Page 56 of Unrivaled
“He can still be happy.Or sad.Or purple in the face.”I lifted a hand, waving at the bay.“And look.You might have wheat.”
Her eyes lit up.“By the Wife—is it the Ally?”
Now that she was suitably distracted, I managed to herd her into bed.I heard her tossing and turning into the night, but I suspected it was due more to the promise in that hull than because her favorite knight might have some feelings around Raider’s Ban being her first confirmed competitor in the tourney and tentatively booked entertainment.
He wasn’t worth losing sleep over.
She was starting to figure that out.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
AUDREY
I agree with your sentiment, of course.It wouldn't do for the power to fall into the wrong hands.Or the information.—First Guidelord, Luis in a letter to High Magelord, Bearer of All, Gautier the First
1stDay of Spring’s One Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 272
La’Angi Keep
Ididn’t rush through the morning routine.If anything, I spent more time than usual drawing it out.Mayhap it was the equinox that had me feeling balanced.Isolde went to fetch breakfast while I stayed, picking up the practice sword that waited, wrapped, against the wall.It had been more than a moon since I’d touched it and the balance was a little strange.I’d had breaks from archery, from riding, and from the knives often enough.I knew it wouldn’t take me long to limber up those skills again.
I’d gone to his bed the night I’d sent him away.It had been so empty.I could take my time.I could mourn.I’d breathed him in and I’d let him go.
During the plague, I’d cut the throat of the last Captain of the Guard.I’d held his head as his lifeblood had pumped across the cobbles, running between the blue stones to mix with the mud and straw.He’d twitched and moved even after that lethal stroke.
That was me, now.Twitching, moving.Blood still pumping.Except it wasn’t those hard, arcing spurts any longer.I was going cold.
I hoped he’d forgive me for that.
I wondered whether that need to be forgiven was a scar my father had left on my soul.
“My lady!”
I fought the urge to drop the sword as the unfamiliar voice jarred me from my reverie.“I’ll be down in a moment,” I shouted, quickly wrapping the sword and putting it away.
“Yes, my lady!”
The call had come from the bottom level of the tower, so I was safe to get to where my clothes for the day were tossed over the back of my chair.I threw on a layer of respectability before going downstairs, hoping nothing had gone terribly awry.I was probably due for a crisis.
The guards were familiar, but not Thomas or Chay.They stood together awkwardly, unsure of the processes.“You’ve a visitor, my lady,” the older one said.“We should wait here, correct?”
“Usually, one person informs me, and the other keeps an eye on the visitor,” I explained, wondering if I should’ve finished lacing my dress.They wouldn’t be able to see from the front, and with my hair down, but… “Who is it?”
“Uh.”They glanced at each other.The younger one opened the door, and asked, “Name and business?”
I could see my guest through the stone archway, a bag on one shoulder, and hip cocked.My breath caught at the sight of that plain brown cloth and the way their hand was spread across it possessively.
“Got bad news,” the Captain said, walking in with a swagger that made me envy their snug pants and the belt that rode low, heavy with weapons.“Your villages are almost empty.People have banded together, but you’re going to want to have a look at that pretty soon, princess.A group is as good as its leader.”
I nodded, braced for the news after the reports we’d had.La’Angi had got off lightly compared to a few spots to the south.When there had been silence from the seaside villages, I’d feared the worst.
“Got good news, too.”They set the bag down with a solid thud, and grinned.“I could be extra generous with those folks whowerestill alive.Figured you’d be happy with me throwing some kids a bit of extra salted pork and silverbeet.Took a bit of extra time to deal with ’em.They’re not used to trading.”
“Kids?”I tore my eyes away from the bag.“There are children?”
“Some.A group of them to the west, squatting in one of the villages.Looks to me like they found each other.And dodged some problems in doing so, though they won’t be safe forever.”
