There’s a swell of happiness in her chest, a sense of freedom and hope.
Holding on to the mast, I watch from a distance, and it’s all so eerily… real. I glance around. There are only wide-open waters, no land on the horizon. But Carys doesn’t care. She turns and I hold my breath, but her gaze slides right past me. Her back is to the railing when a monstrous wave rises up, up, up. Horror drains Carys’s already pale complexion as she turns, the same cold terror invading my own body. I grasp the mast, but it isn’t enough to keep me safe when the wave comes crashing down?—
I awake with a gasp, coughing and sputtering, my lungs reluctant to expand. Firm hands grasp my shoulders, yanking me back into the present. I frantically gauge my surroundings, squinting in the bit of sunshine that fills the stable. There’s no ocean. No boat. No Carys. But it’s a while before I stop coughing and find my breath again.
“I dreamt something,” I choke out.
Kilkenny’s eyes widen. “Tell me,” he signs.
I continue speaking, the words rushing out of me. “Carys. She was on a boat of some sort. She just stood there. But she looked… happy. Until a wave sunk the ship.”
He sits back on his heels and stares at me as though I’m a puzzle to be solved. “She’s always dreamt of sailing far away from Erleya,” he motions as he speaks. “Sounds like a good dream turned into a nightmare.”
I’m not sure what to make of that. It’s nothing like the dream I had of the queen. It’s more like… thatotherdream, but with an added nightmare element. My cheeks redden and I glance around, but everyone’s busy getting ready to set off again. I return to signing silently. “I had another dream of Carys before. Back in Paramount.”
He waits and my cheeks heat. It must be evident, because his brows rise.
“Gods… I can’t believe I’m going to admit this…” Maybe it’s not even important, and then I’ll have made a fool of myself.
“Now youhaveto tell me.”
I sigh. “It was the night when you caught me going for a late walk in the castle. I had a not-so-innocent dream of Carys and Callum… you know.” I wince. “I’m certain it was her dream about Callum because there is no way I could’ve … heard … gods, don’t make me spell this out.”
His puzzled expression lingers, then his brows dart up again and he straightens. “Oh. Are you saying that you dreamt of?—”
I can only nod, the flush crawling up my neck. I try to read his face. His jaw is set but his eyes twinkle.
“How much did you?—”
“It was rather vivid.”
Slowly, Kilkenny’s mask starts to fracture, his lips working to remain tightly shut. He suddenly turns his face away from me, but the moment the laughter breaks free, his shoulders shake, and he holds a fist against his mouth.
“Oy!” I exclaim. I shove my hand against his shoulder, and he faces me again, but that amusement is far from gone. “It’s not funny!”
We draw the attention of the others, particularly Chiyoko who intentionally steps closer to listen in.
I stare at Kilkenny’s lips as he says, “You’re… you’re absolutely right.” But he can’t rein in his amusement and the wide smile remains. He scrubs his hand over his face and his chest expands with a deep inhalation. When he exhales again, he tries to school his features, but it only leads to more laughter.
“Stop!” I tell him, but for some reason, I can’t help but join in. His genuine laughter is refreshing. His whole face lights up endearingly, his disposition relaxes. The man before me is not Sir Tiernan, not MajorKilkenny. Just… Tiernan Kilkenny. His laughter simmers down to an occasional chuckle. There is no pretense, no angst, no sadness.
I wish I could do something to keep that smile there forever.
“Apologies,” he says, sobering, and I want so much to tell him not to stop smiling. “We’d better get going. Don’t want you to have more lewd dreams.”
My jaw drops. Is he teasing me?
“Durvla’s having lewd dreams?” Chiyoko asks. “Oh-ho-ho do tell! Who was it with? Don’t tell me it was with this sorry bastard.” She jabs her thumb toward Kilkenny.
Still crouched in front of me and not even flinching from Chiyoko’s insult, Kilkenny winks at me, and I’m sure myentirebody flushes. He stands and walks away, leaving me to deal with Chiyoko. I get to my feet and wait for my head to clear. Chiyoko remains, grinning at me. “So…”
“I didn’t have a lewd dream… this time.”
Chiyoko dissolves into laughter. “You’ve dreamwalked into people’s sex dreams?”
Now Osheen is blushing, and I want the earth to swallow me whole. Alys comes to my rescue, playfully nudging Chiyoko’s arm. “Chiyo, she can’t help which dreams she walks into yet. Don’t tease.” Alys gives my shoulder a little squeeze before heading off to her horse.
Chiyoko walks backward, still grinning at me. Then she signs, “I still want details.”
