If a door opened—if the magic that had brought her here offered her a way back—would she take it?
He knew the answer. Of course she would. Why would anyone choose this harsh, brutal, uncertain life over a world where metal birds flew through the sky and tiny boxes held all the knowledge of mankind?
And yet.
I’m glad I fell through time,she had said on the battlements.I’m glad I landed here. With you.
She had meant it. He had seen the truth of it in her eyes, had felt it in the way she touched his arm, had heard it in the steadiness of her voice. In that moment, at least, she had been glad.
But moments passed. Feelings changed. And whilst he had gold, he had nothing else to offer her but cold stone and old wounds and a voice that would not work.
Gareth drew his sword and began the familiar patterns again, driving himself through the movements until his muscles burned and his mind went quiet. There was always a battle to be fought. An enemy to vanquish. This enemy, the one that lived in his own heart, might be the most dangerous of all.
On the sixth night,Elodie found him in the solar, bent over maps of the northern borderlands.
“You’re still at it.” She stood in the doorway, a candle in one hand, her hair loose around her shoulders. She had clearly been abed—her feet were bare, she had a shawl thrown over her sleeping shift. The window shutters stood open to let in the warm night air. “Don’t you ever rest?”
Sleep is difficult,he signed without looking up.I find work easier.
“That’s...” She moved into the room, setting her candle on the table beside his. “That’s quite sad, actually. Also deeply relatable. I used to grade papers until three in the morning because lying in the dark with my thoughts was unbearable.” She peered at the maps. “What are you looking for?”
Weaknesses. Approaches. Places Alaric might use to strike if the meeting goes badly.
“And if it goes well?”
He glanced up at her, one eyebrow raised.
“Right. Yes. Stupid question.” She pulled out a chair and sat beside him, tucking her bare feet up beneath her. “He’s not coming for reconciliation. He’s coming for reconnaissance. To see your defenses, take your measure, find the cracks.”
Yes.
“So what do we do? Show him we have no cracks? Pretend everything’s perfect and impenetrable?”
No.Gareth turned to face her fully.We show him the cracks we want him to see. We let him think he has found weakness, and then we use that against him.
Her eyes widened. “That’s... actually rather brilliant. Very Sun Tzu.” At his blank look, she waved her hand. “Ancient Chinese military strategist. ‘Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.’ You’d like him. Very pragmatic. Very stabby.”
He found his lips twitching again. This seemed to happen frequently in her presence.
What weakness would you show him?
“Me.” She said it simply, without hesitation. “He already thinks I’m a weakness. Your strange faerie woman from the forest. Let him believe he can use me against you. Let him thinkI’m leverage.” Her chin lifted. “And when he tries to grab me, we’ll be ready.”
No.The sign was sharp.I will not use you as bait.
“It’s not using me if I volunteer.” She leaned forward, her eyes intent. “Gareth, think about it. He’s going to target me anyway—you said so yourself. The question is whether we control that or let him control it. I’d rather be the hunter than the hunted.”
She was not wrong. He hated that she was not wrong.
It is too dangerous.
“So is doing nothing. So is letting him set the terms.” She reached out and touched his hand where it rested on the map. “I’m not helpless. I know I’m not a warrior, that I can barely walk across a room without tripping over something, but I’m clever. And I notice things. Really, I refuse to sit in a corner and wait for someone to rescue me.”
He stared at their hands—her small fingers resting against his scarred knuckles—and something cracked open inside his chest.
You are the most infuriating woman I have ever known,he signed.
She grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
