Where I wanted earthy brown, Margun insisted on evergreen. When I said silver trim suited the shade well, she smackedmy hand away from the threads and held up an iridescent spool of thread that reminded me of starlight.
I argued over the plunge of the neckline; she battled me on the cut of the sleeves, hem, and bodice.
By the end of our encounter, Emi was red-faced from holding in laughter, and I had a roll of different silks draped over my arm to choose from before Margun finished the gown.
When all the selections were made, I scurried from the silk shop—a satchel of lace and ribbons Margun insisted ought to be braided into my hair tossed over one shoulder—and into the streets of the market, desperate to finally breathe again.
Emi paused to inspect a cart with bone and jade bands, and woven necklaces.
“I didn’t take you for a woman who wore stones?”
The curves of her ears heated in a soft pink. “I was thinking it might be a fine welcome gift for the princess Yrsa. She’s remaining at Stonegate from now on, after all, and I thought it might suit her.”
Generous. Yrsa was a mystery to me. Rumors insisted King Hundur was a protective father, and some said he never allowed his girl beyond her own private gardens lest she was visiting her betrothed in Stonegate.
Still, Emi seemed to hold the woman in high regard, and Thane did not loathe his match.
I looked forward to meeting her.
I leaned against a stone wall near a short tunnel that cut across one side of the market and opened in the other. Young laughter drew my attention.
I peered around the wall and a flush of heat prickled across my cheeks.
Roark, clad in his Sentry tunic with his crescent moon swordon his waist, was turned away from me. A trio of Stav were with him, grinning as the Death Bringer held his hands up over the heads of a gaggle of young ones.
Tucked between each of the Sentry’s fingers were parchment-wrapped sweets—smooth creams made from honey and milk and sticks with sugary glaze.
Roark would taunt the littles by tempting them with the sweets, then tuck them behind his back, slip them into a pouch tethered to his waist they could not see, and return empty-handed.
I muffled a laugh when the groans echoed along the tunnel.
Until the Sentry held up one finger, telling them to be patient.
In a few theatrical motions, Roark reappeared eight sweets, one tucked between every finger. Cheers, giggles, and muttered thanks followed as Roark and the Stav gave up the sweets, watching the young ones scatter gleefully through the market, their prizes in hand.
I leaned against the curve of the tunnel. “I’ve been your charge for some time, Sentry Ashwood, and I’ve yet to receive anything sweet from you.”
The three Stav at his back dipped their chins at the sight of me. Roark spun around, eyes like a fading sun drawing me into its brilliance.
Gods, I was a fool. Yes, he was handsome, and competent, and loyal. Perhaps he was not the worst of company to keep, and now I knew he respected the most innocent, but he was still Roark Ashwood, a man who saw me as a duty to his position.
I had no business wishing he might come a bit closer.
Why are you out here alone?He wore a shadowed expression.
“Emi is only there.” I gestured toward the pearl cart with one hand, adjusting the weight of the satchel on my arm. “I’m not afool, and I didn’t mean to interrupt your time away from your nursemaid duties to the melder.”
Roark tilted his head, then replied with his fingers against my cheek. A secret delight of mine.A duty I enjoy.
He pulled his hand away as though he’d replied without thinking. The Sentry rubbed the back of his neck for a breath, then took note of the leather pouch filled with ribbons.
With a signal to the Stav Guard, he instructed them to take my things to my chamber.
Do you wish to return?he asked once the three guards had gone.
“No.” I allowed my eyes to flutter closed. Scents of baked breads and rosy skin oil, leather and a bit of woodsmoke. “I was going to beg Emi to stay a bit longer. I’d like to see the whole of the lower township.”
Roark glanced over my shoulder.You have been abandoned.
