“Oh, Lia, please.” Eleanor turned around and grabbed my hand. “We’ve hardly explored, and I so want to see the castle. Could you imagine what it would have been like to live here?”
“Your guard can join us of course,” Harkin added, gesturing to where Pierce trailed behind us.
“Like I would leave them alone with you,” he grumbled, so low I doubted the young lord could hear.
I looked to him, seeking confirmation. “Will it be safe?”
“Many of my men have traveled inside with no incident, miss. I don’t believe any harm would come to you from going into the trees.”
Terym had said I was to travel into the forest tomorrow to break the curse, perhaps I could find something within the trees that would hint at how I was to do it. “Okay, we’ll go.”
Eleanor squealed, and we followed Harkin to the edges of the camp, where several soldiers in gleaming armor and capes of burnt orange waited. Harkin’s men held several horses ready,and Eleanor quickly mounted, assisted by a stone-faced Pierce. I was beginning to think he didn’t like Torglea’s youngest lord.
Once we’d all mounted, we followed a lightly worn path between the everlasting flowers and the dark forest, led by one of Harkin’s men.
“Perhaps tomorrow we could travel to the village?” Eleanor called over her shoulder, her horse prancing as it fed off her energy. “Meline says they gather in the streets to play music and dance every evening.”
“I can’t.”
Eleanor’s eyes found mine at my reply, and they tightened. I sent her the biggest smile I could muster. The last thing I wanted was for her to be worried about me; I was doing enough of that for the both of us.
“I would be happy to accompany you, Miss Eleanor,” Harkin offered after a moment of silence. Eleanor’s smile widened, her eyes brightening at the idea of another adventure.
“Thank you, my lord, I would be most grateful,” she said, and he winked, making her blush. “What is the story your father told? About the castle ruins?”
“It once belonged to a line of mighty kings.” He leaned forward to rest his forearms on the saddle. “Long ago, when our lands were one, the kings ruled from this forest in a magnificent castle. It survived many sieges, the walls unbreachable. Only when the last king left it abandoned did it crumble.”
“Why was it abandoned?” my sister asked, her body angling closer to Harkin’s as she took in every word.
“A great evil cursed the land, the very forest itself. People chased away by haunting visions and screams on the wind.” Harkin winked again. I was starting to think he had a twitch, but Eleanor let out another of those girlish giggles.
Her fast-growing interest was concerning. He was a lord of Torglea, as close to the king as one could be. That alonewas reason enough to keep our distance. They had no future together, not if I could help it. He smiled at her, eyes twinkling at her interest in his stories.
As we reached the edge of the forest, Eleanor urged her horse forward, twisting in the saddle to see within before we even made it to the trees.
“Your sister’s passion for adventure is admirable,” Harkin remarked, and Eleanor halted her horse so suddenly she lurched forward. I pressed my lips into a thin line to avoid scolding her. Some habits die hard.
“You don’t approve?” he asked when I didn’t respond.
I glanced at the young lord, his round, freckled face puzzled as he stared openly back at me. “She’s young, easily distracted. She would get lost following a butterfly given the chance.”
“Finding beauty in small things isn’t a weakness,” he murmured. I agreed, but that didn’t stop Eleanor from being far too trusting. Too naïve. Not yet corrupted by life-changing truths and burdens. She deserved it though—to be free. Because she did see beauty in small things. In everything.
Even if what Harkin said was true, I worried Eleanor’s outlook would fail her in the end.
Chapter 8
Laughter from Harkin’s men and Eleanor reached us from the forest edge. My sister tipped her head back, her mouth spread into a wide grin and her curls catching the wind, floating around her face.
My chest tightened at the thought of what was to come, of what she would have to do. That never-ending battle between my promise to my mother and what I wanted clashing.
I wanted her to know, to relieve myself of the truth. At the same time, I wished she’d never find out so she could continue to live a burden-free existence, still able to find beauty in everyone and everything around her.
When I told her, would she resent me for not telling her sooner? How could I possibly know when she was ready? I didn’t think there would ever be a time she would be.
I wasn’t.
“Come on, slowpokes,” she called, and Harkin pushed his horse faster to reach her.
