Page 65 of Ironling
He quickly read Hakon’s deed. “Do we want to grant our best blacksmith a reason to leave us?” He looked up and winked at Aislinn.
She attempted to smile back but couldn’t, too worried her fatherknew.
Is it plain on my face how I feel?She often had trouble hiding her emotions—and she had so many for the halfling blacksmith.
The matter of his land sale gave her no shortage of turmoil. He had the means to pay, and her father had promised the otherly folk they could settle in the Darrowlands. And yet…
Aislinn didn’t relish the idea of Hakon leaving Dundúran. She didn’t enjoy the idea of him building a house for himself and a new wife. She especially didn’t like the idea of his taking a bride.
Fates, I’m jealous of an imaginary woman.
The feeling was an overwhelming one, as were all the realizations that came with it.
She was jealous of an imaginary woman because she herself wanted to be the one he chose. She wanted to be his woman. She wanted to be with her blacksmith in any way she could.
Because she…
“There.” Her father held up the second deed and blew on his signature to dry the ink and wax. “We’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t want to leave the castle.”
Never. I never want him to leave.
The thought clutched her by the throat, panic roiling her chest so violently that she hardly paid attention to the formal procedures for granting her authority over Dundúran and the Darrowlands. Accords were signed, regent grants sealed. All of it gave Aislinn, as heiress, authority over her father’s demesne and all the people who lived within—from the highest baron to the lowest vagabond.
Perhaps on another day, Aislinn might have lingered over the importance of such an act. She’d been left in charge of Dundúran plenty of times before, but always it was Jerrod who’d been vested with a regent’s authority. With the papers signed and sealed by her father, Aislinn could issue edicts, sentencecriminals, and purchase anything she wanted.
Finally, we can start on the bridge.
There was one advantage to having this new burden, at least.
Still, even with the papers safely locked in her room, the responsibility they bestowed followed her through the castle and her daily duties. Already, she could feel their weight hanging about her shoulders, and her father’s looming departure stalked her like a shadow.
Attending to her usual tasks, as well as packing for their overnight stay at the Brádaigh estate, was why it took her over a day to finally find and ask Brenna if she could explain why it’d been necessary for Allarion to come in person.
“Brenna!”
The chatelain stopped and waited for Aislinn to catch her up.
“My lady.” She pulled the list from her pocket. “Did you forget your appointment with—?”
“No, I’m going now. But I wanted to speak with you. You know Lord Allarion, the fae, came the day before last?”
Brenna’s lips pinched in displeasure. “Yes. Did those two bother you? I told them not to keep you long.”
“I’m glad they came. Lord Allarion has been very patient trying to get this solved. Father signed his and Hakon’s deeds this morning.”
“The halfling is buying land, too?”
Aislinn frowned at her tone. “Yes. And they both paid in full.” She looked the chatelain over, noting her stiff stance and how she wouldn’t quite meet Aislinn’s gaze. “Allarion sent a third petition after our discussion at the Brádaighs’. It never got to me.”
“The maids must have forgotten,” Brenna sniffed.
“The maids and pages know to bring everything to you, no matter what. They’re all too terrified of you to not.” A sinking feeling overcame her, the truth right there but too much to bear.“Why didn’t you give me his petitions?”
Brenna frowned back, and for a long moment, Aislinn thought she’d keep her silence.
Then, blowing out an annoyed breath, Brenna said, “I kept them because you didn’t need them. They don’t concern you.”
Aislinn blinked, baffled. “I’m in charge of settling the otherlies within the Darrowlands. It’s my business above all.”
