Evony stared around the large mess hall. Men and women of various ages filtered through the doors, refueling from a day of training. I followed her gaze, noting the lingering glances from several younger women. Kresida and I were used to the Sultirans staring at us, but I realized now, they watched Evony.
The young archer’s brown eyebrows narrowed. Her shoulders sagged, as if the weight of her adult responsibilities pressed down from above. I stabbed a carrot with my fork and shoved it in my mouth, allowing her time to think.
She shook her head. “If Ganmira, Renova, and Sintarrak are here,” she muttered, “I should probably stay. Help us prepare to fight.” Her voice was heavy.
I swallowed and gave her a soft nod. “You’re doing good work here,” I said. “Sorry you have to split your time between training the archers and taking notes for the high steward.”
Evony chuckled and rolled her eyes. “It’s more than taking notes,” she explained. “Ronan’s teaching me about battle strategy. I’m learning. But it’s boring sometimes.”
Kresida snorted, and though she didn’t smile, the huff of emotion was a welcome sight. She was still in there. My lip twitched.
“Don’t tellhimthat,” I murmured. “You’ll probably hurt his feelings.”
Evony giggled, and something inside me eased at the lightheartedness that returned to her face. I tossed my rag on the plate and stepped over the bench.
“Keep an eye on him, will you?” I said to Evony as Kresida joined me, ready to leave.
The young archer nodded. “Good luck in Lotrennia,” she muttered. “Come back soon.”
Sweat pooledbeneath my flying jacket as I strode into the small courtyard where Aquila and Kresida waited. The dark-skinned War Slayer fidgeted with her leather gauntlets, her brows narrowed as she tugged on the straps.
I’m feeling more and more like a carrier pigeon, Aquila muttered, ruffling his large feathers in the summer sunlight.
I’m feeling pretty useless myself.
Aquila stretched his large wings before lowering his beak to the ground and allowing Kresida to climb up his back. I did a quick survey of my belongings and weapons as I closed the gap between us when a shout drew my attention.
The voice clenched at something in my chest, and I paused, slowly turning to find Ronan jogging over.
He ran a hand through his loose curls, cutting his gaze to Aquila and Kresida before landing on me. His throat bobbed, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a protective force surged forward, pushing words to my lips.
“It’s better this way, Ronan,” I explained before he could say what I wasn’t ready to hear. “You have Owyn. The prince needs you. Sultira needs you. And I’m needed elsewhere.”
Something broke behind his gaze, and I steeled myself, forcing a calm confidence into my voice.
“War is coming,” I continued, siphoning all emotion from my face. Ronan’s confession back in Lotrennia, his explanation forhis actions over the years, for his dishonesty, had opened a slim crack in the wall that had formed between us.
And every look he’d given me since, every word we’d exchanged, every brush of his skin against mine, had slowly stretched that crack.
But war was coming. There would always be something more important than the love we let slip through our fingers.
I braced myself before I shoved it closed once again. “It was never meant to be.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
EVONY
The last letter would have arrived in Krestwood, where you should be by now. I wish you’d write back.
– Correspondence from Evony to Ezrich. 22ndof Summer, 072.3E.
Evony – Aedrialis, Sultira
My legs dangled over the stone edge of the balustrade as I dug into a turkey leg and watched the soldiers spar in the courtyard below.
Summer had landed, and I savored the warmth that plunged into the capital.
I wiped the juicy fat from my lips as my gaze found its way back to the warriors below. A lone cloud broke from the sky, casting a bright net of sunshine into the courtyard below, and to my great pleasure, urged the shirts off the back of the fighters. My brows rose as their sweaty muscles shone, their powerful bodies twisting as they launched themselves at each other.
