‘I won’t tell anyone,’ Ezer whispered with a wink.
They left the room together, hand in hand.
Kinlear was waiting for her in the catacombs when she arrived.
‘Ezer,’ he said as he turned to her, leaning on his cane. He had on a matching dark cloak. ‘You look …’
‘The hair was Izill’s doing,’ Ezer said, her cheeks reddening.
Kinlear smiled and reached out to tug the end of her long braid. ‘I was going to saylovely.But I don’t think that’s it.’
‘No?’ she asked.
Kinlear said, ‘You look fierce. Formidable. Strong.’ He smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering onher cheek. ‘You look like Ezer, the very first Raphon Rider of Lordach, worthy of her name.’
And then he leaned in and ever so gently pressed a kiss to her cheek.
It was soft.
Delicate, like he was taking his time.
Testing the moment.
When he pulled away, he stayed there, his lips just beside her ear.
‘Are you ready, Ezer?’ he asked.
He smelled like red wine and woodsmoke, and she was surprised at how good it felt to be close to him. To feel his words sighing into her ear.
‘Yes,’ she breathed.
When he pulled away, he was smiling again, his arm held out to her.
She took it.
And together, they turned towards Six.
A small crowd had gathered at the cliffside, just at the top of the black stone steps. The Masters, dressed in white with their golden armbands, all of whom made up the War Table. And with them, crowns upon their heads, were the King and Queen of Lordach.
The King was sitting in a wheeled chair.
As if he no longer had the strength to walk. And right there beside him … Ezer averted her gaze from Arawn.
‘You’re a quick study,’ Kinlear said as she led Six across the snow. ‘So be aware, my father looks like hell froze over. Bow to him. Don’t speak unless spoken to. My mother?’ He chuckled. ‘Gods help you.Andme.’
‘What?’ Ezer yelped. ‘Why?’
‘She detests me,’ Kinlear shrugged as they crested the hill. ‘Because she thinks me the weak link of our family line. An embarrassment that never should have been. Today, we prove her wrong.’
Her heart sank, but she had no time to question him further as they closed in on the crowd.
‘Mother. Father,’ Kinlear said as he stopped before his parents and bowed respectfully. ‘Brother,’ he added, glaring at Arawn.
Don’t look at him,Ezer thought.Don’t you dare do it.
It was an effort not to raise her eyes, not to let her heart ache for his.
The King hardly looked like himself. He’d wasted away … stringy white hair, shallow cheekbones, his body so frail beneath a mountain of runed blankets it was a wonder the chair had made it across the snow at all. His eyes were milky white, and he squinted, as if he struggled to see.
