“That doesn’t mean you owe him your happiness.”
His frown deepens—but he says nothing. I sense that I’m pushing too hard, and I don’t want to fight, especially about this.
A hint of pink appears in the sky I can see through the hayloft doors, and we both frown.
He’ll have duties this morning, I’m sure. If he’s due to leave by midday, he’ll strap on his armor, saddle his horse, and head north for Syhl Shallow.
He’ll be the King’s Courier, and I’ll be the blacksmith left behind. The same as before.
“The night is ending,” he says, as if to confirm it.
I put a hand against his face. “Out and back,” I whisper. “And then you’ll be done with all your couriering.”
But he won’t. I know.
“I’ll return as quickly as I can,” he says. “And I’ll give you more than a night in a hayloft. We’ll ride to Silvermoon and eat too much and stay out too late and find an inn with a room to share.” He twists a finger through a lock of my hair. “I swear to you, Jax.”
I nod, but the words tug at me. For the first time, I consider that it’snot just his happiness at stake, the way his life proceeds at the whim of the king.
It’s mine, too.
But I won’t burden him with that. Not on the morning he’s due to leave, with threats at his back and a confrontation with the king in his future.
So I take his hand and kiss his fingertips. “Yes, my lord. I’ll be waiting.”
CHAPTER 11
CALLYN
When I accepted a position as lady-in-waiting for Princess Sinna Cataleha, the three-year-old daughter to Queen Lia Mara and King Grey, I envisioned days filled with quaint tea parties and reading books by the fire. I imagined lovely gowns and silken dresses for myself and my sister, our hours busied with the care for a perfect child who would have the finest instructors. We’d learn to ride, we’d learn to fight, and we’d be tutored right alongside our charge, elevated from poor bakers on the border of Syhl Shallow to ladies of the court in the Crystal Palace.
I did not expect to be crawling under beds at an hour before dawn, with cobwebs in my half-braided hair.
“Sinna!” I hiss.
A giggle echoes from out in the hallway. I sure hope Nora is out there to catch her.
I know Lord Alek and the Truthbringers might have been a threat if I’d remained in Briarlock, but when I’ve only gotten four hours of sleep, I begin to wonder just howmuchof a threat.
“Sinna!” I hiss again. I squirm out from under the bed where I wassureshe was hiding, and dart into the dim hallway.
I don’t see the princess, but I’ve discovered she has a talent for hiding in the tiniest spaces. I don’t see Nora either. She’s twelve, though, and usually covered in dust and cobwebs just like I am. Maybe she’s under a different bed.
Another giggle echoes from the other end of the hallway, and I sprint in my bare feet. If Sinna makes it down to where the guards are stationed, news of this little adventure willdefinitelybe reported to the queen.
But then I see the princess dash out from behind a tapestry, her curly red hair flying behind her, giggles echoing off the walls.
On the other side of the hallway, my sister jumps out from behind another tapestry. “I’ve got you!” Nora whisper-shouts—in a way that makes me think she might be enjoying this a little too much.
Sinna squeals in delight and changes course, bolting the other way, heading right for the corner that will lead to the guards.
No. No, no, no.
I drive my bare feet into the floor and all butleap, my arms outstretched. My arms close around the princess, who’s giggling like this is the best time ever—while I just want to go back to sleep for another four hours. Nora skids to her knees beside me, ready to block. We all roll to a stop along the velvet carpeting, and I blow a lock of hair out of my mouth.
Princess Sinna lands on top of me, still giggling. She grins, her eyes bright and shining. “Let’s do it again, Cally-cal.”
Cally-cal.She picked that up from my sister, a nickname I’ve had since Nora could barely walk. Sinna callsherPrincess Nora, as if they’re both daughters of royalty and I’m tasked with looking after them together.
