AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Who am I meant to be?”
“I don’t know, but not that. You are more than the Queen's Huntsman. You are someone and something outside of that title.”
He sighed deeply as if he exhaled his entire soul. It was a sound so full of regret that it clenched my heart.
“I don’t think I am.”
“That is your first mistake,” I whispered, stifling a yawn.
We fell asleep with those words between us. I knew Sahlyn Asher was more than the Queen’s Huntsman, but I think he had been beaten and broken into believing he wasn’t. The queen tortured him into thinking he had nothing andwasnothing but what she made him. He believed he had no future. He needed to get out of the contract, and I wished I could help, but I had problems of my own to contend with. I couldn’t worry about him.
The following day, I expected us to part ways, but Sahlyn surprised me by following me to my horse, then to the gate, and through it. As we descended past the city, I glanced at him. Perhaps he would follow me to the fork in the road that would bring him back to Savine.
But when that fork came and went, and his horse remained beside mine, I stared at him in curiosity.
He caught my gaze, and his lips twitched. “I'll see you to your friend.”
Instead of arguing, as I should have, I said a simple thanks. I didn't want to pass by where the wolf had attacked him on my own. And I undoubtedly wasn't pissing in the woods again without someone having my back. Of course, Sahlyn did unforgivable things, and he terrified me a little, but it was easy to be grateful for his presence.
He had opened his mouth to debate but shut it when I gave gratitude instead of argument. He nodded, and we got moving.
“Do you have any siblings?” I’d been biting my tongue for hours, but the silence was deafening, and I was curious.
“One older brother. He used to beat the shit out of me,” a small smile edged across Sahlyn’s lips. “I miss him.”
“When was the last time you were home?
“Over five years now. I had been gallivanting for months before Amira called on me. So I never got to speak with them.”
“She won't let you visit them?”
He shrugged. “It's not in our contract, to my knowledge, although most things on it are up for interpretation. I don't want them to see what I've become. I send them letters to let them know I'm alive.”
I sighed. That was sad. “Where did you grow up?”
He gave me a long look. We’d been quiet around each other since our words last night, and I should not get involved more than I already was. I didn’t even dare to use his name for fear of getting attached—for intimacy between us, so to know more about him was foolish, but I was curious.
He was silent another moment before he said, “A little fishing village south of Pearl Bay.”
That's why he had a touch of an accent and likely the reason his skin was golden even in spring.
Jay. Jay.I smiled before I even looked up. Iro circled us. I sucked in a deep breath. He had stayed away with Sahlyn close, but I was thankful the bird showed himself, so I knew he was okay. The timing, though, made me wonder if he was warning me. He was too far away to mind-speak to me.
When I looked back at Sahlyn, he was staring at me. I swallowed. “I… Uh. I like birds.” He lifted a brow, and I rolled my eyes. “I have this connection to animals of the Neverwood. Birds especially.”
His eyes scanned the skies and watched the bird. He evaluated my words. “That Jay is from the Neverwood?”
I didn't tell anyone about my relationship with the animals. Gaining magic to infuse weapons was strange enough; I was afraid that mind speaking with a bluejay would push my parents over the edge. I'm pretty sure Ativan had his suspicions, though. Iro was selective about who he showed himself around; Ativan was one of them.
“Yes. He… followed me.”
Sahlyn lifted a dubious brow. “That’s a handy thing. Jay’s are brilliant and resilient birds.”
With a surprised crease in my brow, I nodded. I had expected him to question me, but the hunstman watched the bird with interest and made no further comments. I hadn't told him that Iro could speak in my mind, but I had a feeling Sahlyn guessed there was more to my words than what I was sharing.
We were silent for the remainder of our journey to Cashore and passed the place in Winterwood where Sahlyn had been attacked without incident, although both of us tensed until we were well passed the spot. We were anxious and awaited howls to cut through the silence. But there was nothing.
“Oh, thank the beyond, Autumn!” Ativan exclaimed, hugging me. “I was riding out tomorrow for you.”
