Of course. Ofcourse. My heart falls. “Oh.”
Sephran was right. I should’ve known.
And the worst part is that there seems to be no unwinding this.
We’ll simply continue down this path of unhappiness.
I move to let him go, but Tycho puts a hand over mine, trapping me there. His expression shifts, and he glances away. “Jax, I . . . I want . . .”
But then his voice trails off. I’m frozen in place, trapped by the space between the words.
His eyes, golden brown, find mine, and he straightens, his tone turning more formal. “I won’t be going alone. Malin has been asked to assemble a small team.”
Malin.Of course. They developed a closeness that took me by surprise when I first saw them together, simply because I didn’t expect it.
Or maybe I just resent it. My heart seems to be growing a layer of ice that would rival the chill in Sephran’s gaze.
But then Tycho adds, “Prince Rhen recommended that you join us.”
For an instant, I almost can’t believe I heard him correctly. “Prince Rhen wantsmeto join the soldiers?”
Tycho nods. “He said you’ve earned a chance to do more than swing a hammer.”
My heart thumps hard in my chest. No one haseveroffered me an opportunity to do anything more than work in a forge.
But then reality crashes down, because I’m thinking of how tense and prickly the last two weeks have been. Hell, how prickly the last fewminuteshave been.
Silence stretches between us, and I know Tycho is aware of it, too. Especially since Sephran is still at his back, watching us.
Against my will, my eyes flick to the soldier.Captain Malin is seeking you.
Now I understand.
Tycho follows my gaze, and I think his jaw tightens. He lets go of my hand, then steps back. “This isn’t without risk. There’s word of skirmishes to the north, and we have no idea where the scravers may lie in wait— to say nothing of the Truthbringers.” He pauses, all cool formality. “But we’ve been ordered to depart by dawn. We’ll meet in the courtyard before first light.” Another pause. “If you want.”
My heart is surging ahead. There are too many surprises here.
I’m not a soldier. I’mnot.
But I’ve been asked to join them. By theprince. My breath catches, just for a moment. I hate Prince Rhen— and he knows it. I said it right to his face. For him to offer this, tome. . . I know it’s significant.
But I have so many questions. Will I have to pack? What should Isay to Master Garson, who runs the forge? Will I need armor? Would I ride Teddy or would we take a wagon?
But behind all the questions is a spark of emotion that I can’t quite identify. Prince Rhen may have offered me the position in the forge here, but that was the same job I’ve always done, just in a new place.
This—this— is the first time in my life I’ve been offered something new. Something challenging.
Somethingimportant.
I stare right back into Tycho’s brown eyes, so dark in the lantern light. All of a sudden, I don’t care about the torment, I don’t care about the distance between us, I don’t care if the next week is prickly and tense.
All I care about is the chance to be something more.
“Yes, Tycho,” I say in Emberish. “I want.”
CHAPTER 6
CALLYN
