He looked pensive, withdrawn in some way. “I’ve been on a quest to find my sister, the Lady Bianca. Would your witch have any way to track her?”
I took a moment to compose myself. This was the quest that started everything. After Bianca was captured by bandits, Ironclaw never let go of hope his sister was still alive, somewhere. But I wasn’t the one who should share the end of her story with him, nor was this the right time. I licked my lips. “The Witch of Mayfair did in fact give me a message concerning your sister.” I took a breath. “Keep looking. She’s out there.”
He stopped. There was a sheen over his eyes.
Oh. I was so fixated on trying to hide the particulars of her situation, I forgot I was giving this man the only confirmation he’d had in years that his loved one was still alive. I understood his relief but wanted to prepare him for what was to come.
“But she won’t be the same. You couldn’t expect her to be after all this time.”
Something in his face twisted, as if I’d confirmed the worst.
“Forgive me if I don’t take your word for it.” He stepped toward me, closing the gap, and I felt my heart pound. “Polars and prophecy. These aren’t things a lady should know about.”
I frowned and looked into his dark eyes. I was trying tohelpif the man would just see it. “I didn’t know you preferred ladies to sit in their towers, embroidering hats.”
Confusion struck his eyes but I powered on. “This land is led by a queen, not a king. And what about Lisa the Quick? Barla of the Green Valley? The Last Star? All women who fight.”
“I have nothing against women who defend their queendom, but the dark powers are no laughing matter. Turn at the last arch. You’ll find your way to the great hall.” He swept away from me and I only stared after him.
Damn.Why, oh why, hadn’t I introduced myself as a traveling bard or something when I first arrived at the castle? Did he have something against magic in general? I filtered through the books in my mind. Besides his animosity toward the Dark Mage specifically, he’d never said he was against magic. Plus, he was happy enough to use my abilities to get word of his sister.
Things had soured after I said it’d been a long time. Did he think I was faulting him for not finding Bianca sooner?
Or perhaps Draw was right: Ironclaw wasn’t logical.
I sighed as I turned into the great hall, the windows showing evening coming on.
Food wasn’t out yet, but others were sitting and waiting as well. I spied Meg from the dormitory and went to sit by her.
“Lady Dottie,” she said. She gestured next to her and asked if I’d like some wine.
I was thirsty so I nodded.
As we sat, Meg told me she’d been out collecting herbs with the medic guilds that day. It was true her braids had a few flyaways, as if she’d spent the day in the elements.
I let her chat as I drank more wine. She was abominably polite in a court where it seemed everyone wanted to take a chunk out of me.
“Will you be leaving tomorrow as well?” I asked.
“Yes, as a forager.”
I was happy to hear it. I could use a friend in the face of whatever it was that was coming.
Then, I saw her eyes dart to a corner. A man with fine, light brunet hair swept into a low ponytail peeped back at her. He excused himself from the conversation he was in.
“Oh, well, I’ve got to go, Lady Dottie.” She seemed suddenly full of anticipation, and took off without waiting for my response.
I poured myself more wine and made a low noise in my throat. A woman startled and moved away on the bench.
Last-minute hookups before taking to the roads. That’s what I was supposed to be doing.
I sipped from my wooden cup.
The bench shifted as someone sat next to me.
Ironclaw?!
“Are you quite all right?”
