Thecarriage.
Kolden follows on another horse, posture strong and sturdy. His long sheet of tawny hair stuck to the back of his equally sodden garb as he looks around, pinched gaze sweeping in my direction.
I duck, heart leaping into my throat.
I won’t get another chance like this. Either I sit here staring at the sea, feeling sorry for myself, avoiding all my problems until they metastasize or I shove it all deep, pick myself up, chase that carriage down, and try to convince Kolden not to snitch on me.
Perhaps they saw Gael.
Perhaps they know if she’s okay.
The thought has me leaping up just as they turn down the bridge, and I chase them on silent steps—dashing from one slab of shadow to the next. The carriage spills onto the palace grounds, and I wait until the soldier manning the bridge has his attention dug into a pine-leaf pouch, pipe caught between his teeth, before I peel free from the darkness and flit forward on feet that barely hit the ground.
Pausing behind a bush while I gather my breath, I watch the carriage settle close to the gates. Watch Kolden steer his horse onto the patch of grass below my balcony, a frown staining this face.
My gut cramps, guilt crouching heavily on my chest.
He looks pissed.
Stealing a nervous glance up the tall walls, I lift my chin and step beside him as he heaves his leg over the back of his horse and drops out of the saddle.
He spins, jolting, hand slamming against his chest. “Fu—”
“Hi.”
He blows out a breath, gaze sweeping the grounds, before shielding me with his horse, looking straight at me. “Permission to speak frankly?” he bites out, and I wince.
“Yes …”
“What the fuck?”
“I deserve that,” I admit, tucking sodden hair off my face.
His gaze snags on my split knuckles, eyes widening.
I whisk my hand behind my back and pretend he didn’t see. “Have you heard from Gael?”
He watches me for a long moment, unblinking, stare tracking over the throbbing spot on my temple. “Orlaith—”
“Have you?” I insist, desperation riding my tone.
“Yes, I have.”
A pit of emotion swells in my throat that’s hard to swallow past, my hand stabbing back to steady myself against the wall. It takes every ounce of self control not to crumble into a ball of relief.
She’s alive … She’s okay …
I didn’t kill her.
“A maid came out with a scroll baring Gael’s family seal.” He digs through his pocket, pulls out the scroll, and waves it at me. “Said you’d decided to walk back to the palace because you needed someair.Is that what happened? Did you need air?”
I nod, too scared to blink for fear of sending tears dashing down my cheeks. “Yes, that’s exactly what happened. I’m sorry to have worried you.”
“Not only did youworryme,” he growls in hushed tones, pointing toward the carriage, “but these men were under strict instructions not to let you roam the city on your own. You put usallat risk! Forgive me …” He clears his throat, jaw clenched as he regains himself. “I’m done being frank.”
“Well, I’m back now, so …”Cainon doesn’t even need to know.
Kolden sighs, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose—a look that reminds me of Baze and makes my throat ache. “Fine. You go upstairs before the High Master gets back and sees you like that,” he says, flicking a hand at me. “I’ll talk to the other men.”
