Page 72 of The Ashborn

She tried not to look up, her cheeks warm. Ruva’s warning was well-timed, Connak quick to appear above the ship, helping to ease the tension between them now.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he said. He glanced at Danek’s hands, then to Kienna, pursing his lips. I didn’t mean to interrupt. His voice was distant in Kienna’s mind. Ash is doing alright.

To Danek, he said, “We need to go back to the Malintale. Tislin managed to neutralize the threat of the shadow weapons for now, but we need to start preparing for more.” He looked at Kienna as if reading her mind. “No movement from River Storm yet.”

Danek stepped forward, sharing one more glance with Kienna before he fell backward and let the wind carry him down. Kienna struggled to hide the smile playing at her lips. Turning to Connak, her shoulders slumped. “Connak⁠—”

Connak held his hand up. “Let’s sit.”

Kienna leaned against the planks of the ship’s wall. Connak sat next to her and exhaled. “I’ve been looking for the right time to tell you…” He looked around the ship, anywhere but her. His hands battled against each other, drumming on his knee. “You know, before war made ghosts of everyone, they say the Elvish learned to tie themselves to one another. It wasn’t a ceremony of law or anything like that, but it was a promise of magic.”

“Really, Connak?” Kienna sighed, tilting her head against the planks. “You Elvish love your folklore.”

“Amuse me?” Connak turned to her, eyes pleading.

“Alright, tell me about it.”

“The Elvish are self-preserving. These bonds…they were built for survival. When one was in danger, the other could feel it. It wasn’t romantic.” He waved his hand when Kienna started to lean forward, assuring her of what she was immediately feeling. “It is binding, though.”

Kienna paused to comprehend what exactly he was trying to tell her. Why now? Why this? She knew why, of course. What he was hinting at, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to acknowledge it. “That’s heavier than love. Surely that’s not… I… Is that another lore you’re making up, or is that real?”

Connak hesitated, then shook his head. “Maybe. Maybe not. As you said, we love our folklore. There are rumors, though. About⁠—”

“Hey!” Danek called up. “Tislin’s waiting!”

Connak leaned his head against the wall and then rolled his neck to look at Kienna. She could feel him staring, but her eyes remained fixed on the walls in front of her. “Do you love him?”

Kienna dipped her head to the side, finally looking at him. “Connak⁠—”

“He loves you.”

Her heart fluttered to hear those words, but it also ached. Connak complicated matters. He was there, in her mind. Maybe not all the time, but he was there. That’s what he was trying to tell her. All feelings aside, he was telling her that their mind link was bound, and he wasn’t going away. She gulped for air.

“And I love you,” he said.

Kienna’s heart stopped.

I didn’t see him admitting that one so quickly, Ruva said.

“You’re on a path now, Kienna. One where who loves whom isn’t going to make a difference. I only needed to be able to say it once before we all go mad.” Connak stood and jumped from the ship, a large breeze blowing Kienna’s hair over her face.

What am I supposed to do with any of that? Kienna asked Ruva.

I think Connak is telling you not to focus on love.

I’m not.

Eh, you’ve been drooling.

Kienna crossed her arms and leaned over the opening of the ship. Danek and Connak were gone from below. I should find Ash, right?

Tomorrow, Little Flame. Moira’s all alone.

Chapter 28

—Broan—

Broan returned to the jarl’s home with Ithril around dinner time. He promised Kaelthar he would at least keep his word and let his mother dine with him. A younger Viking woman answered the door when he arrived. She had dirty brown hair, tousled with braids, jewels in her ears, and wore a simple, orange dress. She curtsied. Broan turned to his Elvish companion and smirked. He’d only been there a day, and maidens were curtsying. “I’m here for the jarl.”