She nodded to them out of habit as she passed, though not once in her almost twenty-two years had she ever known them to nod back.
As expected, they pulled the doors open and stared silently past her as she slipped out into the cold. It was a beautiful day, even for Mid-Winter. The sky was a broad canvas of soft blue and swirling white, the early shadow of the moon a slice of silver in the sky, as though the Goddess had painted it all with the colours of Eisalaan on her palate.
Adeline took in a breath of crisp air and stepped out into the snow.
It was only as she left the shadow of the arched doorway that she spotted him; Kai, several feet away, whispering angrily at a cloaked figure almost as tall as he was. His visitor shoved back her hood, a frustrated gesture, and Adeline caught a glimpse of the beautiful Merrow womanscowling back at her King.
She ducked back into the shadows before the thought had even fully formed in her head:Not my business, not my business.
But before she could slip back inside, Kai glanced around with a stricken expression and it was all she could do to stumble deeper into the shallow arch before his eyes found hers.
“Did you see that?”
The girl’s voice was accented with the same melodic lilt as her King’s. Adeline screwed her eyes shut, as though they wouldn’t find her if she couldn’t see them. There was a beat of silence.
“Adeline, is that you?”
Bollocks.
“Adeline,” Kai sighed. He sounded exhausted, and she didn’t think it was from their short combat session. “I know you’re still there. I can see your hair.”
She peered sheepishly around the archway. The Merrow woman flashed a sparkling grin. “Hullo.”
Adeline stepped out into the courtyard. “Er, hello. This is embarrassing. I don’t normally lurk in the shadows, I swear.”
The woman’s smile broadened, and it struck Adeline as strangely familiar, though she wasn’t sure how they could have met.
“Adeline, this is Ceriwyn.”
“Ceri,” the woman said, extending a hand.
“You need to curtsey,” Kai told her under his breath.
“No, she doesn’t,” said Adeline. She reached for Ceri’s hand and shook it. It was slim and cool, soft against Adeline’s hilt-hardened callouses.
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t intend to eavesdrop, I was just on my way out and–Anyway,” she stopped herself, and allowed a grin. “I’m glad to meet you. King Cumhaill is the only Merrow guest we’ve had to the palace so far.”
Ceri threw her King an accusing look. “Is that so? Keeping all the royal comforts to himself, is he? Holed up in his room hoarding rum and books?”
“Ceri,” Kai said warningly.
Adeline swallowed. Why in the name of Aera had she not waited just a few moments longer? She’d walked right into a quarrel positively humming with intimacy, and immediately managed to kick the hornet’s buzzing nest. Her stomach clenched with an odd sort of queasiness, and she shoved it away.
Ridiculous.
“I’ll leave you to your visit. It really was nice to have met you – ”
“Oh please stay!” Ceri called, as she began to back away. “It’s been centuries since I spoke to anyone even remotely close to my own age. I’m not being dramatic, am I Kai? Literally, centuries.”
Adeline gave a hesitant laugh, and shot a quick glance at Kai. His hazel eyes were tense, but he nodded slightly.Stay.
“Well,” Adeline said slowly. “You’ve come all this way, I’m sure we could offer you some books and rum for your trouble. Maybe some cake too?”
“I don’t think –” Kai began.
But Ceri swept past him to loop her arm through Adeline’s. “There’s the warm welcome I expected. I think you’re my favourite person in this courtyard.”
Kai dragged a hand over his forehead and groaned quietly.
