“I chose it, Your Highness,” he said.
“I didn’t know that,” I returned. “All I was told was that you were very far away.”
“I wanted to travel, I suppose,” he explained. “See the world, even the darkest corners of it, like Crild.”
“Is it really so bad?” I asked.
“Yes,” they said together.
“I see.”
“Wanderlust?” Cyrus asked. “Or intention?”
Wiloughby turned. “I, like those assigned to my faction, possessed a willingness to endure awful things for His Majesty,” he said.
Something cued the swordsman’s interest. “And inflict awfulness onto others?” Evergreen asked.
My cousin smirked. “Something like that,” he said. They shared a silent revelation.
“What is it?” I asked.
Evergreen shifted, waving me off. “Nothing, Your Highness. War talk is all. Your cousin is very interesting. I see why the Lord Commander sent him in his place.”
Willoughby asked, “Where wereyoustationed, Mr. Evergreen?”
“I mostly remained in the Capitol, Ser.”
“Ísfjall?” he asked.
“No. Rothingham, I meant. I trained Chalke knights,” he explained. “But you knew that.”
“I might have heard it. Who’s to say?” Willoughby stated. “In other words, though, you weren’t allowed to deploy.”
Cyrus cocked his head.
Willoughby said, “I’ve heard many men faced a similar wall. Did youwantto come home? Were you denied refuge?”
“If it’s the same to you, Ser Willoughby, I’d rather we not discuss the War much further in the presence of a lady,” Cyrus said.
“I’m sure the Princess is well-aware of such topics, Mr. Evergreen,” he said. “She is the King’s heir, after all.”
“What discussions?” I asked.
Evergreen exhaled. “I did not try to depart Chalke,” he said. “However, yes. There was suspicion concerning my birth. The rumors you’ve heard about deployment and refuge are true. That’s all I can say on that.”
“Was it very strange?” Willoughby went on. “Training the enemy of your King?”
“Daniel,”I said.
He waved me off.
“Don’t be rude,” I said.
“None of us are fighting now, are we?” Cyrus asked. His mouth closed into a line. Just as fast, it birthed a smile crafted for me. “And with Her Highness’s marriage, we’ll all be under one crown soon. War will be long, long, into the horizon behind us, and it won’t matter who did what for whose king.”
“Yes. Gone forever, we hope,” Willoughby said.
I flashed him a look. “And we are happy for this fact,” I said. “Happy to bid farewell to any animosity between Chalke and Oreia, no matter with whom or what. Honestly, Daniel. You should be ashamed. Mr. Evergreen has asked to change the subject. You should oblige.”
