Chapter 14 – A Curious Blend of Three
The bell above the café door jingled.
Both Devon and Gideon turned.
She stepped in, her hair still a little tousled from the wind outside, cheeks faintly flushed from the walk. No ribbons today, just a simple half-up tie that let the rest fall freely. She looked around like someone trying to decide if she was being brave or foolish.
Devon blinked. Then a slow grin stretched across his face like sunlight warming the room. He nudged Gideon in the ribs without looking. “You owe me a drink,” he whispered. Gideon, who had been mid-sip, nearly choked. He set his cup down with an audible clink and tried to compose himself, back straight, hands folded. Completely failing at casual. Devon greeted her at the counter. “Welcome back,” he said, voice bright. “Glad to see you survived the sweet tea incident.”
She laughed, brushing a hand through her hair. “Barely. But I figured I’d give it another go.”
“Same order?” Devon asked.
She glanced at the menu, then nodded. “Actually, yes. Just… the normal Lesser Star. No honey, no condensed milk. I think my teeth are still recovering.”
Devon chuckled. “That’s how it’s meant to be served, you know. Our mutual friend just has a bit of a sweet tooth.”
Her eyes flicked briefly toward the back corner of the café. “So I’ve noticed.”
When she turned with her drink in hand, her gaze swept the tables.
Devon chuckled, then leaned in slightly and gestured toward the back. “You’re welcome to your old table, but that one’s technically occupied.”
Gideon felt it before he saw it. The subtle tilt of Devon’s head. The unspoken suggestion. Her eyes followed the motion. Their gazes met again. For a second, nobody moved.
“Mind if I join you?” she asked.
Gideon’s grip on his teacup tightened like he was about to enter battle.
“…Of course,” he said, after what felt like a year and a half.
She settled into the chair across from him with the ease of someone who didn’t know she was flipping his entire world upside down just by sitting there. Devon brought her tea over, gave Gideon a look that translated roughly to “good luck, soldier,” and slipped away to the counter.
“I didn’t introduce myself last time,” she said, cupping her tea with both hands. “I’m Neia. Neia Moonblade.”
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Then remembered how introductions worked.
He cleared his throat, straightening in his chair. “I’m uh. I’m Gideon Corven Thorne. Gideon Thorne. Captain, Defenders Guild. I mean, just Gideon is fine.”
Neia didn’t seem to mind. She smiled again, smaller this time. Her ears were just the tiniest bit pink, but Gideon didn’t notice. He was too busy screaming internally. “Nice to meet you,” he said, then immediately added, “Again.”
There was a brief pause. Then he asked, “Are you new in town? Or just new to the café? I mean, I haven’t seen you around before, and uh, not that I’m keeping track of everyone who comes in, that would be weird. I just… Patrolling is part of my job, and I tend to recognize the regulars in the district, that’s all. I promise I’m not, like, a creepy stalker or anything.”
He winced. “That came out worse than I meant.”
She laughed softly, and something in him short-circuited.
“Well,” she said, “you’re not wrong. I just moved here. For work.”
“Work?”
“Researcher. At Morgrave. Botanical and restorative arcana.”
“Sounds important.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Hopefully.”
He nodded, trying to keep his expression neutral even as his brain frantically searched for another question. Another thread. Something.
Neia took another sip, watching him quietly. She didn’t press, but she didn’t get up either.
Gideon felt his pulse in his ears. His palms were warm against his cup. His heart was thudding so loudly he wasn’t sure he could hear his own thoughts. His brain scrambled for something to say, anything to keep the conversation going. The more he tried, the more everything slipped through his mental fingers like sand. But he didn’t want her to leave just yet. He swallowed, eyes flicking toward the counter.
Devon was wiping a teacup with the same towel he’d been using for the past five minutes. He hadn’t taken his eyes off them once. When Gideon met his gaze, Devon grinned slowly. Gideon widened his eyes slightly. A silent plea. Help me.
Devon mouthed something back that looked suspiciously like ‘say please’, but he didn’t wait for confirmation. With the kind of timing only an older-brother figure could master, Devon picked up his own mug, made his way over, and pulled out the nearest chair.
“Room for one more?” he asked cheerfully.
“…Morgrave, huh?” Devon said, leaning back in his chair with interest. “I’m a Morgrave graduate myself. Spent more nights in those archives than I care to admit. These days, I still drop in when Caelan sends me something particularly tangled.”
Neia blinked. “Caelan?”
Devon and Gideon exchanged a glance.
“Caelan Thorne,” Gideon supplied. “My brother. He works in the Defenders Guild, handles administration and internal affairs. Usually the one handing me my schedule for the week.”
“And occasionally bossing me around,” Devon added with a smirk. “He’s the one who convinced me to set up shop in Korth.”
They shared a small laugh, the kind that smoothed over the edges of unfamiliarity. Neia leaned back slightly in her chair, fingers curling around her cup. For the first time since sitting down, she wasn’t simply replying. She was settling in. The tension that had come from interrupting someone else’s quiet moment had faded, replaced by something lighter, easier. Not quite friendship, not yet, but something gently forming its shape. The rhythm of conversation was no longer tentative, but comfortable, as though all three had begun to understand the space they shared.
Neia smiled. “You two are really close. Like brothers, actually.”
“As corny as it sounds,” Devon said, swirling his tea, “I really do see little Gidlet here as my younger brother.”
Gideon didn’t say anything. He just gave Devon a long, silent death stare over the rim of his cup.
Neia blinked. “Gidlet?”
Neia turned to Gideon with a teasing glint in her eye. “Can I call you that too?”
Gideon opened his mouth, looked mildly horrified, and closed it again.
Neia laughed. “I’m kidding. Mostly. Must be nice. I… kind of miss that. I used to travel with someone, back when I was still adventuring. Iris. We were always together, always laughing about something. It’s strange not having someone like that around anymore. I'm an only child too, so, Iris was kinda like a younger sister to me.”
There was a beat of quiet, one of those soft pauses that held a thread of shared understanding.
Devon tapped his cup lightly against the table. “Well, you’re more than welcome to come by here whenever. Inkwyrm’s good for tea and peace and the occasional accidental sweet drink trauma. And if you ever need a place to read or relax, we’ll keep this table free for you and our resident paladin.”
Gideon stared at him like he’d just dropped his sword in public. Devon did not flinch.
“Oh!” Devon added suddenly, snapping his fingers. “Actually, Gid and I were planning to head to the Nightglen Festival this weekend. Caelan’s coming too. It’s a Korth tradition. Music, lanterns, way too much fried food. You should join us.”
“Really?” said Neia, genuinely but pleasantly surprised.
“Of course,” Devon said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Great way to learn about the city. Great company too.”
Neia hesitated for only a second, then smiled, her eyes warm. “Alright. I’d like that.”
Gideon straightened slightly, caught off guard but visibly pleased. “You’ll love it,” he said, and for once his voice didn’t trip over itself. “The music’s good. So’s the food.”
His smile was soft and genuine, almost shy.
And Devon, watching them both, grinned quietly into his tea.