Catrin brushed my shoulder in farewell as she headed toward the castle’s ironbound doors. The weight of saying goodbye to her caused the tears to flow even more freely.
Over my mother’s shoulder, I caught sight of Nisien. His smile, bright as the sun, mirrored the happiness that seemed to pour from him. He must’ve been playing host to my family while he waited for our return.
If things worked out with Anwen, she’d be a lucky woman.
Next to him was Emrys. For the briefest moment, his eyes touched mine. And for an instant, warmth flickered in his gaze—then exhaustion, and finally sorrow.
“You’ll want time with your family,” he said, voice a low rumble, face carved from stone.
He looked away quickly, his tone snapping like a whip as he addressed the men standing before him. “The horses, our gear, then your comforts. Inthatorder. Am I understood?”
A chorus: “Yes, Stormdân!”
His gaze lingered on me one last time, two heartbeats of warmth, enough to spark that fragile hope again, before he turned away, vanishing into the role of warrior prince once more.
And I was left standing between the two halves of my heart: the family that was now safe, and the man I’d lost.
Chapter 62
Isca
Eventually Tegil’s eagerness won out over sentiment, and he decided it was time to head indoors.
“What’s the rush?” I asked, my face still tear-streaked.
He started pulling at my wrist, but Mama’s disapproving look was enough to make him shrink back. “He’s impatient to show you his room,” she answered.
“How long have you been here?”
Papa answered, “More than a week.”
They must’ve arrived just after I left to join the army.
I had so many questions, but I didn’t want to keep them standing outside to answer them. Even to my own ears, I sounded exhausted, but I had to keep up appearances. “Lead the way then, Tegil.”
Trailing a short distance behind, I saw how my gangly little brother was starting to fill out. It had only been a couple of months, but his shoulders were noticeably broader, his legs longer. Mama and Papa were also looking much healthier than the last time I’d seen them. Her cheeks were rounded again, and I had a hard time not staring at Papa’s false leg. It was astounding how naturally he walked now.
Even if I’d messed everything up with Emrys, at least I had this. At least the shackles on my wrists had done some good for my family. I couldn’t let them know that I was unraveling in secret, so I fortified my mental walls against my mother’s intrusion.
Each of them wore Darreth’s generosity, dressed much more richly than I’d ever seen them. Mama’s gown was a light green brocade. Papa wore a black tunic made of silk. Tegil donned a similar outfit to my father’s, but his tunic was a shade of green that reminded me of the northern forests.
Shadows in the form of two guards followed us with heavy footfalls. Their discipline was neat and practiced, but underneath all that, they were suspicious and watchful.
My skin prickled with their attention. They weren’t following us because we’d done anything wrong… They were protecting us. Since when had my family’s safety become a matter of state?
Tegil led me through the doorway Emrys had destroyed when I’d first stepped foot in the castle. Past the library, past the great hall, and straight instead of right where I usually traveled.
I’d never been in this area of the palace before. If my internal map was correct, we were in an offshoot of the family’s apartments. The corridor was shorter than the one I was used to traveling down, but the same sconces holding torches lined the stone walls next to more colorful tapestries.
Tegil pointed to two doors. “It’s smaller than Mama and Papa’s. But, Isca, I have my own room!”
His emotions pulsed with a youthful enthusiasm that reminded me of the bubbly feeling I’d had while walking through the library for the first time. I gave the two guards who’d trailed us a sidelong glance. Two pairs of eyes flicked to me, and as one they moved to take up positions, one on Tegil’s door, the other on my parents’.
“How about you show it to me later, Tegil?” I suggested. “I want to talk with Mama and Papa.Alone.”
“He has training anyway,” my father said. “Get changed, Tegil. You’re already behind the other boys. No need to add being late into the mix!”
Tegil pointed at me. “I have an excuse!”
