“Do you want to talk?” I ask.
Her amber gaze flicks to mine and I bristle. “Nothing to talk about,” she says. “No point. You’re leaving tomorrow, right? No need to pretend that we’re friends.”
Ouch. “I’d like to think that we are… Just because I’m going back to Cluain Baile doesn’t mean that our friendship has to end.” What am I talking about? “I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity you gave me. For saving my life, really.”
She laughs without humor. “Saved your life… No, Durvla, I saved my own arse.” She heaves a sigh of epic proportions. “I’m going to miss you and your daydreaming.”
My lips curve up hesitantly. “I’ll miss you, too.” The truth of it takes me by surprise. Maybe in another circumstance, we really could be friends.
“When I get married,” she says. “Will you make my dress?”
The question catches me off guard and I burst into laughter. I nod. “Yes,” I say. “Maybe give me more than one month next time?”
She chuckles. “We’ll see.”
CHAPTER 34
Carys
Feast day is hereat last, and the confines of the castle walls are especially suffocating today. After breakfast with Durvla, I face the mirror far longer than necessary. My hair falls loose down my back, zero effort, but I wear one of my best diadems—meant to clearly announce my station as the future queen—and an ornate gown of ivory and gold. Ignoring the confusion on Ellynne’s and Lowri’s faces, I hurry toward my wardrobe and remove my quiver filled with arrows, slinging it onto my back over my constricting dress and corset.
Ellynne makes a sound of protest and sighs heavily. “That dress is not for— Do you evenhavea lesson today?”
“I just need some air,” I say, lifting the comforting weight of my bow into my hands. “Take the rest of the day off.”
“I’ll come with you,” she responds.
My head whips toward her, my brows raised. “You loathe the outdoors.”
Lowri nods, mirroring my surprise.
“And?” Ellynne winks at me and I smile.
As we step into the corridor, Lowri takes her leave and Ellynne beams up at Callum whose eyes dart between the two of us and the bow in my hand.
“To the archery range?” he asks.
“Good guess, Callum!” Ellynne chirps, and Callum sheepishly smirks at her.
There are far too many people in the castle, and as we stride through the corridors, my cheek begins to twitch from the forced, constant smiling. We pause more often than I’d like to greet the occasional lord or lady. Finally, we step out of the castle and my lungs inflate for what feels like the first time in ages.
The sweet scent of roses is a far cry from the comfort I’d hoped for, so I pick up the pace, Ellynne barely keeping up. We move through the garden, past the summerhouse, and across the small covered bridge to the other side of the castle grounds.
Deep laughter reaches my ears, and I come to such an abrupt halt that Callum’s steps falter. Ellynne catches up, breathing heavily. “Damn, Carys. I didn’t expect such physical exertion.”
My focus remains straight ahead at the tall hedges as a high-pitched whistle followed by a hollowthunksnaps me to attention. In my peripheral vision, Callum’s hand moves to his sword, but I hold my hand out as laughter reaches us through the hedges.
“Alright, how about best out of nine?” says Seth.
I step forward through the arched trellis and onto the range as Odgar hands his bow back to Seth.
Immediately, Seth spots me and bows. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Hello, Seth.”
Odgar spins face me. “What a lovely surprise.” He lowers his head a fraction, his sun-kissed curls falling loose in front of his face, and I return the gesture. “You shoot?” he asks, a brow cocked.
“Perhaps.” A soft smile touches my lips. “How about some friendly competition?”
