Mistel laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment, even though I know you meant otherwise.”
Chapter 15
Cole
Disappointment. A gift Cole had never asked for.
The footsteps had only been the changing of guards. Oxbow and Gunnar replaced by two men Cole didn’t recognize. Kurtz tried the same tactics to win them over, but when that failed—and the sun set, cutting off the last light through the barred half window near the ceiling—he flopped onto his stomach on his cot, feet on the pillow, chin on folded arms, and glared out the bars at the distant torch.
The darkness grated on Kurtz, and Cole could only help by staying silent.
Lying on his cot, Cole examined the timber ceiling, thoughts circling Mistel and whether letting her stay had been a mistake. Clearly, he was doing a shoddy job of protecting her.
His head itched, and before he could scratch it, the king bloodvoiced a knock. Achan Cham.
Cole lowered his shields. Yes, sir?
Kurtz tells me he got you both arrested.
Unfortunately. We were trying to steal some keys?—
He said you got them. Prince Oren doesn’t want me to interfere, so…I’m afraid you’re stuck for now. Hopefully, you won’t be there long.
Cole wanted to ask the king to check on Mistel—at the very least, tell her what had happened to them—but the mere thought of voicing such a request embarrassed him.
Still seeing Ebens? Achan asked.
No, actually. Not since the raiders in Mahanaim.
That’s good. What about Mistel?
Zanna took her shopping, so she’s likely very happy.
Achan laughed. I’m sure she is. Are the two of you, uh…Caleb is worried you’ve formed an attachment.
Caleb is worried. Of course, he was.
He’s afraid she’ll distract you with her feminine wiles.
Wiles?
Is there an echo?
Why doesn’t Sir Caleb bloodvoice me if he wants to give a lecture?
Because I told him to leave you alone unless you asked to talk to him. You’ve already got me nosing into all your business. Arman knows you don’t need him too. Speaking of which, would you say that you and Mistel are romantically involved?
Cole’s face flamed. Excuse me?
I know. That’s an impertinent question. And while Sir Caleb tells me I am king and can ask people whatever I want, it’s not my way. Usually. Truth is, Vrell wants to know. She’s been begging me to ask you ever since the two of you first sang for us. I told her it was none of our business, and I wasn’t going to bother you with such nonsense. But since you’ve got nothing better to do at present…Unless you’d rather tell the rest of the story about the Battle of Armonguard and the Eben.
I vowed we’d remain friends, Cole thought, the way she called him knightling and the kiss they’d shared in the forest near Glodwood Manor filling his mind with his blatant failure. The mission is more important. And we’re cousins, now, after all.
Yes, and my wife was once my squire, so…
Cole opened his mouth, his thoughts completely tangled. I don’t?—
A distant snap broke the silence. The scuffle of feet. A grunt. Something fell at the end of the corridor, followed by a muffled groan.
