“Sir!”
Cyrus groaned. “A small group in the south set fire to a church,” he explained. “I thought Sam had told you. I’m sorry.”
“Sam doesn’t talk to me. That’s horrible. Was anyone hurt?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he said. After a second, he asked, “What doyouwant?”
“What do you mean what doIwant?” I said. “I want people to stop hurting horses and burning churches.”
“No. Do you want to leave Chalke?” he asked. He moved to the side, pausing long enough for Tails and I to pass. “Are you homesick, Your Highness?”
“Homesick?” I frowned. “No. Yes? I’m notsure.Should I be?”
“I can’t answer that for you,” he said. “But if your immediate answer is not clear, perhaps you’ve actually decided.”
“I…” I pondered it. “I do miss some things,” I told him.
“Aye. Like what?”
“Like... the mountains,” I said. “The snow, really, but it will have cleared up by now anyway. And perhaps it may be a seasonal thing. I read once some people get sad with winter, but I’ve always preferred the cold. Does it snow here in Chalke?” I asked. “Elías said no.”
“He’s right to a degree,” Cyrus replied. “It rarely snows this south.” He pointed to the petalled walk. “This may be as close as we get to Ísfjall’s winter.”
“I knew it!” I cried. “You’re from the Capitol!”
He shifted. “Aye. Close to it.”
“Dawne, then? No. You’re too pretty. You would be married by now. What of Harbourtown? No, you don’t strike me as a harbor man.”
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” he said.
“Where?”
“We’ll just call it Ísfjall.” He gave nothing else.
“Are you from the city?” I pried. “You are, aren’t you? Yes. I think you can tell a lot about a man based on where he’s from.”
“Then I better not tell you if you’re right,” he said. He rolled his shoulder.
“Would it be so horrible if I knew something about you?” I asked. “Do you keep all your lovers in the dark like this, or is it just me?”
“Lovers?” He chuckled. “Now I have lovers in the dark, and you’re one of them?”
“I–No, I meant–”
“I know what you meant,” he said.
“You said yourself you’veknownwomen.”
“Yes.”
“Women. As in the plural of woman, so yes. You have loverswith an s; I’m not an idiot, but whether you keep them in the dark or not, I don’t know, hence why I asked.”
He was amused.
“Stop grinning. My knight all but confirmed your reputation,” I said. “I have not shunned you for it, you’ll find, yes? But I am of the mind that you should just own up to your sins so that we may move forward honestly.”
“Sinsnow!” He laughed. “Ah, to know the way you see me. Do I dare inquire?” he asked.
