Chapter 12

Poison. I'd always called it "the delivery" or "the package" to put distance between it and myself. Deep down, though, I knew from my own limited experience with it. It wasn't just moonshine and wolfsbane and some of Ama's herbs because the combination was powerful. I knew this, and I hated that I did.

But I didn't know how he knew and why he seemed so affected by it.

I waited, feeling like I should reach out and touch him, gently coax more out of him. Maybe this was why he drifted away sometimes, lost in memories so vivid that they literally shook him. It had to be, and since I was already involved with the attempted delivery of it, I had a feeling this would be difficult for me to hear. But not as difficult for him to say.

We sat in silence for the longest time while he struggled - for words, for trust, for courage. I wished I could just hand those things over. I could feel his gaze roaming over my face, searching for any reason not to tell me. 

"Archer, you don't have to - "