Ardan exhaled through his nose. "This is going to suck."
She looked down at the man on the ground.
The smile didn't change, but the spark in her eyes did. Something mean flickered for half a second. Then gone.
"Still breathing," she said.
The man groaned softly.
Ardan crouched again, hand near his blade.
"Who is he to you?"
She looked bored. "An idiot."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"No. But it does give you context."
She stepped forward. Lindarion's weight shifted slightly. Just enough that she noticed.
She held both hands up. Palms out. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt him. He already did that to himself."
Lindarion kept his voice even. "Then what are you doing out here?"
She blinked. "Walking."
"Through cursed frost, past a dying man, right into our path."
She gave a small nod. "I'm very committed to my exercise routine."
Ardan stood again, slower this time.
"What's your name?" he asked.
