Making the Team
Part 5
Menzo sat diligently as per Medah’s request as she attempted to disperse the crowd but pointedly turned his gaze away from Joren’s unwavering stare. On occasion, his eyes flickered back towards the young man’s cut and bruised face only to roll away with a sigh. Joren seemed so sure of himself that it made Menzo restless, as though he were being studied by some great bird of prey. One that apparently didn’t change attitudes even when wounded and bedridden. Finally, after tiring from his show of resilience, Menzo gave up.
“What?” he asked sharply.
“You’ve got quite an aim with that bow of yours.” The teenager grinned widely.
“I’ve practiced much.”
“Our party is one man short.”
“So. That’s what this is all about.”
” Yavan will agree, I’m certain of it!”
“Yavan? Oh.” His tone fell flat. “The other Vigil.”
“Well now! You make it sound as though we’re terrible people.”
“No,” Menzo scoffed. “It’s not that, it’s… Simply that where you go, you often… carry trouble.”
“The way I see it, we got Winnoa out of trouble. As well as all the surrounding villages, while we were at it.”
The archer raised an eyebrow. “We both could have died for it. You well enough nearly did.”
“A small price to protect people, wouldn’t you agree? Though if we had been here earlier…” Joren’s smile faded.