“So long! Have you traveled with him for much of it?” the princess asked.
“No, Your Highness, we only married four months ago, so I just began to travel with him then.”
“Oh, you must have missed him terribly during your courtship.”
Evylin didn’t bother to correct her assumption.
“I heard about his station when you saved Caspar,” Henriette said. “But what did he do prior?”
Evylin couldn’t answer.
Thom leaned forward and offered, “He worked in Colonel Caarter’s regiment for roughly five years. They traveled most of the border, ensuring the officers there had enough supplies and followed protocol.”
“That sounds awfully important,” Henriette remarked.
Thom shrugged. “He was a glorified courier.”
Evylin struggled to contain her snort and took a bite to cover it.
“Ah,” Henriette said, seeming oblivious to the snide statement. “Now, I’m not familiar with the details, Private Deckard, but as a soldier, how long does your commission last?”
“Well, I’m not sure,” Evylin said. “The traditional soldier has a ten-year contract. But I’m not officially a soldier, you see. I never signed a commission, so I believe that I simply work at the king’s leisure.”
“Oh.” The princess sounded disappointed. Her brown eyes shone sadly. “Couldn’t that last forever?”
“I suppose it could.” Though not once Allund was raised.
“Don’t you want to have children?”
Evylin blinked, and Thom shifted uncomfortably at her side. “Yes,” she murmured uncertainly. “One day.”
“And your husband? He seems like such an honorable man. I’m sure he would make an excellent father.”
“He would,” Evylin agreed, though she and Deckard had never outright discussed children. She assumed he wanted them, but she couldn’t say for sure, especially not now that they were a Bonded Mage and Warrior, certain to live for another century or more. Did that change his feelings about having a family? Did it change hers?
Henriette patted Evylin’s hand, a happy smile on her face. “I’m sure His Majesty would excuse you once you chose to start a family. Won’t that be wonderful? You and your husband could retire to the countryside. I’ve heard it’s beautiful. Maybe you could live in a cottage, like in the storybooks.”
Evylin didn’t feel the smile she gave the woman. “Perhaps,” she said, then turned to her plate. She stabbed a large chunk of roasted beef and shoved it into her mouth to avoid any more conversation.
Chewing slowly, Evylin glanced at Deckard. He thanked the servant who’d just refilled his wine glass, and she furrowed her brow, studying him discreetly. Who was her husband? Did he want children? Would he like a cottage in the countryside? All this time, he was so good and giving, promising to supplyherdreams, and yet he’d never once stated whathedreamed of. Did he even like adventure? Would he be happy to settle in Loclight, filling their house with furniture and children, turning it into a home? Would there even be a Loclight when the Alliance was through?
“He won’t want that,” Thom whispered at Evylin’s side. She met his sharp gaze, and he smiled. “He doesn’t approve of the mundane.”
“Are you sure?” Evylin whispered back.
“He married you, didn’t he?”
She chuckled softly. “I mean, are you sure he wouldn’t want to live in the countryside?”
“Why would he?”
Evylin shrugged. “It’s beautiful, restful, away from danger. It could be a good place to raise a family.” She furrowed her brow. “Does he want a family?”
Thom’s eyes widened. “Shouldn’t you know the answer to that yourself?”
She pursed her lips. “Ishouldknow a lot of things. But I’m stuck here wondering how it is that Ethenn knows Ilain better than I know Jonn.”
Thom blew a silent raspberry. “He made all that stuff up.”
