Rogue Made

Chapter 5

 “Ellery is quiet.” I observed. We had been riding all morning and we needed to rest the horses and eat lunch, but Ellery didn’t seem inclined to stop any time soon. Ellery grunted, not really paying attention to anything but his thoughts. I was surprised he hadn’t run Resa into a tree yet, but I had trained her well. I sighed, rolling my eyes. He withdrew into himself only after I tempted him into another round that morning.

“Cricket is stopping.” I informed the wall that was Ellery before halting Xiu and hopping down. Ellery grunted again, still ignoring me. I let Xiu drink from the river while heating the rolls we had left with my hands, watching Ellery mumble to himself. I sighed and whistled sharply. Resa, remembering her training, hesitated only an instant before turning around and joining Xiu and me. Ellery swore in surprise and glowered at me.

“It’s not so easy to ignore someone who can control Resa, is it?” I smiled.

“I’m not ignoring you!” Ellery snapped. “I’m thinking!”

“Thinking about ways to explain last night.” I replied easily. “And this morning.” Ellery flushed, as if he hadn’t even thought about our morning exercise. He deliberately got off Resa, giving himself an excuse to look away from me.

“Cricket, it’s just that last night was –”

“Unexpected, unintended, a fluke?” I offered.

“Well, it was –”

“Surprising, lacking, horrible?” My eyebrow quirked.

“No.” Ellery was struggling, trying to find the right word. “It was –”

“Terrifying.” My voice was soft and gentle, but full of the terror that accompanied those strange feelings that burned inside my chest. Ellery finally met my gaze, startled by how precisely I had named his feelings.

“Yes. Cricket, I’m…” Ellery looked at the ground. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it’d be the same for you.” I wasn’t surprised by his egocentricity; I was surprised by his apology. Ellery didn’t apologize. And yet…

“Have something to eat.” I said, handing my husband, he truly was my husband now, a hot roll. “Ellery hasn’t eaten all morning.” Ellery tore into the roll, eyeing me as he did so. “Ellery should stop being afraid of his emotions.” I added. “They are a part of him and should, therefore, be cherished.” I walked around Xiu, shielding myself from those eyes. I bent down and took a handful of snow, shaping it into a ball. It was time to clear the air.

“Cricket?” Ellery followed my path around the black stallion and I threw the ball at his chest. He froze, staring open-mouthed at the snow on his shirt. Slowly, he turned his glare to me.

And the game was on.

Ellery and I had a quick snowball fight around the horses, getting disgruntled whinnies when snowballs when astray. After a few minutes of intense warring, I dropped to my knees and begged mercy. Ellery paused, mid-throw and grinned at me. I shot a snowball at his face in his hesitation. Ellery gasped in mock outrage and tackled me. I shoved snow down his shirt and he made a high-pitched yelp and rolled away. I pounced on his back, holding him still. Ellery struggled for a long time before he sighed.

“You win.” He admitted. Brought forth by a sudden, inexplicable impulse with no thought as to why not, I leaned forward and licked Ellery’s neck, the bare spot between his hair and his coat, right behind his ear. The reaction was instantaneous. Ellery flipped over with surprising strength, pinning me to the snow and kissed me hungrily. He broke away after kissing me breathless, breathing hard, eyes molten. I grinned cheekily. Ellery chuckled and got off me.

“Cricket seems to be able to generate varying, interesting reactions from Ellery.” I breathed.

“You have an awfully big vocabulary for someone who can’t use proper grammar.” Ellery smiled, helping me to my feet. My hands were frozen and I was sure my cheeks had the flush of exertion and cold on them the way Ellery’s did.

“Cricket’s annoying that way.” I shrugged.

“Well, I wouldn’t say ‘annoying’.” Ellery said, keeping my ice-cold hand hostage even as we rejoined the horses. Xiu had, the good boy he was, kept Resa calm during our snowball war.

“Why not?” I stopped, eyeing my husband. “Cricket thought her speech annoyed Ellery.”

“Well, it used to.” Ellery agreed. “And I kept trying to make you talk normally and you always tried. Every single time. And every single time was a failure. But now,” Ellery rested his hand on my waist, stepping closer to me, “I find it adorable.” He pressed a kiss to my nose and I twitched away, crinkling my nose. Ellery laughed. “See? Adorable.”

“Ellery’s a freak.” I said. Ellery laughed again and pulled me back to his chest.

“Well, you’re the one who told me to accept my feelings. My gut tells me you’re adorable and funny and a smart-ass and…” Ellery flushed, darkening his already pink cheeks to crimson. “And sexy and just… you’re fun, okay?” He looked sunburned by the end of his sentence.

“Well, Cricket thinks Ellery is fun, too.” I smiled. “And attractive.” I barely got those two words out.

“Damn straight.” He grinned, setting me at ease. I laughed.

I, once again, dried our clothes in the tent that night, and once again, wound up straddling Ellery. I realized though, that Ellery had pulled me on top of him, as he had done the night before. It seemed that my majik had an aphrodisiac-like effect on him. However, we didn’t have sex. We stayed up, talking to each other about each other. We didn’t talk about all the scary and potentially painful things like the sex or our feelings. We talking, instead, of trivial things, like favorite color, favorite food, motivations, and our childhoods. I told Ellery all the punishments Da had ever given me when he asked, even though I knew he would get angry. He did get angry. He dragged me close to him and kissed me possessively for a good five minutes before asking me to tell him more.

“We should reach the village by midday at the latest.” Ellery said, saddling Resa expertly. We packed up and hurried on, the feeling of urgency filling us as the Rogues’ imminent danger to the village took hold in our minds. I don’t know where those feelings went while we were traveling, but they were back in full force. We continued talking, discussing more trivial matters, but we were both thinking of the village. The sooner we reached it, the better.

“Ellery?” I had forgotten that Iain’s land was the farthest down river.

“Iain!” By the sound of Ellery’s voice, he had, too.

“What are you two doing here?” Iain ran off his porch to meet us, worry filling his eyes. “What happened?” That was a testament to how reclusive living as a trapper was. It was easier to rely solely on ourselves than coming into town for any little thing because of the gorge.

“Rogues.” Ellery said. “They’re planning an attack on the village.”

“What?” Iain’s eyes turned to mine, seeking out the truth in my face. “Why?”

“Someone did something terrible.” Ellery said, not telling Iain that it was my family. I didn’t understand. Why? Why was he protecting my family from his brother?

“We have to call the Elders.” Iain said, determining that we weren’t going into details just yet.

“That’s the plan.” I said, cutting the reunion short by urging Xiu forward. Ellery hesitated for an instant.

“Iain, your family’s not safe this far out of town.” He said, following me. Iain nodded and waved before hurrying back to his porch, where Rivaini was waiting, looking worried. It took another hour, but we finally reached the village proper. We stopped by the houses, calling for the Elders. I could feel the nervousness that seeped deep into my bones simply from being around large groups of people. I stopped talking completely, instead focusing on hiding any hint of my powers. Ellery looked at me, confused, when I became withdrawn, but focused on the task at hand.

It took another hour to gather the entire village, but finally, everyone was waiting around the dais. Bann Serannas waited on the platform, patiently calming panicking people. Ellery stood next to his father, his worry making him quiet and still. I stood with Xiu and Resa off to the side, away from the crowd, knowing Ellery would say everything that needed to be said.

“What is going on here, Bann?” His voice made me freeze and my heart pound. “What’s all this nonsense about Rogues?” Da stepped up onto the dais. Ellery glowered at him and I felt a spark of pride in my chest at the sight. But why? Why should I be proud of Ellery, the man who hated my father? It seemed my gut had already picked sides. My husband over my father. The crowd hushed and Bann looked at Ellery.

“The Rogue tribes have banned together in the hopes of destroying this village.” He announced. People gasped and murmured, shifting uncomfortably. I spotted my family in the chaos. Pereira, Ahlf, and little Chika stood next to Eiryn and Kelty. Melo was huddled next to Basra and Eaie hugged Venhedas with a small baby in her arms. I gaped at the newest member of the family. She had given birth and no one had told me. The gorge had only been blocked the past few days and the baby was at least a month old. My mother, calm and unshakable, stood stone-faced next to my family.

“Where’s your proof?” Da asked Ellery, scoffing.

“Perhaps the fact that I was shot by them would suffice.” Ellery touched his thigh where an angry red scar was still healing. “Or maybe the fact that my wife saw them, too. Perhaps you’d like to see the two dead Rogues who attacked us in our home.” Da’s jaw clenched and people began getting restless.

“Why?” Bann asked, gently.

“An event that happened sixteen years ago.” Ellery’s gaze never left Da’s face. “Murder and thievery. The village stole Rogue lives.” All of the Elders turned to stare at Da. My heart shattered. I felt numb. It wasn’t my family, it was my father.

“What did you do, Da?” My voice came from nowhere and everyone turned to face me. I didn’t focus on the attention. I couldn’t. Ellery’s jaw dropped and he looked astonished. I couldn’t focus on him either; my eyes were only for my father. He had killed an unknown number of Rogues and it had ended up killing two more Rogues and getting my husband shot. Da’s jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. I knew, instantly, that he had lied to me. I didn’t know how much he had lied about, but my guess was everything. I jutted my jaw out in defiance, showing him that I wasn’t afraid of him anymore.

“Respect your elders, child.” He snapped.

“I am married, father.” I spat the word out. “I haven’t been a child for three months.”

“Respect your father!”

“What did you do?” I yelled, overpowering his voice. The crowd hushed and watched wide-eyed. My family looked guilty and embarrassed. They knew. They knew the secret.

“I protected the village!” Da was red-faced and furious. He thought he could cow me into submission, the way he had every time before. I was not the daughter he remembered. “I protected this village.” His voice was dangerously soft.

“By killing innocent lives?” I was too mad, too furious, to let him control me. The man before me had lied to me, had beaten me, had sold me into a marriage and I was done with it. He would never control me again. Da walked forward, standing on the edge of the dais.

“They were far from innocent!” My father raged, spittle flying from his lips. “They deliberately destroyed my crops and took over my land and they tried to sleep with my wife!” People gasped out and began muttering angrily. I glanced at Mum, who flushed a deep red. She was ashamed? My mother had been lying, too, but not to me.

“So you murdered them?” I snapped. Now wasn’t the time to call my mother out. Our village didn’t believe in condemning people to death unless there was absolutely no doubt in the Elders’ minds that the person had committed the crime. It had to be unanimous. My father wasn’t an Elder sixteen years ago.

“What do you care?” My father snapped. “You weren’t around to live with what they had done!”

“They’re going to kill us all!” I yelled. “I’m living with what happened and I’m going to die because of what you did!”

“You ungrateful little pig!” He was yelling, too. “I saved your insignificant life that night!”

“By killing innocents!” My anger sparked my skin and the reaction was instantaneous. Everyone, including my own family, flinched away from me, taking several steps back, isolating me further. Ellery, however, took a few steps forward, offering support.

“By not killing you! You are an abomination!” Da spat. “You aren’t mine. You don’t belong here! You belong to that Rogue tribe. I shouldn’t have saved you. You’re worthless! It was only a moment of weakness that you’re alive!” And, just like that, my world imploded.

“That’s enough!” Ellery snapped. He grasped my father and threw him away from me before inserting himself between us. My heart stopped in my chest as my father… no, he wasn’t my father. The man who killed my family began spitting more insults at me, fighting against Ellery and Bann as he tried to attack me. My chest tightened and I couldn’t breathe. My control slipped and my sparks flickered all over my skin, shooting out to hit the dais. People screamed and fled away from me. My vision wavered as the panic that was always buried deep in my chest came to life. My father wasn’t my father. I had no control over my powers. I was going to kill the whole village because I had no control. I couldn’t do anything.

“You aren’t worth the pains of raising you! You aren’t worth anything!” He was screaming. “I wish I had never saved your life!” Tears streamed down my face and I stopped gasping for air, not bothering to breathe at all. My family didn’t look remotely surprised at this revelation, only terrified at what I could do. My vision dimmed and Ellery jumped off the dais, which had just erupted in flames. I tried to open my mouth to warn Ellery, to warn him of how dangerous I was. How I could kill him without blinking. Kill him like I killed the Rogues…

“Cricket!” Ellery’s face was the last thing I remembered before blacking out.

---

I awoke in the jailhouse, shackled to the wall. My… he wasn’t my father anymore… I had to keep reminding myself of that. He had undoubtedly informed the village, with the proof of the burning dais, that I was evil and dangerous. I was a liar and couldn’t be trusted and deserved to die.

“You’re awake.” Ellery’s voice was colored with relief and worry. I looked up and saw him sitting on the other side of the bars, his arm shoved through them in the attempt to reach me. He looked weary, like he hadn’t slept all night. Anything he might have said to defend me would have been discounted simply because my father, or whoever he was, was an Elder. But, who was I kidding? Why would Ellery defend me? I was nothing but a nuisance.

“What happened?” I asked, sitting up and touching Ellery’s hand. His hand instantly closed tight on mine, as if to reassure him that I was awake.

“You collapsed. Too much shock, I guess. I think you had a panic attack, but they wouldn’t let me take care of you. Your sparks were going nuts after you passed out. You started to set things on fire. I thought you were going to burn me the way you did the Rogues when I got close.” Ellery tugged me closer to the bars, trying to embrace me through them. “But, they didn’t.” His voice and eyes were filled with wonder and awe. “You didn’t burn me, but you burned the dais down.”

“How long has it been?” I asked.

“It’s been a day.” Ellery sighed. “I’ve been trying to clear your name, but no one will listen.”

“Everyone will assume Cricket put Ellery under a spell.” I said. Very belatedly, I realized I had spoken normally in the argument with… the man I thought was my father. I had been so angry that the words just came out. That was why Ellery was gaping at me.

“They already do.” Ellery didn’t even look phased at my return to abnormal speech. “They tried to throw me in there with you, but my father backed them off. He calmed people down and sent them home, telling them to be careful and watch out for Rogues. With the angry mob gone, it was easy to convince my father that I needed to take care of you, but he still wouldn’t let me in there with you. I’m just glad you didn’t hurt yourself or do –”

“Ellery!” A soft, feminine voice tinkled into my earshot. Ellery looked up and flushed as Eliza walked into the small jailhouse. Eliza, a young, aristocratic girl, who was raised on a farm. She had lived with her aunt and uncle in a large city for a time and returned with all the ideals and wants of the noble class. I recognized her as the woman Ellery had danced with at our wedding.

“Eliza, what are you doing here?” The question was less about his curiosity and more about trying to scare her off. I knew why.

“Ellery, you’re not safe here!” Eliza clung to his arm and touched his face tenderly. “She put some spell on you!” She shot me a dirty look and yanked his hand out of mine. Ellery dropped his gaze to the floor. First, a man pretended to be my father, and then a group of people pretended to be my family, now a man was pretending to be my husband. Was there any truth in my life?

“She didn’t!” Ellery snapped, still avoiding my eyes. “She can’t do that.”

“You’re only saying that because she’s controlling your mind.” Eliza said, soothingly.

“Yeah, Ellery,” I said, voice full of venom and pulling those ashamed gold eyes to mine, “Cricket’s an evil witch who wants to steal Ellery’s soul!” Eliza squeaked and hid behind Ellery. Ellery flinched. Good. “Ellery should run before Cricket regains her strength and eats him alive!” Eliza screamed. Ellery ignored her.

“Cricket, it’s not like that –” He was trying to defend himself. He was a having an affair and begging me to forgive him. How long had the village known and made fun of me? Oh, look at Cricket, she’s so oblivious. How could she believe that Ellery would be faithful to her?

“Ellery should go.” I whispered, feeling angry tears well up behind my eyes.

“C’mon, El-honey.” Eliza begged. “Let’s go.”

“But, Cricket…” Ellery’s voice was tight; he was struggling with some emotion. He reached out to me, ignoring Eliza’s begging in his ear.

“Leave!” I screamed, feeling my power ignite the straw around me. Eliza shrieked and Ellery jumped. The flames weren’t hurting me, but I pulled them to me, burying the hurt and deception deep in my chest. Ellery’s eyes were full of sorrow as he turned away, hiding his tears. Eliza pulled him out of the jail.

I watched the door swing shut before crawling to the far corner and curling up in a ball. I had thought that Ellery was the one person I could trust. I cried as I recalled all the words we had exchanged, how I had given myself to him, and how much fun we had. I recalled the snowball fight and how easily he made me laugh. I had saved his life. Twice. And he stabbed me in the back. My anger slowly slipped away and only sadness filled my chest. I had actually liked spending time with him.

“Cricket?” Melo stuck her head into the building, halting my thoughts. There was only one cell, but it was degrading enough to be in the one-room building, even if you weren’t behind the bars. I hurriedly wiped my tears away, trying to hide the evidence of my sorrow. Basra followed her in and sat next to her outside my cell.

“How long?” I asked, not looking at them.

“What?” Melo sounded sad and worried.

“How long as it been known that Cricket is a Rogue?” I spat through gritted teeth, shooting a glare at my… She wasn’t my sister.

“D-da told us when we were old enough to understand. Your eighth winter.” Melo said. “And he told all those who married in on the wedding day.”

“Melo never told Cricket. Never said a word.” I said.

“Da would have killed me!”

“He already beat Cricket through the day and night!” I snapped. “Melo is his flesh and blood. He’d never strike her.” And it was true. Da had never struck any of my other siblings. Ever. The man I thought was my father had killed my family and kidnapped me when I was only two. He was a monster. My visions suddenly made more sense. Stolen lives wasn’t just the death of a family of Rogues, it was my life being stolen from its proper place among the Rogue people.

“Cricket, I still love you.” Melo said, reaching for me through the bars, reminding me all too much of Ellery. “So does Basra and Pereira. Why else do you think she was so worried at your wedding? Why else would she have demanded for your presence while giving birth? Memaw loved you. She gave you her favorite necklace. She was always telling Da to stop beating you.”

“Why did no one tell Cricket of her passing?” I asked. “Why was she not informed?”

“But…” Melo looked confused. “Da said he told you.”

“Did he also tell Melo that he informed Cricket of Eaie’s baby?” I retorted.

“Of course!” Melo looked astonished.

“That man lied to Cricket for sixteen years with Melo’s knowledge. Why would she ever trust him with anything to do with Cricket? Or anything he said ever?” I replied. Melo bowed her head, silent tears down her face.

“Cricket, he is trying to call for your immediate death.” Basra said, hugging Melo close. “Ellery is calling for your release. The whole village is in chaos over the revelation of your powers and that the Rogues are set to kill us all.” His voice was rich and deep and calm.

“You’re the only one who Sees. You’re the only one who can save us. Plus, you are a Rogue. Maybe you can compromise with them.” Melo said, wiping her tears away.

“Cricket can do nothing in a cell.” I said. The man I had believed to be my father was an ass, but I still loved my village. It was my home. I still loved my family. My hatred of Da didn’t change that.

“Bann Serannas is talking to Iain and Ellery right now.” Melo said, relieved I had agreed to help. “Mostly trying to discern whether or not you put him under a spell. Which you wouldn’t do ever even if you could.” She was babbling, the way she did when nervous or worried.

“Rivaini and her children are helping.” Basra added.

“Children are the most observant.” I nodded. If Ellery truly were under a spell, Mikal and Deni would notice it immediately.

“Eliza offered her assistance.” Melo said, eyes narrowing. “Did Ellery…?”

“Cricket doesn’t know.” I sighed, rubbing my face. “Ellery disappeared into town many days in a row without reason, but Cricket doesn’t know how far it went.” I wanted to say yes. I wanted to tell Melo and Basra Ellery had cheated on me and broken our wedding vows and watch them take revenge for me, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t, not when everyone around me seemed to be lying.

“That ass!” Melo growled, gripping the bars of the cell angrily. “I’m going to kill him! I swear to every god out there if he did something with that tramp –”

“Melo,” Basra’s voice was soft, “Perhaps it was nothing.”

“Nothing?” Melo snapped, incredulously.

“Ellery is not the nicest person. Or the wisest.” Basra paused and looked at me. “At least he wasn’t before the wedding. But, he is no liar and does not break his vows, especially the sacred vows of a marriage.”

“True.” Melo said slowly.

“He might have had a fling with her before the ceremony and went back to talk and try to end it, because he didn’t want to break his vows.” Basra nodded.

“Oh.” Melo looked putout, as if she was longing to hurt someone.

“Cricket doesn’t know.” I sighed, leaning against the bars, wearily. “She doesn’t care right now. She’s more worried about her powers.”

“Can you not control them anymore?” Melo asked. I snorted, annoyed.

“Cricket has never been able to control her powers.” I snapped. “Melo’s father forbade it, if she’ll recall.”

“Well,” Melo sighed, “You’re more dangerous without practice.”

“Cricket knows.” I said, rolling my eyes.

“You are strong enough that you won’t unconsciously hurt the people you love.” Basra observed, quietly.

“What?” I knew how confused I must have looked.

“Ellery ran straight into your sparks, which were setting things on fire. He wasn’t even singed.” Melo grinned. “You love him.”

“Cricket does not!” I protested, instantly. “He cheated on Cricket!”

“Oh, Crickie…” Melo laughed. “You’ll figure it out at some point.”

“Took you some time to figure it out, love.” Basra reminded her with a smile. Melo flushed.

“Nuh-uh!”

“Melo. Basra.” Bann Serannas entered the room. I looked at him, knowing he held my fate. “Leave us, please.”

“Bann,” Melo stood and held his eye, hands on her hips, “I stand with Cricket. She is not evil.”

“As do I.” Basra put his hands on Melo’s shoulders. Bann nodded, as if he had been expecting it.

“Please.” He gestured to the door and my family left. They weren’t family by blood, but they still loved me and I still loved them. Bann turned to me as I pulled myself to my feet. He stood across the room, arms crossed and staring. The silence was heavily apparent. “Don’t you want to defend yourself, Cricket?”

“Cricket notices Bann does not use her last name, which either means he’s decided her fate or that Cricket’s marriage to Ellery is invalid due to her questionable heritage.” I said. Bann looked startled. “Both are possible, Cricket guesses. But Bann made up his mind before he entered the room and nothing Cricket can say will change that.”

“You are observant.” Bann acknowledged. “And shrewd.” I bowed my head. “But Ellery has informed me of your relationship with him. Only positive conclusions were made.”

“He is lying then.” I said.

“What?” Bann looked confused.

“Ellery had Cricket have only started getting along in the past four days.” I sighed. “Ellery would be one of the last people in the village to speak up for Cricket’s character.” Bann started laughing and I frowned.

“When I said only positive conclusions, I meant that the conclusions were mine.” Bann explained, smiling. “Ellery has always been a stubborn child and the first thing he did when I asked about your marriage was complain about how frustrating you are.”

“Cricket doesn’t understand.” This was making absolutely no sense.

“You have been frustrating Ellery in being just as stubborn as he is. He’s been frustrating you, no doubt. You are both mellowing out and becoming more accepting. Neither of you are becoming less stubborn, but you are both maturing.” Bann smiled at me. “I see that as positive.”

“That doesn’t tell Cricket what Bann has decided.” I replied.

“I’ve discerned that you have not, in fact, put some sort of spell on Ellery.” Bann said. “However, I cannot release you yet.”

“Why not?” I asked my heart in my throat.

“Because the village is still in chaos. My family is on your side, and it appears some of your family is, but the village is too much in an uproar. They’ll assume you have me under a spell if I release you too early. They already don’t believe me when I told them you didn’t ensorcell my son.”

“I can help.” I offered.

“Of course you can.” Bann said gently. “You are the village’s greatest asset right now, which is a fact most of the village has overlooked. But, after some clever diplomacy, I helped show the other Elders that I was right. It was the only way I convinced them not to kill you. Your father has a vice grip on most of the Elders.”

“Bann hopes that he might be able to dissuade the Rogues if Cricket is on the village’s side.” I said. “And if that doesn’t work, he is willing to give Cricket to them as a token of good faith.” Once again, I was to be sold.

“Cricket,” Bann sighed heavily, “Ellery doesn’t know.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because he’ll reject the idea without considering it.” Bann was tired and he didn’t like the situation at all. “You are more pragmatic than that.”

“Cricket won’t tell Ellery.” I agreed. It was true that he was far more emotional and far less pragmatic than I.

“I don’t want to give you to them, Cricket.” Bann moved so he was only a breath away. “I consider you as one of my own children. You’ve helped Ellery become a better man.” He looked as if he would say more.

“Cricket understands.” Unfortunately, I did. “Ellery won’t speak to Cricket anyway.”

“Really?” Bann looked amused. “That’s funny because Ellery said he’d done irreparable harm to you and that you would never want to talk to him again.”

“But, Ellery –”

“Yes, he had a fling with Eliza.” Bann waved it away. “But that was before the wedding. He tried to end it after, but Eliza isn’t the smartest girl in the village. She also tends to ignore things she doesn’t like.”

“But, Ellery kept going back to her.” I whispered, looking at the floor.

“Well, I don’t know about her.” Bann smiled. “He mostly kept coming into town to complain to Iain about you.” My head shot up. “From what I understand, Rivaini was very helpful in helping him understand why you did what you did.”

Bann left me alone with my thoughts. Ellery wasn’t sleeping with Eliza. At least, that’s what Bann suspected. I shied away from the thought. I wasn’t ready to forgive him yet.

---

So, I just went through exam week, so that's why no posting happened. Thank you muchly to kittykat and maialia, who are by far my favorite (and ONLY) reviewers!

maialia - You curiosity has been appeased. Enjoy chewing on what her rat-bastard father did. Yeah, I don't like him. And I hope you like Ellery a little bit more, even though I did kind of making him out to be an ass this chapter... Don't worry! He has reasons! Ellery is actually one of the most fun characters I've ever written for. I started writing snippets from his perspective, and he's amazingly hilarious.

kittykat - Cricket gets mad a lot. As seen by this chapter. And later. Eliza is a major source of frustration for her. And Ellery, but it's not his fault. Really. He's just a little stupid.

Love to my reviewers!

~LP