“You’ve given the people of Sage Ravine a lot to think about, now that they believe the queen has magic on her side.”
I pulled the tail of my hair over my shoulder to fret with it. “Do you think I laid it on too thick?”
“If you mean, ‘Was it effective?’ yes, it was. If you mean, ‘Did I just tell an illiterate village that their young people aren’t going to die in battle because there are greater powers at work?’ I would also say yes.”
I didn’t get this at all. Was Draw mad at me?
“Wasn’t it my job to help win the village to the queen’s side?”
“But not give them false hope.” The words might have demanded a shout from anyone else, but from Draw, the accusation was whispered.
“Draw, you know how demanding our queen can be. I did the best I could.” My voice wavered. “The trick was small. I don’t know that it made anyone believe I’m going to, I don’t know, set the Dark Mage on fire. They know it’s a war. And you’re not being fair. I want to keep everyone safe too.”
It felt like he was going to say something, but he didn’t. He only shifted in place and scrutinized the distant lantern.
I folded my arms across my chest. Away from the crowd, I was starting to feel cold and more than a little miserable.
Finally, he said, “Of course you do. I don’t doubt that. I’m sorry it sounded like I did.”
I was scared to ask the question, but Draw was my greatest ally in Landsome. Even if it wasn’t possible for us to be together, I didn’t want us to stop being friends. I had to ask it. “Why are you mad at me?”
He lifted a hand to his mouth and left it there, finger diagonally across his lips. His eyes were pensive, layered with shadow. He seemed to be weighing something.
He tsked offhandedly before he spoke, but I understood what he was about to say was anything but trivial. “Dottie, you’re free to make your own decisions, so I hope this isn’t interpreted as trying to sway you. I know how much you wanted to come to Landsome.” He hesitated. “It’s only that I ask as a point of clarity.”
This man was much more perceptive than I recognized. Even before he said it, I knew without a doubt he knew, but how? How had he known I was making a play for Ironclaw?
He asked, “Have you chosen Ironclaw over me?”
My jaw went slack. I was right. I’d made the decision only yesterday, had barely spoken to him since, and somehow, he knew.
“Could we sit?” I didn’t wait for an answer and found the steps of a building. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness. After a moment, Draw sat too, angling himself toward me.
“Okay, this is tricky to explain. I don’t...I’m not used to talking about my feelings much.”
“I’ll admit my conversations are usually limited to the workings of the queendom.” I heard a small smile in his voice.
The shadows helped. I didn’t have to watch his face as he read me.
“I liked kissing you. So much.” There, I said it. “I think I made that clear.”
“I understand you have to go home eventually,” he said slowly, then heat came into his voice, “but why then can you indulge in a dalliance with Ironclaw? I thought what we had was genuine. Or have you not realized that Ironclaw is not the hero your books make him out to be?” He sighed. “I said I wasn’t going to sway you.” He didn’t apologize, only noted his inability to stay neutral on the subject.
“I don’t want Ironclaw.”
“You don’t?” Draw’s voice was significantly lighter. I felt him shift next to me. “Then, by the stream...” He trailed off, waiting for me to come clean.
A soft laugh escaped me. “Can you read lips or something?”
“Read lips?” Draw was taken aback by my accusation. He made an amused noise in his throat. “Not in so much. I can ‘read’ people though. Plus, it doesn’t help that it seems everyone in this host is keen to keep me abreast of your movements. All half this court does is gossip. We’d have Amédée beaten in no time if only we could rumor him to death.”
I put my elbow on the step behind us and leaned back. I couldn’t believe I had to say it aloud, but the Dark Mage was a formidable opponent, one I did not want to see Draw up against. And, to keep that from happening, I had to take control of Ironclaw. Perhaps it was only fair Draw understand why.
“I need to seduce Ironclaw so he does what I tell him to do.”
An astonished silence hung in the air.
Then Draw burst out laughing.
