Kingdom of Ash

Ren glanced to the twin swords he’d
discarded on the ancient table behind them.
“She still left.” Not for Eldrys, but ten years
ago.
“We’ve all made mistakes this past
decade.” The gods knew Aedion had plenty to
atone for.
Ren tensed, as if the choices that haunted
him had nipped at his back.
“I never told her,” Aedion said quietly, so
that the falcon sitting in the rafters might not
hear. “About the opium den in Rifthold.”
About the fact that Ren had known the
owner, and had frequented the woman’s
establishment plenty before the night Aedion
and Chaol had hauled in a nearly unconscious
Ren to hide from the king’s men.
“You can be a real prick, you know that?”
Ren’s voice turned hoarse.
“I’d never use that against you.” Aedion