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I bubbled out a laugh, only to burst forth crying even harder than before.
Indigo let me weep on him until everything inside me was dry. After that, he listened quietly without interrupting as I told him the whole story, the good and the bad. I only left out the intimate parts that were none of his business.
When I was finished, he merely nodded, thoughtfully digesting my tale. He didn’t scream or rage at me, telling me what an idiot I’d been or lecture me about how my rash actions always got me into trouble. He must’ve known there was no need. My lesson was learned.
Squeezing my hand, he merely said, “Well, all right, then. I guess that door’s closed. Let’s go home to your family
now.”
But when he started to tug me toward his horse, I pulled up short, shaking my head. “Except, no,” I said. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”
He paused, sending me an odd look. “Excuse me, what?”
“I’m not going home,” I announced, straightening my back.
“What do you mean, you’re not going home?” Indigo stepped toward me. “Hell yes, you’re going home. I’m taking you there right now.”
“Indigo,” I tried. “That girl needs help. She’s Farrow’s sister, and he loves her. When I don’t show up at the castle with him, her life will be forfeit. Because of me. I can’t do that to her. She’s an innocent child.”
“So, then—what—you just want to turn yourself in to King Torrance to save her?”
“Of course not,” I muttered. “But I can do something. I can fight for her, help Farrow try to sneak her out of the dungeon. Anything. I can’t just do nothing.”
“You’re seriously going to return to him? Just like that?”
“I—” I sent him a short frown. “Just because we’re on the outs doesn’t mean I shouldn’t help him. And who knows…” I shrugged, feeling hope where I probably shouldn’t. “Maybe this’ll help repair what’s wrong with us. And if not…” I nodded to him. “Then you and I can go home afterward until he improves his values.”
“We?” He arched one eyebrow, and I realized I’d just included him in my mission to help Sable without his consent.
Splaying out a hand, I said, “Not that I’m forcing you to accompany me, of course. You can return home now if you like. I’ll do this by myself. But I am doing it.”
Scowling, he stiffened his spine over such a suggestion, even as he growled, “Some other kingdom’s princess is not our problem, Nic. What happened to her was terrible, but you can’t save everyone.”
I ignored him for a moment to concentrate on shimmying my pack off my shoulders and securing it to one of the dead men’s horses. Then I hauled myself up into the saddle and finally glanced at my bodyguard. “Maybe I can’t, but I’m at least going to try to save her.”
She was the most important thing in Farrow’s life. Of course, I would do what I could to assist.
“Just so you know, I’d rather face down a filthy, incestual Graykey in a dark alley than take you anywhere near that castle right now,” Indy grumbled, even as he found his own horse and moodily climbed into the saddle. “But if you insist on making this fool’s mission, then as your assigned bodyguard, I’m going with you.”
I sent him a winning smile, glad he’d decided to tag along. It made me feel better about my decision to do this than any other decision I’d made all day.
Things were going to work out; I could just feel it.
“Thank you,” I told him gratefully. “You’re the best friend a girl could have, you know that?”
When he merely grunted and scowled at me, I started my horse into a trot, leaving the dead men where they lay near the unlit pyre, and couldn’t help but tease, “Even if you have a rather unhealthy and obsessive dislike for the poor Graykey clan.”
“Poor Graykey clan?” he cried in horror, just as I knew he would. “I assure you, my lady, nothing in the history of their entire house warrants even a smidgeon of sympathy. The Graykeys have been terrorizing the Outer Realms since the beginning of time. If they’re not mating with each other, then they’re killing one another, and not giving a whit about the rest of us who usually end up as collateral damage during their damned family feuds. House Moast has lost members every time they’ve had one of their repulsive reapings. Do you even realize what happens during a Graykey reaping?”
“I realize it doesn’t matter,” I countered saucily, happy I’d diverted him off the topic of our current mission. “Since your High Cliff countrymen had them all rounded up and executed. House Graykey is no more, dear friend, ergo you can stop talking about them in the present tense.”
“If only I could,” Indigo muttered, darkly. “Because we didn’t catch them all. King Bjorn’s still trying to track down the last few and finish them off for good.”
“Well, I really don’t see why he bothers.” It made no sense to me. “All the truly dangerous Graykeys have been eliminated. Why can’t the last bit who didn’t cause any mischief go about their business in peace?”
“Because, dear princess,” Indigo explained impatiently. “Their entire bloodline has been tainted by a dark and powerful curse, one that follows them generation after generation.”
“Well, that’s not their fault.”
