I swallow. My hands have gone slick around the handle. “You’re right, my lord. How could Ipossiblybe afraid of you?”
“You’re as mouthy as he is, but it suits you better.” He steps even closer, and I lift the pitchfork. He smiles.
Before I’m ready, he grips the handle and tries to jerk it out of my grasp, but I don’t let go. His eyes flare in surprise, but I use his momentum to slam it into his chest, and he falls back a few steps. I redouble my grip and shovehard.
He recovers quickly, wrenching the pitchfork to the side, and for a long moment, we grapple for it. I’m stronger than I look, and I thinkI take him by surprise. Eventually, though, I’m no match for his size, and he twists it out of my grip one-handed. I’m gasping, trying to recoil, but he catches the neckline of my blouson and pulls me forward, his fist tight on the wool.
“Here’s what I think,” he says, as if I’m not scrabbling at his wrists to get him to release me. “I think you want to honor your mother’s memory, but you’re afraid.” He pauses. “I think you know she’d agree with me. I think she’d be doing more than just holding messages.”
“I think I’m going to stab you when I get the chance,” I grind out.
He laughs. “I rather doubt it, Callyn. I’m going to let you go, and you’re going to tell people about the queen and her sickness, because it’s the truth.” He leans in. “And because I think you’re more like me than you want to admit.”
“I’mnothinglike you.”
“You’ve attacked me twice, and I’ve never even drawn a weapon.”
I swallow. My fingers slow against his bracer.
“You’re keeping secrets from your friend,” he continues. “A friend you said you were willing to hang beside. So clearly you’re having doubts aboutsomethingin your life.”
Alek isn’t wrong.
Oh, I’m a horrible friend. My hands fall away. “Please let me go.”
He does, and it’s so sudden and so unexpected that I stumble back.
“I’ll return soon,” he says. “Think on what I said.” He unbuckles the cloak at his shoulder, then holds it out. When I don’t move, he says, “Take it. As I said, you’re not dressed for this weather.”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with my attire.”
“Attire is quite literally my business.” He smiles. “Besides, it would be inconvenient if you were to catch a chill, fall ill, and die.”
“Inconvenient,” I echo.
“Of course! Who else would try to stab me with a pitchfork?”
“I’m suresomeonewould be eager to oblige.”
His smile widens, but then it slips away altogether. He gestures with the cloak again, but I don’t take it.
He sighs, shakes it out, and sweeps it around my shoulders. It’s heavier than I expect, and warm from his body. It smells good despite the rain, like leather and cinnamon. I hate that anything about it is reassuring and inviting.
While I stand there thinking, he’s working the buckles at my shoulder.
I can’t remember the last time anyone buckled a piece of clothing onto me, and I stand there, trapped in a moment that feels unexpectedly … caring.
“I didn’t send people your way out of charity,” he says equably. “I sent people your way because your apple tarts and meat pies are some of the best I’ve ever eaten, and my business puts me in contact with many who’d patronize your little bakery. And I’m not repairing your barn out of charity either, but because you’ve proven yourself to be trustworthy and loyal. I’ve told you before, and I will tell you now: I’m not a traitor. I care about our queen, and I care about the threat of magic to all of Syhl Shallow. There’s a reason the magesmiths were not allowed to settle here, and a reason they were nearly all killed off by the king of Emberfall decades ago.”
Once he’s done, he steps back. “And finally, I did not stop here today touseyou. Tell people of the queen or not. I simply thought you should know.”
I nod.
He brushes a finger under my chin, so light that I might have imagined it. “I stopped here today to see you. No more, no less.” He smiles. “The attack with the pitchfork was simply a bonus.”
I’m not sure what to say.
He glances at the corner of the barn, where the dripping has gotten worse. “Expect someone to repair the roof in the next few days.”
