Page 108 of Pippa of Lauramore
“The last festival of the tournament will be tomorrow,” he says. “The promising ceremony will be before the feast that will follow in the evening. All are welcome. Titles to the winners of the individual events and runners up will be given during the feast as well. We encouragethe competitors to take this night to rest. Once again, we thank you all for participating.”
With that, people begin to leave, slowly filing out of the arena like trails of ants. There is no more need for show, so I pull my hand away. As I do, Lionel leans down close to my face. I close my eyes so I don’t have to look at him.
“I won,” he says. “As I said I would.”
CHAPTER 28
My feet don’t make a sound as I sneak through the great hall and out the garden doors. Once outside, I check that my hood is hiding my face, and I continue, staying to the shadows where I can.
I sent a message to Archer through Leonora that I wanted to see him, and she brought his answer back. He said to meet here, in the courtyard, by the waterfall.
I see a figure by the half wall, and I slide behind a tree, concealing myself in its darkness.
For a moment, the man is only a silhouette as a cloud moves away from the bright light of the almost full moon. The light illuminates the mist beyond him and makes him look ethereal in the night. Another cloud slides over the sky, and it’s dark again. I glance around, checking to see if there is anyone near, but the courtyard is empty. I cough so Archer knows I’m here. He nods and turns to the back gate. I follow, not too close in case someone were to see us.
A sliver of jagged lightning cuts across the horizon,and thunder follows, a distant warning in the night. A raindrop hits my cheek; then one falls on my arm. There’s another rumble, and then yet another joins it, even louder.
Archer pauses near the back gate and motions for me to come to him.
“Pull your hood low,” he says, his voice soft. “And stay with me. Since you were kidnapped, your father has set guards at all the gates.”
I smooth my hair back and give the hood another tug. I follow Archer and keep my head and eyes lowered. My heart pounds at a frantic pace.
What will happen if I’m caught now that Lionel has won?
I hang back as Archer speaks to the guards. I don’t dare look up. There’s the sound of chains against metal, and the door opens. They’re letting us through.
Archer holds his hand out, and I take it, hesitating for a moment. Our palms meet, and his fingers wind into mine. I close my eyes and let him pull me along.
I’ll remember this moment—the thunder in the distance, the smell of the impending storm in the cooling summer air, and Archer’s warm, rough hand leading me into the black of the night.
We turn from the path and follow a trail into the trees, walking several minutes, neither of us speaking. I hear a horse before I see it, and I’m not surprised to come around a bend and see Archer’s mare saddled and waiting for us.
He holds out his hand to give me a boost. Instead of climbing up, I turn to him and set my hands on his shoulders.His woolen cloak is rough under my fingers, and I run my hand along the fabric. “Archer, I?—”
He shakes his head, his eyes searching mine in the darkness. “Not yet.”
I nod and throw my leg over the horse. He pulls himself up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist as he guides the horse deeper into the forest.
I’m not sure if it’s the midnight woods or if it’s Archer, but the smell of pine, wood fires, and a dark forest floor littered with years of fallen leaves is intoxicating. I lean against him and close my eyes.
I know from the direction we’re taking he’s headed to the woodman’s cottage. It only takes a quarter hour to reach the clearing. We pass through a thick patch of trees, and then the little house comes into view. The windows glow with warm light. He must have prepared it earlier this evening.
Butterflies stir in my stomach.
Archer drops from the horse and holds his hand out to me. I pull my leg over, tugging at my gown so it doesn’t catch. His hands are at my waist, lowering me to the ground.
“Pippa,” he whispers.
His eyes are gray in the night, but they’re aquamarine in my mind. He pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me. I settle my head against the rough cloak and slide my arms over his shoulders, my hands settling at his neck.
I hope he can’t feel how I’m shaking.
He pushes my hood back, and I shiver as he frees myhair from the cloak and strokes it. He sets his chin on the top of my head.
Something inside me finally breaks. Tears spill out and run down my cheeks, but for once I don’t care if I cry. My shoulders shake, and Archer pulls me closer. He wraps his hand gently in my hair and holds me like he’ll never let go, like we’ll be like this forever.
But we won’t.
