“Someday, smithy,” Kage growled. “You can’t always be together. And then—”
Conrad straightened, his hands on his hips, his head tilted to the side. “Is that a threat?”
Kage’s muscles tensed, and he squeezed his fists until they shook. He took a step back, spun on his heel, and beckoned his friends to follow him into the dark forest with a jerk of his head. The leaves crunched under their boots as they disappeared from view.
Conrad stood over Finn, shaking his head. “How bad is it?”
“I think his ribs might be broken,” Ari said, staring into Finn’s eyes.
Finn frowned. He could feel her gaze, full of concern and sympathy, boring into him. He knew she must think him stupid and weak for getting himself into this and for not being able to stand up against Kage. “I’m fine,” he grumbled around a swelling lip.
Conrad lifted his eyebrows. “Can you walk?” He extended a helping hand.
Finn would have walked even if his foot were cut off. He wanted to prove he was strong for Ari. He gritted his teeth and clasped Conrad’s hand, standing up with a jolt that sent his head spinning. A sharp stab of pain pierced his side, and he cradled his ribs.
Conrad caught him around the shoulders, steadying him. “Father is going to be angry.”
Finn shrugged. “As usual. We have to see Ari home first. Then Father can punish me.”
Conrad nodded.
Ari slowly rose to her feet, her face twisted in concern. She inhaled deeply and looked into Finn’s eyes. “You were so very brave,” she said, barely above a whisper. Stepping forward, she kissed his cheek softly.
Finn’s eyes rounded in surprise. Startled but happy, he was uncertain how to respond.
A blush rushed over Ari’s cheeks before she turned away.
Finn’s joy was short-lived as he glanced at Conrad, who wore an amused grin. Finn scowled and gazed after Ari as she walked toward the forest. She had kissed him! His first kiss. A smile began to spread over his lips, and his cheek tingled where Ari’s lips had brushed his skin.
Perhaps Kage’s beating had been worth it.
Chapter One
Seven years later
Cavilton Castle
“Your father wants to speak with you.”
Ari felt a wave of dread wash over her as she gazed down at her father’s servant, John, from atop her horse. The chill of the winter winds blew through her hair and numbed her cheeks as she looked away from him toward the outer gatehouse, a pathway to freedom. She shivered as the morning breeze whipped her nose. Her horse, Charming, stomped in discomfort and snorted. She stared longingly toward the outer gatehouse of the castle. She had been home only a day and knew what her father, Lord Walter, wanted. He wanted her to pick a husband. She tightened her grip on the reins of the horse, debating. She had intended to ride to Finn’s smithy. She hadn’t seen him since she had left for her aunt’s castle two years ago.
Would she rather hear her father’s advice on picking a husband or see Finn? “I’ll speak with him when I return.” She spurred her horse before John could protest. There were many things her father would protest, many things she knew her father would not be happy about. Leaving without a guard, riding the horse as a man would. But right now, she didn’t care.
She had spent two years conforming to proper etiquette. Sitting sidesaddle, back straight. She rolled her eyes. Now she was home, and she wanted to shed societal expectations and feel the wind surge through her hair for a little bit. She wanted to be happy. She urged her horse out of the castle, through the raised portcullis, and down the road toward town. She had missed Finn terribly while she was away. She would have written to him, but he couldn’t read.
She spurred her horse on. The streets were spattered with villagers. Farmers loading wagons with baskets of vegetables, a red-haired merchant setting up a stand before his candle shop, a woman and a man walking quickly down the road. Ari didn’t recognize them, and she felt a heaviness in her chest. There was a time when she had known everyone in the village. But the town had changed. She wondered if Finn had.
When the smithy came into view, her heart quickened at the familiar building. It was a large watt and daub building. She saw the glow from the forge inside and heard the distant beating of iron on the anvil. Joy bubbled within her at the thought that it could be Finn. She halted her steed and quickly dismounted, her boots crunching on the gravel as she hurried to the door. She entered without knocking, as she had done dozens of times before.
A man was pounding a red-hot sword into shape on an anvil and paused to look up.
Ari smiled, recognizing Finn’s brother. “Conrad.”
Conrad’s mouth dropped open in surprise, and he bowed. “Lady Arianna.”
“Stop it,” she ordered, suspecting he was teasing her. Her gaze moved over the shop. A cauldron of water was beside the anvil and tools of all shapes and sizes hung from the wall. The forge gave off a familiar orange glow, radiating heat.
“He’s in back mucking out the stalls,” Conrad said with a knowing grin.
