Chapter 102: Ronan’s Family

Sophia stayed close to Ronan’s side as they began walking go meet his best friend. As they moved, the smell of fresh bread wafted out from one of the stalls, and Sophia gave an appreciative humm of approval. Ahead, at the edge of a small plaza lit by lanterns, stood a man she recognized immediately, Tobias.

Sophia pushed down that little pang of disappointment she felt when she realised that the person they were coming to meet wasn’t Orion but Tobias. It wasn’t like she was not friends with Tobias, she just thought she was going to meet Orion.

Tobias was leaning against a tall post, sleeves rolled up to the elbow, bronze skin glinting under the lights. A leather band circled one wrist; two slim silver earrings caught the glow at his ears. His dark eyes found Ronan first, a spark of humor there, then flicked to Sophia. Beside him stood a woman Sophia had no recollection of ever meeting in the pack.

She was striking. Black hair braided close to her head and threaded with thin white and and a very dark red which wasn’t like what Brunhild wore. She wondered what department the woman worked in.

Her skin was dark like Brynhild’s, and her posture effortless but alert like a runner ready to spring. The simple cut of her cloak did nothing to hide the elegance of her build. When she turned her bluish-gray eyes on Sophia, there was an intensity to them.

Ronan approached them with a smile. Tobias gave Sophia a nod and he introduced the women.

"Sophia, this is Sam and Sam, Sophia." Tobias introduced.

Sophia blinked. "Sam?" She echoed.

When she first heard about Sam earlier in the day, they never told her that she would or is a striking beauty like this.

"You’re... beautiful," she said, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Sam gave a light laugh, soft and low. "And you’re beautiful too," she replied, voice carrying a faint rasp.

Ronan gave Tobias a discreet thumbs up which made Tobias smile but he quickly wiped it off.

Sophia smiled at Sam, "You and Tobias look good together," she added honestly, glancing between them.

Tobias straightened just a little at that, color rising in his cheeks. His grin was a touch proud.

But Sam only chuckled again, a more amused sound. "Oh no," she said, shaking her head, a feather at her braid brushing her cheek. "We’re not together."

Tobias’s face fell almost imperceptibly, his shoulders loosening as if someone had pulled a pin from a tent. The smile stayed but went a little crooked. Only Ronan seemed to catch the shift; his big hand landed on Tobias’s back in a warm pat.

"That’s debatable," Tobias muttered, voice low but audible enough for the circle.

Sam opened her mouth go speak but before she could, Tobias cleared his throat and turned to Ronan.

"Aren’t you going to see your mother and brother?" he asked.

Sophia blinked. "Mother and brother?" she echoed softly. She hadn’t known Ronan had other family besides Daniel.

Ronan’s expression didn’t change. "I saw them earlier," he said casually. "Before the start of the festival. I even gave them ale."

"You did?" Tobias asked him and Ronan smiled.

"Um...your mother doesn’t like ale." Tobias told him.

Ronan laughed. "That’s a lie. She only stopped when she was pregnant and when I was a little baby. That woman outdrank my father."

"Very. And besides, I don’t want to be there when my father starts crying again like last year." Ronan told him.

Tobias barked a short laugh. "You both cried," he said, pointing at Ronan with one finger.

"I did not." Ronan’s tone was mock-indignant, but he shrugged almost immediately, as though it didn’t matter. "Anyway, I’ll see them again later."

Sophia studied him, something twisting in her chest.

She hesitated, then reached out to touch his forearm lightly. "Don’t push it for later," she said softly. "Family doesn’t wait forever. You never know how much time you have with them."

Ronan looked down at her, his eyes steady as he listened.

"I know I’m not in the position to tell you this especially since I can’t even remember my family but you have so little time with them. You shouldn’t be here but with your family. Besides, the festival honours family."

"That’s true." Ronan told her with a nod and she gave him a smile, releasing her hold on him.

Then he smiled, slow and a little sad. "But they’re dead, Sophia," he said gently. "Only me and my father remain."

Sophia paused in shock. Her mouth was agape. And here she thought she had been passing some wise knowledge.

It was only as he said it that her mind took her back to the way he had framed his words. He clearly said ’outdrank.’ That was past tense. She should have known.

She groaned from the mortification that was now wrapping itself around her. And she had called Orion dumb? Look in the mirror.

"It wasn’t that bad. And it was good advice too." Ronan said with a laugh that made her even want to hide herself more.

"You knew all along and didn’t even tell me?" She asked him.

"Hey!" Ronan said trying yo contain his laughter. "I later told you didn’t I?"

"After I was done fooling myself." She told him.

"Come on Sophia. We both know that Ronan needed the advice. Give him more." Tobias said with a laugh.

Sophia gave him the middle finger as she tried to bury herself in the snow filled earth.

Sam made her way to Sophia and crouched down next to her. She pointed at Ronan and Tobias. "When they are together, they are idiots." Sam told her.

"Did you know too?" Sophia asked her.

Sam laughed. "I’m still very much a stranger like you. I keep to myself a lot so no, I had no idea he was playing you. At some point I even agreed with what you said until he said his parents were dead."

"I’m not very sure I like you both." Sophia told Ronan and Tobias.

"You can hate him but not me." Tobias said to her.

Sam extended her hand to Sophia who took it as she stood up.

"For what it’s worth," Sam said to Ronan. "You don’t act like someone who’s lost family."