‘If you think a rope is going to keep me from you, then you don’t know me very well.’ She kissed her sister’s cheek. ‘Stay out of trouble.’
She turned away before the sting of tears became anything more and climbed back into the wagon. They rolled away, and she held her hand up in a long wave as they passed beneath the archway into the merchant borough. Her younger sister would be absolutely fine, but that did nothing to ease the pain of separation.
The gate closed behind them.
‘At least you have people who will miss you,’ Kendra said as they headed towards the merchant village.
Kendra had wanted a sibling her whole life. While her mother had had no problem falling pregnant, staying pregnant was another matter.
‘Your mother will miss you very much,’ Lyndal said.
‘And my father will miss me because I kept her occupied and out of his hair,’ Kendra replied with a playful smile.
They fell silent again, watching the road. Occasionally they passed merchants who would look in their direction. Lyndal felt like a fraud sitting up in that wagon, as though she were pretending to be something more. A year earlier she had walked everywhere, nearly falling down from starvation, just like they were.
They passed between the village and the forest, slowing when they reached the square.
‘Oh my,’ Kendra said, hand going to her mouth.
Lyndal followed her gaze to where a decomposing body hung on the wall. She longed for a similar reaction instead of the numb acknowledgement that resulted from years of desensitisation. She did notice the smell though. It was amazing how quickly one became accustomed to the fresh air in the nobility borough.
The two defenders at the gate approached the wagon as it rolled to a stop. The driver handed over a letter from the queen mother, an official invitation to Eldon Castle. The guards looked the young women over, then gestured for the portcullis to be raised.
‘Here we go,’ Kendra said, her words almost drowned out by the loud clank of the gate.
Lyndal pressed her damp palms to her thighs as the wagon lurched forwards. She had glimpsed Eldon Castle through the gate her entire life. Never did she imagine having reason to enter the royal borough—other than being locked in the tower. It was by no means a stretch for a member of her family.
They passed the barracks, where defenders trained with swords and poles. Others ran laps around them. Lyndal looked for Harlan. Her brother-in-law was in charge of the new recruits, and she thought seeing him might make her feel a bit braver. But he was nowhere in sight.
The stables were next, rows and rows of stalls bursting with horses of all sizes and colours. Grooms walked back and forth, carrying saddlery and pails of soaked barley. Next to the stables was a fenced yard. A handful of men stood with their boots resting on the bottom rail, watching a young rider try to saddle an unwilling horse.
‘There it is,’ Kendra said, drawing Lyndal’s attention. ‘Eldon Castle.’
Lyndal looked ahead to the pale sandstone construction looming over yet another wall. It was rumoured to be influenced by French designs, which she knew nothing about. To the far left loomed the tower, with its sharp roof and tiny windows barely big enough to frame a starved face. She immediately thought of Eda locked in there after being caught stealing a chicken. How on earth she had coped in such a place at only fifteen years of age Lyndal had no idea.
As they passed through the wide hinged gate, Kendra leaned forwards and asked, ‘Is that King Borin’s bodyguard?’
Lyndal’s gaze went to the man waiting at the front entrance of the castle, and sure enough, it was Astin Fletcher in his black uniform and leather armour.
‘Yes, it is.’ Normally the sight of him had her groaning aloud, but his tall, familiar frame was oddly comforting.
When the wagon came to a stop, Astin moved forwards and extended a hand to Kendra before the driver even had a chance to exit the wagon.
‘Defender,’ Kendra said, stepping down.
‘Lady Kendra.’
Not one to sit around and wait for help, Lyndal stepped down just as Astin turned back to her. He was far too close, but it fell on him to move away, because in order for Lyndal to retreat, she would need to climb back into the wagon.
‘You all right?’ he asked, searching her face.
She tried to mask her surprise. ‘Genuine concern in place of an insult? What sorcery is this?’
His lips curled slightly. ‘Harlan sent me.’
Of course he had. ‘Oh.’ She looked past him to where a servant was collecting their belongings. ‘That was kind of him.’
Finally he stepped back, and she was able to breathe.
