Chapter 40 (1/2)

Her eyes caught a tattoo on his lower back which was usually hidden by his shirt and pants and now shadows cast over it that it was impossible to make out a clearer picture. Lia did not understand the charm of a tattoo but he wore it like it was an extension of him. She absentmindedly traced her fingers along the waves and lines which made Eldric flinched with the contact.

“Sorry.” Lia retrieved her finger.

“What, you think guys with tattoos are charming?” Eldric liked to joke around. But this one, it was with self-derision and scorn and Lia felt like he was judging her unfairly.

“It’s a different kind of design to place on yourself. Not my business.” She stated flatly, still stung from being judged.

They continued in silence. When she was done, she gathered her supplies and turned to leave the room but a voice held her back.

“I’m sorry,” Eldric looked at her and his whole face was saying that. For once, the taciturn general expressed his feelings openly. But Lia took no joy in that. Because beneath that face and deep within his eyes was an unfathomable pain she could not begin to comprehend.

“It’s alright.”

She turned to leave again but felt a pressure on her wrist. ‘Wait.”

She stopped and waited.

“You won’t… ask? Where I got it?”

“Will you tell?”

Eldric set his jaw and Lia knew he was deliberating that to himself. She shook her head. “It’s fine. I won’t pry. I really was just wondering if they hurt. If you don’t want to tell, it’s alright.”

============

After an hour, Eldric was dressed in his official clothes that Tamara managed to mend, minus the armor. Lia offered to walk him to the edge of the forest but Eldric refused and she did not insist. She thought they were done with pushing and pulling for today. Or ever.

She was tired.