Rykr stopped short. “Creatures?”
I turned to him, quirking a brow. “Why? You’re not afraid of the creatures of the Dreadwood, are you?”
“The first one I encountered attacked, so I think that’s justified.”
“The vuk’s attack was unusual. I’ve never seen one do that.” I still hadn’t decided whether it attacked because it saw Rykr on top of me first. Would it have left us alone if we’d been by ourselves? “But I meant bigger creatures. Like centaurs. We spent one summer in a dragon’s nesting grounds, but I barely remember it. I think I was seven.”
“And you regularly interact with these creatures?”
“Rarely. But dragons are hard to miss.”
His expression remained skeptical.
But he also probably wouldn’t have believed in vuks before, either.
“None of those creatures exist in Lirien?” I continued toward the clearing where the market was held. Much as I hated to admit it, I didn’t mind his company. With my friends and Tara and Madoc moving up in rank in the Vangar, conversation was welcome. Our shifts often kept us apart.
“The treaty Seth mentioned yesterday—King Anders’s—set aside the Dreadwood for the Lirien’s magic creatures. But that was over three hundred years ago. Most of what we know about the forest now is just legend.”
“How did you read the treaty?” I plucked a tall blade of grass as we drew closer to the market stalls. “I thought all those documents were locked in the vaults of Ederyn.”
“They are. But I’ve spent some time in Ederyn.” He paused, then added, “For my Sealing.”
Ederyn. My parents had recounted so many stories of their life there that I felt connected to it. The realization struck me. Of course the Sealing took place there. Even though I knew more about the Sealing than most Viori, I’d never considered that’s where it happened.
“You’ve seen the Golden City of Suomelin?”
“I have. And walked in the Hall of Kings. The Sealing is usually done in the throne room.”
The throne room. The idea of him standing there, where my father had undergone the same ceremony …
My breath hitched. The thought of my father—of his history with Lirien, of the king who’d put a bounty on his head—settled like a stone in my chest. And now that threat was all too real. For all I knew, the spy who’d captured Esme had dragged Father back to Suomelin now, too.
Instead, I said, “My mother tells me the repositories in Suomelin are so filled with books you can barely see the ceilings.”
“That’s a slight exaggeration, but yes, the repositories are vast. But I take it you can’t go there?”
“None of the Viori are allowed to leave. If we do, we’re treated as Liriens if we return. But my family isn’t welcome in Lirien anyway. If any of us—” I’d said too much.
Rykr has no intention of staying here.
Not that it mattered now. What my father had always feared had happened. Someone had found him. Tried to manipulate him.
We reached the stall where my mother and Tara were already setting out wares.
Mother’s sharp gaze swept over me before flicking to Rykr, her worry barely concealed. Why do I feel like she’s not telling me everything about the oath?
Or maybe she just hates that I bound myself to a Lirien.
“You’re walking upright,” Mother said to Rykr, astonishment in her voice.
“Apparently, your salves work better than most. Thank you. The pain is manageable.” He offered a polite smile.
“Well, that’s lucky for you. How is the happy couple this morning?” Tara teased. “Thanks to you two, I spent most of the night washing our cart—it still smells like death. I can’t get the stench out of my hands.”
Rykr stiffened beside me. “Thank you for your help yesterday, Tara. And for getting my sword.”
“I’m sorry Seth took it before I could return it to you.” Tara made a face. “Just so you know, I saw him wearing it today. I’d suggest both of you try to look the other way.”
