Bone Diggers - Chapter Nineteen

Loading... Chapter Nineteen

When Daniel and Lance walked the guilds halls again, they were treated like ghosts. Their absence the past couple of days started rumors that they were dead. Everyone kept a careful distance. Well, almost everyone.

A young thief named Isidoro Martinez ran up. "I heard what you did," he said, with bright wide eyes that made him look too young for the guild. "Not everyone believed you guys were going to make it back. But I did." He grinned, like he won a bet with someone.

"Well, thank you," Lance said.

Isidoro nodded, and fell behind them as they marched over to Gael. Abel stood next to their headmaster. His tight expression made him look annoyed at their return.

"This is how legends are born," Gael said, his tone unreadable. "Your little mission was not very nice to Mr. Garcia. It was rash and put his cover at risk."

Daniel glanced over to Abel as he crossed his arms over his chest. Ah, so that's why he was so pissy. He must have been playing spy when they stormed the knight's building.

"Sir, if it wasn't for Daniel's quick action I don't think I'd—" Lance said.

Gael held up a finger interrupting him. "But I can't dispute Daniel's results."

"I would have found him," Abel grumbled. Daniel's stare didn't waver, and wouldn't until he knew if the man was going to make a bigger deal of it. Abel moved closer, and Isidoro took a nervous step back. A rookie move, not mirrored by Daniel or Lance as Abel stepped into their space.

"Welcome back," Abel said, as he walked past and out of the room.

With guild business cleared up, the duo headed to the archery field. Daniel's bow was down at his side as he sat on a tree stump that was doubling as a chair. After Lance nearly dying, Daniel wanted to make sure his friend didn't push himself too hard.

Lance pulled an arrow out of his quiver and lined up a shot. As he pulled the string back, a sharp twinge of pain ran through his hand, and up to his elbow. It completely ruined the shot, making the arrow fly a grand total of two feet. "This is pointless," Lance groaned.

Daniel stayed silent for the moment. More than Lance's body had taken a blow. His pride had also been beaten. "You have to give it time," Daniel said.

"I don't want to give it time!" Lance yelled. "I can't shoot an arrow; I can barely grip with my left hand. How am I supposed to do anything?"

In truth, no one expected Lance to do anything for a while, after what happened. Torture isn't the sort of thing you instantly bounce back from. The only person Lance was letting down was himself, and if he needed to scream until his throat was raw, Daniel would hear him out.

"You needn't worry so much," Daniel said. He brought his bow in front of him, resting his hands and head on it. "Even with a hand tied behind your back, you can give most people a run for their money."

Lance sighed. His eyes lowered to the grass before he finally was able to glance back up. As much as he wanted rage to fuel everything, he was tired.

"Come on," Daniel said, "We've been here for hours, let's go get food."

"Yeah, all right."

They walked to a small fruit market, and the change of scenery seemed to lighten the mood. "Look at the bright side of things, buddy," Daniel said. His grin suggested he was up to no good. "I'm just a better fighter than you now."

"Ha, very funny."

"No, no, really, hear me out," Daniel said. He purposely bumped into Lance as if to egg him on as he brainstormed more things to tease about.

Lance looked around as if searching for something to beat Daniel over the head with. "If you keep being mean, I'm going to tell your little girlfriend on you," he threatened.

"Please." Daniel's nose scrunched up at the very idea. There were so many things wrong with that statement. For one, he hadn't even seen Amilia since she left without a word once Lance was stable. "What are you going to do? Hunt her down just to tell her I am picking on you?"

"I don't need to hunt her down," Lance grinned. "Because she is right over there."

Daniel turned sharply towards where Lance was pointing. He hadn't believed it at first, but now his jaw dropped. Amilia had been missing for days, and now she was just casually walking about with a bag in one hand and a half-eaten pear in the other. He stared, thinking she might be a figment of their imagination.

He hung back for a moment. While her uncle hadn't been mortally wounded, he doubted stabbing a family member was a forgivable offense. Would she care now that someone else's life wasn't in danger?

Lance gave Daniel a literal push to go talk to her.

Daniel hesitated after the first forced step, then decided to ignore the politics of the situation and ventured the rest of the way. "Hello stranger," he said, playfully hoping to keep things light.

Amilia was caught mid-bite. She swallowed the bite nearly whole and wiped her mouth like she'd been indecent. "Hello," she mumbled before clearing her throat. "How's Lance?" Amilia glanced around for him, but in the bustle of the street only managed to have her bags bumped by others as they passed.

"He is doing pretty well. Full of complaints, but that's the nature of such things," Daniel said, trying to weave his words carefully. "Speaking of which, I—uh, heard a family member of yours fell ill. How are they?"

She bit her lip, wishing they didn't have a lie like this. But neither of them knew exactly what the other knew, and neither of them wanted to come out with it.

"Fine," she said. "Actually, I have to go. I'm sorry, but I'm glad Lance is feeling better." She shifted her bag over her shoulder before she tucked her head down and started walking. "See you another time, Daniel," Amilia quickly added, along with a silent prayer that he wouldn't follow her.

"Amilia, wait," Daniel called. It was no use. He sighed and let her walk away. Everything was always black or white between them. If they had a situation that brought something gray into the mix, she bolted.

Lance had moved closer as Amilia fled. "There is something wrong with that girl," he added. They could still see her in the crowd of people. "Well, go after her."

Daniel's frown was laced with a confused surprise. Encouragement was something he hadn't expected. But if she was playing both sides, maybe she did need help. That game could only be played for so long.

He ran to catch back up to Amilia. This time far less playfully. "Are you in some sort of trouble?" Daniel asked. "I might not know the whole story, but let me help. We said we were in this together, remember?"

Amilia stopped as he drew even with her. Her expression was pinched, as if he was just some guy bothering her on the street. "My problem isn't a part of whatever deal we have, Daniel."

"Why does it have to be?" His question was only met with a tired and bored attitude. It snapped his patience like a taut rubber band. "You know what? Fine. Do as you wish." The words bit down like they had little fangs of their own. He had the urge to wash his hands of this situation, possibly even her. "Maybe I'm tired of this, too."

He knew he was being just as childish as her now. But if they couldn't deal with this as adults, then maybe he would sink to the same level. This time Daniel walked away before she had the chance to.

"Things went well, I take it," Lance said. He had to fall into step with Daniel in a hurry, as Daniel seemed ready to book it right past him.

Daniel narrowed his eyes, but held his tongue.

"If I'm remembering correctly," Lance smiled mischievously, "you said you'd buy me lunch."

"Oh, did I now?" Daniel smiled, despite everything. "Did you also get a head injury you didn't tell me about?"

"Señor Ortiz," Lance said, sticking to his story. "You promised."

Lance's level of dedication to this free lunch made Daniel laugh a little. Daniel broke off from his friend, moving into a group of people who were walking. Carefully, he pickpocketed one of the citizens, carrying on like nothing had happened. Once the group passed, Daniel tossed Lance the coin pouch. "There. I paid for our lunch."

Upon catching the bag, Lance glanced at the man who had lost his money, still blissfully unaware. "Well technically..." He cut his own objection off with a shrug. "Close enough."