Keira took a thoughtful sip. “Well, Rhea and Gareth served in the king’s army too, though they were stationed out east, on the frontiers. When they left, they went in together as bounty hunters. That’s how they met Lilith, and her brother Knox. Mind you, this was all long before I met them. Lilith is the best thief in Stormhaven, and Rhea was meant to bring her in, and well, long story short, that’s not how it went down. They’re actually married now, funny enough, and perfect for each other. Rhea’s fair and smart, and fearless. A born leader. And Lilith, she’s a firework in human skin. She lives for the thrill of everything. And she loves Rhea like there’s no tomorrow.”
A look of sadness crossed her face, and Caspian found himself leaning in, trying to understand it.
“I was jealous of them sometimes,” Keira explained. “I tried not to be. I was happy for them too. But seeing them together, when I thought I’d lost my chance at that feeling…”
Caspian reached out his hand to touch hers against her mug.
Keira sniffed. “Then there’s Florian.” She smiled even as her eyes retained their sorrowful gleam. Caspian slid his hand back across the table. “He was my first friend- Could charm the coat off the king if he tried. And he made up his mind to be my friend, to make me feel welcome. Fate knows I fought him too. But his energy- It was impossible to hold off forever, I suppose. Everyone likes him.” Keira laughed again. “Florian flirts with just about everyone. It’s just the way he is. He’s always going off with someone new whenever we have a night to ourselves. We only ever-” Her face drained of color as she stopped herself.
It took him only a second more before he understood what she’d been about to say. They’d been together, her and this charming rogue who apparently slept with anything that moved. Jealousy ran cool under his skin, imagining her with anyone else, especially someone who didn’t realize how special she was. Who would ever think of being with someone else when they could have her?
Caspian looked at her pained expression and pushed the feeling away. He sighed. “These last three years, Keira, we survived them the best we could.” Caspian sighed. “Honestly, I’m almost glad that you weren’t alone.”
“Almost?” Keira asked, a mischievous twist in her lips.
“Almost,” Caspian agreed with a smile.
“Did you… have anyone who…”
He shook his head, understanding her question well enough. “No, there hasn’t been anyone for me.”
Keira nodded slowly. “You must have been busy, being a lord. I’d have bet you’d have options falling all over you, being a hero and all now.”
Caspian snorted and took a drink of ale. “You’d lose that bet.”
A smile stretched over her lips before it was hidden again behind her mug.
“So how did- I mean, you saved the prince’s life?”
Caspian nodded noncommittally. They had fought for their lives together. The prince may owe him his life, but it certainly went the other way as well.
“And what? He just gave you a castle?”
A laugh burst from him, cut off quickly as people from the other tables began to stare. “Not exactly. After the raid, I was seriously injured.” A prickling sensation crawled over his scar, as if it were still healing. He had to still his hand to keep himself from scratching it. “The prince made sure that I was cared for, even though it seemed like a lost cause. But, eventually I woke up. He was still stationed at the fort where I was making my recovery. He came to see me, to check on me. Honestly, I think he was a little bored. The fort was away from the front and had been mostly converted into a hospital. There wasn’t much else for him to do, I suppose. But after a while, we became friends.”
Keira smiled humorously.
“What?”
“Trust you to make friends withtheprince.”
Caspian shrugged. She’d understand when she met him. It had taken him aback at first how natural it was to fall into conversation with him, once he’d gotten over the idea of who he was speaking to and focused on the person before him.
“Anyway, he had a problem. The previous Lord of Northall had died in the fighting with no clear heirs, only a scattering of distant relatives who were clamoring for a chance to claim the title. When he asked me to do it, I thought he was joking. Itold him I didn’t know the first thing about governing anyone, or court politics. Honestly, I think that’s why he chose me. He doesn’t have the patience for political games. I was someone he could trust, I suppose.”
“That must be a rare commodity in his line of work,” Keira posed.
“You’re probably right,” Caspian sighed. “But he did me a good turn. He spent months while I was recovering teaching me about the province. When I was able, he went with me to Northall until I was established there. Still feel like I’m out of my depth…”
Keira shrugged with a smirk. “Eh, you’re a fast learner.”
A genuine smile stretched over his features. Curse him if he hadn’t missed her.
They spoke, sharing stories and laughing for hours. They ate a hot meal and shared at least four mugs of ale each, which Keira insisted on paying for. Eventually, fatigue settled in again. The ale paired with the warmth of the fire, casting a drowsy spell over the both of them. The thought of a real bed became too irresistible to either of them to ignore. Though it was just past midday, they agreed it was time to rest and collected the keys from the innkeeper. The old woman smiled at them as they went upstairs.
There was a mild slant to the world, a byproduct of the ale. Ahead of him, Keira’s steps were off balance as well. Caspian narrowly caught her as her foot clipped the final step, and she began to fall. Holding her weight threw off his own precarious balance, and soon he was falling backward into the wall, where he finally regained his balance.
Keira’s sides were shaking with laughter at their blunder. Caspian took in a breath as he steadied himself, her scent filling his senses. The warmth of her body was still pressed against him. They hadn’t been this close since…
