AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Helga balked at the subterfuge, but even she had relented in the end. I promised her, and myself, that we would hold a proper service for Willem later. He would be remembered and mourned, and his life would be celebrated the way it should have been today.
I watch the flames burn brighter and climb higher, until the death song ends and everyone slowly moves back indoors.
All but one.
Odger’s beady black eyes pierce me from across the pyre. There’s a hint of a curious smile on his fur covered face as his eyes flicker between my expression and the burning corpse behind me.
Is it a coincidence that the person I trust least in this castle is friendly with the alchemist? The man I was warned not to trust?
Or am I overthinking this? The letter could be referring to Ulla, or anyone else...
I rub my temple, and Odger’s jaw twitches as he studies my expression.
While I don’t want any of my people to hide, I almost prefer him in the mask. At least then I don’t have to look at the semblance of the weasel he has always been. He dips his head in a nod and turns to follow the others.
Bastard.
Leif’s voice pulls me from my thoughts as he mutters a prayer for Willem before turning to go back into the castle. Eventually, Helga follows, silent and steady as always. Gunnar and I stay, though, until the pyre has done its job and only fragments of bone remain. Willem deserves that much.
I knowit was my plan, but I can’t bring myself to face Zaina so soon after her funeral. Instead, I turn and head straight for the barracks. Gunnar follows as if he knows this is exactly what I need.
Maybe it’s what he needs, too. The man doesn’t have all of the facts, but he has enough to be justified in feeling angry.
We choose our swords quickly. It isn’t long before the sound of metal is clashing, and the force of our blows effectively pushes each thought from my mind.
Gunnar matches me blow for blow, deftly maneuvering out of reach before bringing his training sword back down with more force than necessary.
This only makes me push back harder. Sweat drips from my scalp as I take out every ounce of rage that has been building within me since the moment I awoke without Zaina in my bed.
The moment I was betrayed by someone I trusted, again.
The sound of steel rings out, our blades locking in place.
Fooled into thinking I could actually find happiness.
I push away from Gunnar, narrowly avoiding his arching blade coming toward my neck.
Deceived.
He stumbles, and I take the opening, running toward my guard and friend, barreling into him, forcing him to the ground. His blade flies from his hand, but his foot connects with my chest, knocking the air from my lungs as I fall backward.
Forced into giving a damn about a woman who is, at her very core, a liar.
Gunnar leaps to his feet, reaching a hand out to help me off of the ground. I take it, and we clasp wrists before hanging up our swords. When we part ways, I don’t find the usual relief that comes from sparring.
I feel no less agitated than I had when I walked in here, because one fact keeps resounding in my head. One thought runs wild and eats at me.
Nothing between us was real.
And what bothers me most about that is that I care about that at all.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Zaina
When I’ve stood under the water for so long that my fingers and toes have shriveled up into little more than raisins, I grab one of Einar’s many soaps at random. It’s newer than the others, and has a distinct jasmine scent, which ismyfavorite. I’ve never told him that, though, and can’t guess at why it would be in here.
Unless I was wrong before when I thought there was no sign of another woman. My stomach turns unexpectedly sour at that, although it’s not like it isn’t going to happen, now that he’s a widow in the court’s eyes and... I don’t know what he is in his own eyes.
