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“He said she didn’t want to talk to me. I accepted his challenge and lost, and now I’m honor bound to leave without her.”

“She clearly cares for you,” he says, perplexed. “Why wouldn’t she want to see you after she gave herself to you?”

Did she give herself to me? No. Not completely.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I told her we would marry.”

Thomas coughs. So loudly, I think there might be something wrong with him.

“Are you well?”

“You asked Aedre to marry you?”

“Aye.”

And then I think back, as best as I’m able.

“Mayhap I didn’t ask. I assumed ’twas already decided.”

He makes a sound, stands up, and then pushes me back onto the bed. I let him, only because I am really, really tired.

“You’ve strange notions of love, Vanni. You do not demand marriage from a woman like Aedre. Though I know her only from afar, ’tis enough to know you are a fool.”

Strange notions of love? I have no notions of love. My parents died. The king and queen do not love one another. Few at court marry for love.

I know how to wield a sword. How to lead an army of men. How to inspire loyalty in those who follow me. How to be a good subject to the king.

I know many things. But love? The thought is laughable.

I reach out, grab the hilt of my sword to ensure myself it’s there.

And then I let the dreamworld take me.

“A bargain is struck, then.”

Stokerton stands.

We met alone this time. And a good thing, as I’m sick to death of Thomas’s snickering. All morn he has kept giving me glances that indicate he knows something I do not. But whenever I’ve asked him about it, the bastard just laughs.

“You understand I will pursue my purpose here?” Stokerton says, reaching out a hand. “Until we reach an official agreement, we are, in effect, at war.”

“If you can convince the Voyagers to fight for the queen, so be it.”

For now, an agreement that we will speak to our respective rulers, proposing peace, will have to be enough.

Unlike those we serve, neither Stokerton nor I need to consider the will of noblemen whose power and influence can turn support toward or against us. We’ve nothing to lose and are therefore in a position to act as righteously as we want. To hope for peace this land has never seen. At least, not since the kingdoms split.

“You will send word?” I ask.

“Aye.”

When he smiles, I remind myself this is my enemy. One who’s in love with Queen Cettina. He speaks of her as I might . . .

As I might of Aedre.

With adoration.

With reverence.