I dressed quickly and draped the bow over my shoulder, along with its matching quiver before I slipped out of my chambers.
“Going hunting?” Fyn passed me in the corridor. “I wasn’t aware you were fond of the sport.”
“There is much you aren’t aware of, Fyn,” I said.
“It does seem to be your mission to always keep us all on our toes.” He chuckled.
“You mean my watchful companion wasn’t aware of my new gift?”
“Believe it or not, Lioran and I do not discuss everything with each other. I’m not sure why he thinks giving you a weapon is a good choice, but he must have a reason.”
A smirk settled on my face as I rolled my eyes.
“Join me?”
“As much as I’d love to see you beat me, as I’m sure you would, I have to attend to a shipment for Othryl.” The light in his eyes dimmed.
“You were able to secure medical supplies?”
“Some. I should be going.” Fyn nodded as he left.
I wished I could relieve the pain Othryl, and the other villages felt, but I didn’t know how. My magic restored very little. New blooms wouldn’t be enough to save anyone.
The sun greeted me the moment I set outside; its familiar hug embraced me. Lioran waited on a bench.
“You’re up early this morning,” he said as I approached. “The bow suits you.”
“Thank you. I didn’t think you heard me.”
“I heard every word.” He lifted the bow over my head and tucked it under his arm. “I had a target set up for you in the clearing.”
We set off down the stone path together. “I’ve been longing to practice again. This bow is so much more beautiful than the one I left behind in Bailoc.”
“It surprised me to hear you enjoyed the pastime.”
My smile faded, remembering the look on Cael’s face. “An old friend taught me.”
“You miss this friend?” His head tilted.
“Yes. He protected me always.” I clutched the quiver strap that lay across my chest.
His expression hardened. “This friend…was he more than a friend?”
“No,” I quickly replied. “He was a knight who taught me so I could protect myself. He saw too much in his rounds in Bailoc. Everything I knew about the blight, about the unrest, was all because he told me. No one else would.”
The ripples of the water followed us as we walked alongside the river. The memory raced through my mind. My dagger aimed at my friend. His desperation. Mine.
“What’s wrong?”
“He tried to stop me at the divide.” I wasn’t sure if I should even speak of the rest. “I pointed my dagger at him.”
Lioran stopped in front of me. “Whatever you had to do to escape—to get here. It doesn’t matter. You’re here. You’re safe.”
I tried to still my breath, but I couldn’t stop picturing Cael’s face.
“He didn’t know why I was so desperate—until I told him. I still remember how he looked at me like I was someone he couldn’t accept. He never looked at me like that before. Cael was one of the few people who never treated me like a burden.”
“He let you go.” Lioran’s voice held steady.
