunteers into defense training without letting on what’s really going on.” “And defend against who?” asked Akton. Talfryn pushed his cup of tea at him. “Don’t blame this on the shifters, Verne,” he said. “Please.” He wanted to go on, but Glenna was shooting him a frown. She was concerned for him, he knew, probably afraid that Verne might start guessing. But after the past couple of days, Talfryn wasn’t as worried as he probably should have been. “You and I can handle this,” she said before Talfryn could continue. “Tal and Akton are going to report this to the Queen’s Guard in Ivels. If there’s a faction building up forces, it’s a matter for them anyway. This will be handled. And we’ll keep Teorg safe and calm.” Verne nodded once at Talfryn, but seemed skeptical of Akton. “I’m not your enemy,” said Akton, but it was in such a half-snarl that Talfryn figured it sounded the opposite to Verne. At least Akton had the sense to pick up his tea and drink after that. “It’ll take about a week,” said Talfryn. “I’ll tell you everything when I get back.” After a moment, Verne nodded again. “Good. Thank you, Talfryn.” “I packed you some things last night,” said Glenna, rolling up the parchment and returning it to the pack full of shifter furs. Talfryn tried not to think about it. He didn’t have fur, but he could still be skinned—not that anyone would get much from him. Even that thought made him sick. “Food? Spells?” asked Akton, draining the rest of his tea. He stood and moved over to check the packs. “Everything you need,” said Glenna. She stood and Talfryn moved to take the pack of furs from her. “You’ll want to be going before it gets any later. May you have good travel weather.” “And you a peaceful Teorg,” said Talfryn. “I’ll be back before you can miss me.” Talfryn hugged her, and Akton was still rolling his eyes when he broke free from Glenna and turned to him. He grabbed up the packs she’d put together, made sure to slip in a few bottles of sun water, and just like that he and Akton were walking their way out of town.
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