“Kael,”
“Oh, come on, this is big. When was the last time—”
“Kael, I’m warning you.”
They remain locked in a staring match before Kael stops to look at me.
“Suit yourself.” He winks at Rowan, shrugging his shoulders and pushing away from the table. “See you at training, plant girl.”
“Training,” I all but squeak. “What do you mean? I can’t! I mean, I’m not…training?”
He chuckles before giving me a salute and heading back out the arched door we came through. I’m once again left alone with Rowan, the air feeling even thicker than before.
Did he just call me plant girl?
Chapter 5
Rowan
I am a man of routine.
And I like it that way.
I like to feel prepared, to feel in control.
But this red-haired mystery is making that difficult.
The second she appeared in the training yard yesterday, everything changed. I knew the king would be paranoid and likely place her under close surveillance. What I hadn’t expected was him placing her in my wing of the castle. That room has been empty since — no, not going there.
The king asked for discretion and to keep gossip to a minimum, but that’s pretty impossible. Especially since that gate has been sealed for years. I’ve guarded that gate for longer than I can remember. I did my duty and brought her to the King, just as I’m expected to. But the questions still plague my every waking hour.
How did she get through?
Why is she here?
I trust her words. She claims no one sent her here. She appeared scared and confused, and I’ve observed liars. I’ve killed them. Traitors. Enemies. It’s my job to protect the castle and this kingdom. She flinches at raised voices, but not at drawn steel. And that intrigues me.
I stare down to my right, watching Elodie finish the last of her breakfast. She’s made a small pile of blueberries from the ones she’s picked out of her pancakes.
“We have training every morning before the knights go about their daily duties,” I say, taking both our plates and piling them on top of each other.
She swallows her last bit of food, peering up at me.
“Oh. Is that where I was yesterday, training?”she asks.
“Yes,” I reply. “Follow me. Stay close. No wandering.” She nods at me, following me out the door and into the training yard. Explaining to her how training normally goes, I gesture for her to stand to the side. Instructing her to stay quiet and blend in with the background.
As if someone like her ever could.
Shaking my head, I don’t have time for thoughts like that. The knights all enter the yard, some alone, others in their usual groups. Once training starts, it’s the same as always, except for a few knights who seem to have a death wish.
“She’s bad news… I’m telling you. I can feel it.” One of the junior knights mutters to his friend.
“How did she even get through? Is she here on purpose, do you think?” the other guy responds, lowering his voice. I ignore them at first, correcting another knight’s stance but remaining close to listen.
“Well, I don’t care how she got here. Bet I could show her a good time, though.”
I move on reflex.
