Tarlak shrugged his shoulders. “Del managed to get a tiny bit of healing magic into her before she collapsed. Perhaps it was enough to combat the poison.”

“Yeah,” Harruq said. His eyes lingered on Aurelia, and in his breast stirred fears he had never felt before. He pondered thoughts of her death, each one tearing his heart to pieces. He walked over, slowly, as if not to wake her, and then knelt beside her bed.

“You wake up soon, alright?” he whispered into her ear. He stroked her hair with one hand, unaware he was doing so. “Don’t do anything dumb like dying on me.” A surge of fear shook his chest, and he wiped away tears, hoping Tarlak did not see. A glance behind revealed him long gone. Harruq smiled. Despite his oddities, the wizard could read people brilliantly.

Harruq turned back to Aurelia and stroked her face. He felt almost criminal. Never before had he touched her, and now, while she lay helpless, he felt the gentle curve of her chin, the gradual slope of her nose, and the soft brush of her eyelashes. Finally, he pulled his hand away, unable to bear the guilt. He pressed his forehead against her arm.

“Not yet,” he said. “I haven’t told you yet. You can’t die without me telling you.” He looked back up, overtaken by the beauty of her face. He leaned forward without thinking and gently kissed her lips. Despite the paleness of her skin, a trickle of warmth remained, and he relished its feel. The half-orc backed away, his throat constricted.

He left without saying another word.

G reetings, Tessanna,” Qurrah said as he climbed into the dilapidated building.

The girl glanced up from her drawing and smiled.

“Hello, Qurrah. Care to play a game?” The half-orc eyed the strange lines and circles she had drawn in the dirt.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Find and Seek. It is a scrying game, that’s all.”

“Another time,” Qurrah said, sitting opposite of her. “I come to ask a question.”