What Now?

[Oriena]

Well, he was bound to ruin her patience sooner or later. His tone wasn’t saccherine, just matter of fact, but it grated that he said it at all. Ori had no regrets but neither did she particularly want to acknowledge why this time had been different, or even that it had. It was what it was, and she couldn’t see it happening again – not without the horde stomping all over his urges. The softness of her own mood was an anomaly, and testament to their friendship perhaps. But just as she wouldn’t explain it, she was unlikely to make a habit of it.

She snickered a laugh but didn’t look up. It didn’t matter what she said anyway, he knew her too well. Whatever this relationship was it was unlikely to break. Ori’s loyalties were surprisingly firm however much she made a show of shrugging them off. But Nox had others to soothe that empty place where his feelings had once resided; she wouldn’t try. So she didn’t stop him leaving.