Deckard raised his brow. “Did she?”
Thom hesitated. He looked over his shoulder, catching sight of Brea riding far in the back. He didn’t want to break her trust, but this was his brother. And Deckard wouldn’t believe him if Thom didn’t tell the truth.
With a sigh, Thom turned back. “She loves someone else,” he whispered. “I’m just a fun distraction while we’re on the road, and she’s waiting for the Alliance to arrange her marriage to some Mage.”
That caused Deckard to frown.
“That’s her sacrifice,” Thom said. “You know how these Alliance saps are. They rather remind me of you, actually, with that ‘all for king and country’ nonsense.”
Deckard gave him a perturbed look.
Thom eased his humor to warn, “She told me in confidence, though, so maybe don’t let her know I said anything.”
Deckard’s expression softened, understanding dawning in his eyes. “That’s why she won’t defend herself against Ilain’s accusation. She doesn’t want anyone to know.”
Thom’s lips lifted in a wry grin. “Fantastic, isn’t it? I finally find a woman who actually enjoys my company, and she’s already taken.”
Deckard cast him a disapproving look. “She’s twice your age,” he reiterated.
“It’s a joke, Jonn. I’m not interested in magical sorts. It’s a recipe for heartbreak.” Thom smirked, hoping to lighten the mood. “To be honest, I’m considering writing to Evie’s sister. You know, the one with those curls and the pink dresses.”
“Calyn?”
“That’s the one. She was quite pretty.”
“She was childish.”
“No more than me.”
Deckard shook his head. “You wouldn’t be happy with her.”
“Why not?”
“She’s too...” Deckard paused, and Thom knew he was searching for a polite description. “She isn’t serious enough for you. Besides, I don’t think she’d want to leave her village.”
Thom waggled his brow suggestively, giving his best Rafferty impression. “I bet I could convince her.”
“Why would you want to?”
Thom sighed. “Because I’m tired, Jonn. I’m twenty-eight years old, and I’m alone. Our world is about to change, and if, by some miracle, I make it through alive, I don’t want to return to who I was. I’m not a Mage or a Warrior. I’m a man. And I can accept that now.”
Deckard studied him warily. “That doesn’t mean you have to marry a woman you don’t love.”
“You married a woman you didn’t love,” Thom countered. “And look how well that turned out.”
Deckard pressed his lips together, considering. “You’re right.”
“Of course I am. I’m bloody wise, I’ll have you know.”
“But,” Deckard raised his brow, “you still shouldn’t marry Calyn.”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“Because I’m already your brother once,” he teased. “I don’t care to be your brother a second time.”
Thom chuckled. “Maybe I’ll seek out one of your old sweethearts, then. The last one was pretty and had a tolerable personality. Helena, right?”
“You wouldn’t like her.”
