Page 64 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

She shrugged. “You can shoot.”

“Poorly as you saw the other day.”

“You could work on your skills with the others.”

“Why do you want to teach them to hunt?”

She bit her lip. “Women have no legal right to earn their own income without the patronage of male relatives.” Her eyelashes fluttered as she rolled her eyes. “But if they could hunt, they could provide food for their families, and they could sell the furs for money.”

“Illegally.”

She grinned. “As I said.”

A horse in the distance nickered and pranced a few steps forward. “Well, that’s not as bad as I’d initially thought. Maybe you went about telling me the right way.” She chuckled, and I ran my finger over the coarse fabric of my sleeve. “I’m assuming you don’t intend to bring these women into the palace grounds?”

She shook her head.

“So, your plan also involves me sneaking out against my brother’s knowledge?”

“Yes.”

I sighed. “What if we asked Cyn?”

“And if he says no?”

Valerian exited the stables and strode towards us. I swallowed past a knot in my throat. Cyn probably would say no. Actually, he’d definitely say no with Father’s instructions for me to remain at the palace in his absence. And, that aside, Hyacinth wouldn’t want to take on one more unpopular quest with the advisors right now anyway. “I’m not sure if I can do this.”

Temi shrugged. “Do what you feel is right. But, I’m going to. I’d like you to join me, but I understand if you can’t.”

If you can’t.

How many times in my life had I faced those words?

Gods, I was tired of being told I couldn’t or shouldn’t.

And what little freedom and happiness I had would soon slip through my fingers as I did yet another duty-bound thing.

What harm would there be in helping a few women? How much trouble could we get into? Temi turned, but I grabbed her arm. “No, wait.” She cocked an eyebrow up, and I nodded. “I’ll do it.” My shoulders raised with a breath. “I want to do it.”

She grinned. “I thought you might.”

Valerian walked up, brushing his thick hair back. “Do you ladies need me anymore today?”

“No,” I said at the same time that Temi thrust her hand on her hip and said, “Do you know how to hunt?”

I gasped, blood draining from my face and fixed Temi with a look, which she pointedly ignored. Valerian studied me for a moment before turning to Temi, his voice coming warily. “I do.”

“What are your feelings on bending a few rules?”

His eyes flicked between the two of us as storm clouds puffed against the sky like smoke behind him. His jaw took on a careful jut, but his words came playfully. “What kind of waywardness are you two about to pull me into?”

Temi’s grin widened. “What kind will you allow us to draw you into?”

Valerian’s lips pinched up somewhere between a scowl and a smirk. “I’m listening.”

21

Hyacinth