Warna closed her eyes against bitter tears.
It was time.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Verice was seated at the high table, talking to Narthing, just starting to wonder why Warna was late when she appeared. She didn’t smile, didn’t head for her seat, just approached and stood before him.
In her eyes, he saw a look he both admired and feared. The determined, focused drink-the-entire-cup intention.
“Warna.” Verice placed his hands on the table as the room went quiet.
“Lord High Baron.” Warna wasn’t really looking at him; her red-rimmed eyes were focused slightly above his head. “I wish to thank you for the shelter and protection you have extended to me. As painful as it is, as much as we might wish it otherwise, it is time to make public what we both have come to know.”
‘Ancestors,’ Verice throat closed, his mouth as dry as the sun.
Warna’s face was stark as she turned away, facing the confused and dismayed gathering. “Lord High Baron Verice and I, by mutual agreement, have decided to sunder our betrothal, for reasons that are our own.” Warna’s back was straight and stiff, her voice clear. “I will depart for Summerford as soon as I may, to join with my great-uncle and his family. I thank you all.” Warna’s voice wavered, but she kept on. “I thank you all for the care and kindness I have received at your hands.”
With that, she walked out, the silence so deep Verice could hear her footsteps as she went through the main doors, heard her breaking into a run down the stairs and out into the courtyard.
“You’re an idiot,” Pernard said, not looking up from his plate.
The room was buzzing now, with angry glances being thrown his way.
Verice was aware of them as he stared out the doors, still stunned at Warna’s action.
“That’s a bit harsh,” Narthing said calmly. “But accurate.”
“In truth, the Lady Warna is a fine choice of a wife,” Ersal didn’t look up from his plate. “It strikes me that Lady Warna was a fine helpmate, skilled in running a household as large as this castle and keep.”
“It’s unlikely that you’d need to make a treaty or alliance marriage outside of Palins, given the current political situation,” Pernard added. “And certainly not with the Elven Kingdom. You should feel no hesitation to marry as you would wish. Besides,” and here the old mael cocked his head at Verice and gave him a sympathetic look. “There are few that would put up with your personality. Or be willing to overlook certain character flaws. Unless, of course, you’ve made her unhappy?”
Now his advisors were all glaring at him.
“No, that’s not—” Verice shook his head. “She’s—” he swallowed hard. “I’m—”
“I suspect that this is a misunderstanding. A private matter,” Narthing said. “Something that needs to be discussed between the two of you.” He raised an eyebrow as if waiting.
Constable Ricard leaned forward. “Go after her, you fool!”
Verice did just that. Striding from the Great Hall, down the stairs into the darkening courtyard. The dogs ran to greet him, milling around his feet.
The courtyard was empty. Verice looked to the walls, but there was no sign that the guards had noticed anything out of the ordinary. The castle gates were closed, so she was still—
The garden door was open.
“Hup, hup,” he commanded. Brindle and the entire pack focused on him. “Warna,” he commanded. “Find Warna.”
Tails wagging, heads high, the dogs set off for the garden door, barking with joy at the game.
Verice followed.
Warna ran, pickingup her skirts, blinded with tears, and found herself in the gardens.
She kept running, kept moving, afraid that her sorrow would catch up with her if she stopped. She hadn’t wanted to do it, to say it, and Verice’s face had been so shocked.
She ran until she couldn’t breathe, and her face was a mess, and the path was narrowing because the gardeners hadn’t come this far yet. She slowed, wiping her face with her hands, and finally gave up and used her skirts to wipe her eyes and blow her nose. It didn’t matter, nothing mattered, not anymore.
And she kept walking, brushing aside leaves and branches, still crying, because she knew full well that she still had to face Verice, still had to talk to him, damn it, and it all hurt so very much.
