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Yeah, I was young for such a commitment, so my mind inevitably ran through all the logical scenarios, but did I even want anyone else? The answer was swift and resolute… and it didn’t come from my mind.
No. I didn’t want anyone else but her. Evie was it for me.
Everything I said to her last night was true. I would fight for her. I would be the stable boy turned knight for her, and maybe then, I could be the man everyone else believed she needed by her side to rule her kingdom. I would raise her up, not bring her down. I’d share that burden with her because I knew what it was to carry the world on my shoulders, and no one should have to do that alone.
Hanging the wet towel on one of the clothes lines, I grabbed my spear from the rack and headed for the door. Deciding to search for Kingston, I attempted to take the right corridor, but my steps halted instantly. A woman stood smack in the middle of the way, with a scrutinizing look on her expression.
“Uh, hello,” I mumbled, trying to figure out whether she was checking out my body or just attempting to figure me out.
“Are you the warrior who aided Princess Evanna and brought her here safe?”
It was the latter.
Suddenly, I realized that was the perfect chance to rack up points for my Cinderella transformation, so I puffed up my chest and lifted my chin proudly. “Yes, I am the one who saved her.”
A single onyx brow arched dubiously, and she snickered at me. “Okay, hero. Calm yourself down a bit.”
The woman’s lips twitched when my shoulders fell. That wasnotthe reaction I was expecting. I really sucked at this. “I’m Braxton, but you can call me Brax. I just started training with Kingston.” I shrugged, extending a hand to her, but she didn’t take it.
“I am Lady Willow, caretaker and best friend to Princess Evanna. It is nice to meet you, Braxton.”
Based on her clothes alone, I should have known she was high in the hierarchy somehow. Her outfit was very similar to the ones I had seen Evie wear, with a jeweled tone skirt and top.. Except, she had a long coat on her, made thick from the fur it had inside it, and it was soft, embroidered brown leather, instead of silk. The deep red tones complemented her pale skin and onyx hair attractively.
“Pleasure to meet you too, Willow,” I offered with a full smile, which fell the moment she narrowed her eyes on me.
“I didn’t say that you could call me Willow.”
Shit. “I’m sorry, I—”
“I’m just kidding.” She laughed quietly, shaking her head as though she cracked herself up, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Willow is fine, it’s what everyone calls me. Are you ready to meet Kingston and the others? They are waiting for you.”
“The others? Wait, Kingston sent you to find me?”
“No. I just wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about.”
My chuckles returned as she spun and began to walk, motioning me to go with her. “So, what is the verdict?”
“You are weird,” she concluded, throwing me a side-glance. “Why are you wearing your sleeping shirt with your warrior suit?”
Suit?? This was barely a pair of pants. “I’m cold,” I replied instead, not wanting to get into details.
Willow nodded. “Yeah, one of the downfalls of living inside the mountain, the sun doesn’t fully heat up the place until after it's out and about. Its light reaches us early, but the warmth takes a good while to seep in. Today is much colder than usual though. You weren’t given a coat when you arrived?”
“No, just the linen outfit to sleep in, the leather pants and these boots.”
“I’ll make sure you get one.”
“Thank you… so aside from weird?” I asked, beginning to descend the stairs with her, and a small smirk tilted her lips.
“Handsome, nice, and brave. You’ll fit right in with the warriors.”
I never thought of myself as handsome, but I was glad to hear it. “Good to know. Although, I didn’t think being handsome was a requirement to be in the legion.”
“Well, if it isn’t, it should be!” she declared, winking at me and I grinned.
“But I should clarify, I don’t think me helping Evanna had anything to do with bravery. I just couldn’t allow anything to happen to her.”
She rolled her eyes. “Humble too, what a gem.” Her steps paused right next to the double doors that led outside. “I didn’t say you were brave for helping her,” Willow huffed. “But it takes real courage to talk to me.”
Grinning devilishly, she pushed the doors open like the place was hers to command, and exited the castle... my laughter followed.
I liked her already.
