by E. S. Maya
Wulf remained perfectly still. Then the corner of his mouth bent into a smile. “I’m not sure that one would fit. Honestly, until I saw you wearing it, I had no idea Blackpoint made uniforms so small.”
Safi snorted out a quick laugh. She leaned sideways against the wall, sighing deliberately. “They don’t.” She paused for a moment, changing her strategy. “I’m glad that it’s nice out today. Not so many days like these, come winter.”
“We’re not in Andolas,” Wulf said, as if she needed reminding. “Stays plenty warm through most of winter, here in Saerkonia.”
“Oh.” Safi raised her hand to play with her hair, but for only a moment. Then she wiped her hand on her trousers. “I was going to suggest we go for a walk. But I suppose there will be other days.”
“About that,” Wulf said carefully, his expression severe. “Don’t expect to see me walking anytime soon.”
Safi’s heart sunk. So the boy’s injuries were as terrible as she’d feared. Stiv and Jabbar had warned her about such an outcome, but she’d always expected things would work out for Wulf in the end. Her own fate was a different story, but Wulf was Wulf. He was exactly the sort of person to pull through impossible challenges. She rested her hands on her knees, breathing slowly. Trying to not let her emotions get the better of her.
Wulf’s smile bloomed into a toothy grin. Under the bed sheets, she watched him wiggle his toes. “It’ll be at least a couple months till I’m back on my feet.”
Safi’s eyes went wide. She twirled in her stool towards Wulf, and he turned sideways in bed to face her. She thought to scold him for teasing her, or to tell him how relieved she felt that he was safe. But when she parted her lips to speak, she found herself at a loss for words.
So they sat together in silence. Safi began to wonder what a boy and girl were supposed to do in this sort of situation. Something romantic and wonderful, she supposed, but there was a new emotion tugging inside her. One of yearning and desire, and love, but a different sort of love, if she knew what love was in the first place. She couldn’t quite understand her feelings. Perhaps she didn’t have to. There were many years ahead of them at Camp Cronus, at least until she discovered a Siegestone. Plenty of time to figure things out. All she knew was that her feelings came from deep within her heart.
Smiling, she reached for Wulf’s hand. The boy looked down for a moment, surprised. Then he entangled his hand in her dark, calloused fingers. The two of them held tight.
Together they watched at the Siege Titan, enjoying the presence of each other’s company. Safi bit her lower lip as she scanned the remains of its head. She had always assumed Cronus had simply tipped backwards and died, but the stones that had formed his head showed no signs of mining. They looked nearly indistinguishable from one another, much like the Titan stones scattered about Lazar’s Crossing.
“The giant died for a reason,” Safi thought aloud, then realized she was speaking to Wulf. “But what could have killed a Titan?”
Wulf dipped his chin to his chest, chuckling softly. “I’ve been wondering the same since they locked me up in this damned room.” He raised his hand to brush the bangs from his eyes. “Among other things.”
“Like what?” she asked bluntly.
“Like ways of escaping Camp Cronus.”
Safi tossed back her head and guffawed. “You mean you weren’t thinking of that already?”
“I’m serious!” Wulf said, pushing himself higher in bed. Wincing, he adjusted the sheet over his legs, then pointed at the window. “Main Campers work on the chest at night, mining top to bottom. But there’s lots more Titan they don’t dig, Saf. Lots of Titan stone that hasn’t been searched yet.”
“And here I thought you were talking about running away,” she said, glancing at his legs. “Though that might prove a little difficult now.”
“I’ve considered it,” Wulf admitted, “but the campgrounds are weeks from the nearest town, and then what? Even if you managed to get the supplies, not to mention a horse and some traveler’s clothes, that mark on your wrist is a dead giveaway.”
Safi glanced at the pickaxe and sword that marked her left wrist, black against her skin. It felt like such a long time since Blackpoint had put its emblem on her. So long a time, in fact, that she often forgot it was there. “What do you propose?”
“You want to find a Siegestone, don’t you?” Wulf asked.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” she said humorously.
Wulf pointed his finger at the Foot and traced it up Cronus’ leg.
Safi followed the gesture, nodding slowly. She understood the boy’s plan at once. “We increase our odds,” she said.
“Right under Blackpoint’s nose,” Wulf said, sounding positively giddy. Like he had been waiting to tell her for some time. “What do you say, partner?”
Beaming, Safi leapt to her feet, work boots clapping the floor. She planted her fists on her hips and smiled. A new road had opened before her, full of hope and boundless potential. Meeting Wulf’s eyes, she was pleased to find the boy looking as excited as she felt.
She gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Let’s get to digging.”
THE END