Finn nodded.
“Is she alright? Where is she?”
“Illadan found her today,” he explained. “That’s why he ran off, he spotted her in the trees. She needs nourishment but is unharmed. Illadan is taking her back to my parents.”
Dallan looked askance. “Illadan? But what about the trials? He’s the leader of the whole contest.”
“I know,” Finn shrugged. “I told him I would take her, but he said none of us could leave during the trials.”
“They let us go to the village,” Dallan mumbled. “I don’t remember them ever saying we couldn’t leave.”
Finn thought back to Illadan’s fury. “He didn’t seem himself. I’m not sure what happened when he met my sister, but it upset him deeply.”
“But it’s all taken care of?” Dallan’s voice held nothing but genuine concern for his friend. “She’ll be alright?”
“Of course,” he assured himself as much as Dallan. “Illadan is a strong, capable leader. I’m sure he has everything well in hand. What I wonder is if they’ll need to find a third judge.”
“So what did Eva want?” Dallan asked as they reached Finn’s tent. “It must have been pressing to meet in the middle of the day.”
Finn ran a hand through his hair. “She had heard about my sister. She had much the same questions as you.”
Dallan nodded. “She must have heard Illadan speak of it with the others.”
“Precisely.”
Guilt wracked Finn as he stepped inside his tent. He really was a terrible friend.
Chapter Fifteen
Three weeks. Forthree long, arduous weeks, Finn had done his utmost to avoid her. The first few days, Eva thought that perhaps he would relent. Of course, he felt badly about kissing her—Dallan was his friend. Eva could understand that. Surely, he’d come around once he realized ’twas a harmless kiss. It wasn’t as though she was looking to marry.
When it was clear he meant to avoid her, Eva got angry. How dare he? Woo her, kiss her, then push her aside like scraps from his supper? Here she’d thought he was honorable, but this was unconscionable. Brother’s friend or not, had he not consideredherfeelings? Oh, aye, if he’d thought to speak to her then, she’d have had a thing or two to say. And he wouldn’t have liked any of it.
She’d simmered like that for nearly an entire sennight, glaring at him through much of dinner and grumbling the few times he’d come within earshot. But a few days ago, she decided that she wasn’t some helpless damsel. She wasn’t going to just wait around for Finn to change his mind—as ’twas clear he would be doing no such thing. Nay, she’d take charge andmakehim notice her again.
While she couldn’t wear the cream gown until she truly had something of merit to say to him, lest she risk angering him, Eva could certainly draw attention to herself. She had several ideas, but what she really needed was advice. She’d neveractuallytried to get a man’s attention before.
So, one morning before the men were set to practice for the second trial, Eva cornered Cormac in the hall as he broke his fast. She’d have preferred Illadan, as he was so easy to speak with and she knew him better, but Cormac would have to do. No one else dared to be caught speaking alone with a hostage save the two princes. She walked purposefully to his table, rehearsing in her mind the conversation she’d planned all night.
“Eva,” he greeted her warmly, “what a pleasant surprise. Please, join me.”
She sat down across from him, pouring herself a cup of water and gathering her strength.
Cormac eyed her suspiciously. “Was there something you wished to speak of?”
There was nothing for it. She dove in headfirst. “I overheard my maids speaking of matters that are…unfamiliar. To me. I had hoped you could perhaps offer some insight.”
Cormac’s face paled. He looked horrified.
Eva pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh at his reaction. “They were discussing things that men admire in women, but it seemed their list required the man to already be well acquainted with the woman in question.”
“I see,” he replied slowly, taking a deep drink from his own cup. “And how may I be of help?”
“I must imagine that there are certain qualities that a man would notice about a woman when he first meets her. As I am not a man, nor familiar with any, I couldn’t imagine what those might be. I had hoped you could enlighten me.”
Cormac stared at her for several moments, clearly contemplating her bold request. “You wish to know what I notice during my first conversation with a lady?”
Eva nodded. “Yes. In particular, what you might admire about her that you would want to become better acquainted.”
