Page 65 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame

But what could she do here in Luminaux? Adopt Quillon as her new Lumsden and try to go back to the way things were? Too much had happened. What bothered her the most was she didn’t know why – why the Sigil of the Seers, why her? Why any of it?

Wyldaern had said Cahra would learn her fate. And she wanted to meet the Oracle. She had to know the truth of what was happening.

If Cahra stayed in Luminaux, she’d only be staying for Thierre. And for what, to watch him marry someone else? No. The choice was him, or herself.

At least if I choose myself, I’ll never be betrayed.

She was a survivor. One that would accept new garments for her journey ahead. And maybe something to remember Thierre by.

Cahra squared her shoulders, staring at the box.

She dressed in every single item, then towelled and combed her hair, letting it fall in wet waves past her shoulders. Standing in front of the mirror, Cahra stared at her reflection. She lookedstrong. Wild and free in her new leathers, the trousers snug around her waist, her refashioned blacksmithing vest hugging her curves. Finally, a proper woman’s breastplate! Cahra raised her eyes to her face, for once not hidden by soot or sweat. Her irises popped green against the copper of her freshly washed hair, the bones of her cheeks and splash of freckles so clear without her mask of low-born grime.

Inhaling, Cahra straightened. And offered the person in the mirror a tentative smile.

A self-assured young woman beamed back at her.

Cahra swallowed, awed to find that for once, she actually felt… pretty.

She took one last look in the mirror. Then strode to the bed, stuffed her old things into her satchel and glanced around the guest room, at everything spun in blue and gold. Luminaux had given Cahra her first taste of luxury. But such things weren’t meant for her.

There were other things, important things, and she would learn their secrets. Today.All she needed to do was get through breakfast.

And say goodbye to Thierre.

CHAPTER 27

Thierre stood, hands laced behind his back, as he and Raiden waited for Cahra and Wyldaern on the palace steps, his mind a whirlpool of uncertainty. He was concerned his father would change his mind about the women leaving, but Sylvie had somehow reasoned with the King. For that, he was grateful to his sister. Mostly.

Because there was a piece of Thierre that could not believe that it had come to this, a pang of despair that rioted in his chest as the fact echoed: he and Cahra could never be.

Squinting against the sun that glinted off the marble courtyard, Thierre scanned the castle city and Hael’stromia’s black peak beyond. Despite his restless thoughts, he struggled to find the right wording that might sway Cahra from leaving. He had lain awake all night, deliberating over how to extricate himself from his wretched engagement to Delicia, but with no evidence of her unfaithfulness, Thierre was at a loss. And if Cahra was to leave Luminaux, all that he could do was precisely what he had done: approached her at breakfast to ask if she and Wyldaern would accept Queran, Siarl and Piet as their own kingdom-appointed detail. That, and pay his personal tailor to do everything in her power to fortify Cahra’s garments – even if that meant enlisting Luminaux’s blacksmith and leatherworker and paying them to labour all night long to make it happen. It had been worth it.

In the dining hall, Cahra almost looked to be a different woman. She seemed to stand taller, straighter, her lean muscles perfectly filling the fighting leathers, measured based on Cahra’s clothing. Her transformation had been breathtaking, and even Sylvie had stared. Thierre was glad that Raiden and Piet had trained with her, before everything had got so complicated. With the reinforcement of her vest and armoured trousers bolstered by thick, tough leather for key joints and striking points, now Cahra could be a warrior, if she chose.

He eyed Delicia and his mother, their vanity drawing them from the steps to the shade. Their presence complicated the already daunting task of saying farewell to Cahra.

Thierre exhaled, feeling restless, while Raiden was predictably still as stone. He never understood how his friend suffered the standing and waiting that was so much a part of his Captain’s duties. He supposed it was the years of Commander Tyne looming over Raiden with a baton at the ready. That no doubt helped, he thought.

Before he could say as much, Cahra and Wyldaern exited the palace.

Their goodbye was a short affair, his family and Tyne bidding Cahra and the Seer farewell with stately courtesy. Delicia, who delighted in wielding her noble status like a bladed weapon, was obviously thrilled to see Cahra go.

Then all too suddenly, it was Thierre’s turn.

Wyldaern simply thanked him and walked on, leaving him alone with Cahra. All thoughts fled his head, and he swallowed.

Her first words shattered his stupor. ‘Thank you, for the clothes. They’re beautiful,’ Cahra said softly. There was no harshness to her words, and no explanation for her retreat after they had kissed last night. But she did not seem to be angry. It was a start, he thought.

A start, as all signs pointed to the end.

‘You are most welcome,’ Thierre found himself saying. There was still so much that he wanted to tell her, only without the prying eyes and ears. But would any of it matter?

Cahra was leaving.

Because what could he offer her, really? This woman, who deserved everything, who deserved true happiness. Thierre knew: if he chose her over Delicia, Luminaux’s court would never accept it, not in a thousand years. Sylvie had said it; Cahra was a foreign commoner. Their pairing was unacceptable, to everyone. Everyone, except him.

Thierre and Raiden had developed strategies to infiltrate hostile sister kingdoms, had spied and schemed and stolen information to report back to Luminaux. They had ventured into the keeps of Atriposte’s Kolyath and Decimus’ Ozumbre – some of the most dangerous places in the tri-kingdom realm – yet for all his clever strategising…

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