Reese sheathed his sword. “Why aren’t you using magic?”
“I’m . . . too cold,” I lied. “My catalyst involves flourishes, and we don’t have the space for them.”
“Let’s thaw you, then.” He gave me a hand and helped me limp back into the inn.
The tiny, threadbare inn with a dying hearth and frigid floorboards. No one was around, least of all someone I could ask to relight the fire.
Shivering, I walked down the hall to my room and stepped inside.
It was even colder here. The dirty cot might as well have been a block of ice with no hearth to warm it. Wincing, I examined the stained room.
Why did Solhearts have to show up and steal the nice inn from me?
Reese touched my back as he slipped past me. Warmth wrapped around me like an embrace, and I audibly gasped in relief.
“Isn’t this cozy?” Reese said sarcastically. He trailed a hand over the dresser, picking up a layer of dirt and dust. “I’ve spent my fair share of nights in the wild. You can have it to yourself—I’ll keep watch outside.”
“If I sleep in that bed.” I nodded at it. “I will contract god-knows-how-many diseases, and then freeze to death.”
“It's dirt, Sunshine. It won’t hurt you.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Digging graves in the mud didn’t acclimate you?” Reese arched a brow. “Sleep on the floor, then.” He moved to leave the room.
“Wait!” I blocked his path, teeth chattering. “If you leave, I’ll freeze to death.” Swallowing, I leaned against the doorframe and regained some of my dignity. “Surely a lady of Aenir deserves a Solheart’s warmth?”
Reese laughed. “Is this a Tirnanog thing? Killian was pathetic in the cold, too.” He tapped the door closed with his boot. “Go sit down. The dirt won't kill you."
“No!” I fought against him, to no avail. He hooked an arm around my waist and spun my back toward the bed before pressing down on my shoulder. I collapsed under the force.
My rear touched the dirty sheets, and I shriveled up inside.
Reese sat beside me and laid his blade across his lap. “Dying of illness already?”
“Of course not, don’t be ridiculous.” I closed my eyes, breathing in the warm aura beside me. The frost slowly lifted from my numb limbs.
I still didn’t know anything about Reese. I’d been around him enough to learn his character, and nothing more. Opening my eyes, I shot him a quizzical look. “If everything had been normal,and Killian had just died of old age . . . how would you have trained me?”
“Much differently,” he said, pulling a leg up. “I’d take you to Tur Isaevlair and train you there for at least a month before letting you see field work.”
Tur Isaevlair, the black tower of the Paragons. Would I live long enough to see it?
“That sounds much nicer,” I said. Training still would have kicked my ass, but at least I could have done it in comfort. Leaning forward, I stared out the foggy window. “What did you think when Cleiv Solais chose you?”
“That it must have been a mistake,” Reese said. “That it couldn’t have possibly picked someone like me.”
“Hah,” I laughed, and turned to him with a smile. “How could it have possibly picked a kind, heroic soul like you? Truly, a mystery for the ages.”
Reese met my joke with a cold stare. He seemed like a different person: rough and hostile.
I sat up, regretting my words.
“You’re doing better than I did,” Reese said. “I tried to return the sword and renounce it.”
“I did, too. I marched back into the lord’s meeting, slammed it on the table, and told them they could have it.” I rubbed my frozen fingers together. “It flung itself from the table and impaled itself at my feet.”
Whatever had changed Reese’s demeanor faded. The corner of his mouth turned up. “So did mine. Right in front of the Emperor.”
