Butterflies

I coughed brutally and all eyes turned on me.

Al collected the wine and gently touched my back and then the need to choke was gone.

I looked at him. "What did you do?"

"Stop you from dying." He said.

I did not tell him thank you because he was the first reason why I had just choked and almost died.

I turned my eyes back to the table where all eyes were on me.

Al noticed it too and he hissed.

"Is anything amusing?" He demanded in a frightening voice and they all went back to their eating quickly.

I picked at my food, refusing to steal a glance at him.

"Eat." He said. "We have a long journey ahead."

I pouted and contemplated going on a hunger strike, but I sighed and gave in.

"We need to secure our wards again." A man with white hair said. "We can't risk an interference. Especially with what's going on."