Arc 1: Chapter 28: Return to Castle Cael
“I thought you’d betrayed me,” I said as Catrin cleaned ghoul blood from her dagger.
She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “No way I was going to stall all those marrow-eaters on my own, big man. I knew you could handle yourself. Just needed to pick my moment.”
She reclined against the edge of a fence lining one of the village gardens. It would go untended now, and already ivy crept from its bounds. She had one ankle crossed beneath her long skirts, an elbow propped on the fence. The image of casual indifference. Her eyes were on the Banemetal blade, distant and aloof.
That aloof mask cracked as I went down on one knee at her side, that neutrality scattering into shock.
“Hey, big man, what are you…” A nervous laugh escaped Catrin’s lips. “I’m flattered, really, but it’s just so sudden!”
“I owe you an apology,” I said, ignoring her jest. I bowed my head, just as I might have done before a great lady in the court of a High House. “I’ve treated you with suspicion and distrust this entire time. Twice I nearly attacked you, and my words and thoughts have been… unkind.” I lifted my face to meet her gaze. “It was not worthy of me. I am sorry.”
Catrin’s cheeks were bright pink. “You don’t have to be so dramatic about it, big man, I forgive you. Bleeding Gates, you really are some shining knight, aren’t you? I’m not one of your high ladies, so there’s no need to…”
I shook my head, voice firm. “Yes. There is a need. I owe you, and you’re the only ally I have in all of this.”
“Well…” Catrin’s expression turned sly. “Tell you what, you do something for me and I’ll call us even.”
I hesitated, my contrition evaporating to be replaced by trepidation. “What?”
Catrin sheathed the dagger at her belt and hopped off the fence. “Call me Cat. Not vampire, or bloodsucker, or malcathe. None of that.” She met my eyes. “Just Cat.” She shrugged. “It’s what I prefer friends call me.”