18 Chapter 18: Something in the Shadows

The bells had quieted but Saffron still felt uneasy. Elric was staring at her, gauging her reaction. “I’m not going to faint if that is what you are thinking,” Saffron said, staring down at the dead man. She had pressed her fingers to his neck and listened for his breath. He was gone.

“I’ve seen you mend a dragon and heal yourself from poisoning. I have no inclinations that this would make you faint,” he said with a smile. She found herself smiling back at him; the ice had thawed.

“Are you alright?” she asked her, her eyes assessing his body. His face was flushed and there was a thin trickle of blood running from his throat where the man’s blade had nicked him.

“I’m fine. I’m curious as to who the hell this is though,” he replied and nudged the man with the toe of his boot.

“You don’t recognize him?” Saffron asked. There was something familiar about him, but she didn’t think it was so much his appearance as it was…something else. Elric shook his head.