Definitely too much mead last night.
And that stranger.He’d never been there before, not that I’d seen, and I doubted he would be back. The only newcomers in the tavern were those passing through, so I’d most likely missed my chance. Not that anything would’ve come from it, anyway.
I was engaged.
My heart sank and I brushed it off, sighing.
Easing up, I let the covers fall to my lap. The room spun as nausea rolled in my gut. Resting my head on my hand to steady myself, I took a deep breath and turned to the window. Just as I’d hoped, the sky was dark and promising a formidable storm. The evergreen trees were blowing in the distance and the sky rumbled with thunder. Miles away, thick, white mist hung low, clinging to the mountains.
My favorite weather.
Tossing the covers aside, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, lean from years of training, courtesy of my mother who demanded I learn to defend myself. My entire body was sinewy and strong enough to wield a sword for hours at a time, which I was extremely thankful for.
To be honest, my training was the only reason I was brave enough to wander the woods alone.
When I was thirteen, a war broke out between Auryna and Ravaryn. With my father being the general, he was called to duty, and for ten years, it continued, deeming it the Ten Year War. It was gruesome and bloody. Thousands died trying to push the Fae back to their land. The Fae were incredibly vicious, cursed with terrifying magic, and this war gave them every opportunity to use it.
I still had vivid nightmares of the damage they caused.
Unlike most war generals, my father thought it best to bring my mother and me along, not trusting anyone enough to safeguard us. He hid us in the medical tents during every battle, ensuring we were never truly separated from him. But no matter how far the tents were from the scene of battle, bits and pieces always reached us. The sound of swords clashing, men screaming and moaning in agony, the roar of creatures I never wished to see. The smell of burning flesh, the musk of men and filth, the metallic scent of blood.
So much blood.
Everywhere.
It pooled in the fields, flowing into nearby creeks, which always ran red afterward.
Residing with the healers also allowed us to see the injuries firsthand. One image of a man was burned into my memory, haunting me at night. It looked as though a thorn bush had grown up from the ground and into his feet, weaving up his legs, torso, arms, and even his face, just under the skin. Thorns protruded from every visible surface.
I would forever remember his agonizing, tortured screams before a healer went to him and slit his throat, ending his suffering.
The sound haunted me to this day, the smell of blood still triggering flashbacks, but I had given up trying to escape the war a long time ago. Now I just dealt with the fear and panic as best I could, desperately hoping each attack would be my last.
Looking back, my expectations of the Fae were not anything like the reality. I had always imagined they would be peaceful and beautiful. Poetic, even. One with nature, since she responded to their touch and will, unlike with humans.
But when I did finally lay eyes on them, that is not what I saw. I saw death and rage and it instilled a fear in me I would never forget. They knew no mercy. Once the war finally ended with the assassination of King Adrastus, I vowed to never go back to that side of the continent.
If I never saw another Fae again, it would still be too soon.
With the reminder of why I needed to train, I leapt off the bed, stretched up, and cracked my neck. At the armoire, I donned my black trousers and tunic, tugged on my boots, and slid my knife into the right one. Giving myself a once over in the mirror, I braided my hair away from my face and rushed out of the room, descending the stairs, and into the breakfast room where my father sat.
His breakfast was mostly eaten, just crumbs remaining. He stared at his cup of coffee, his expression tired, before sighing and acknowledging my presence.
“I will not argue about it. It is decided. You will marry Finley and solidify the alliance between our families,” he declared as I sat at the table, losing my appetite.
Staring at my empty plate, I had nothing to say. There was nothing I could say.
“I have several matters to deal with today. It seems there was a disturbance along the northern border. I will be with King Adon, discussing our response to this act of war,” he said as he rose from his chair and headed out, pausing in the doorway. “Do not leave the grounds today, under any circumstances.”
I didn’t expect a heartfelt apology or even a simple explanation, but he was colder than I expected. I stared at the table for a few moments, numb, before gulping down a cup of coffee and grabbing a piece of toast, eating it on the way out the door.
With Father busy, training fell to Gus. He was large and lethal, but kind and patient with me. When I was younger, he had taken his time teaching me how to wield a small blade, ensuring I knew how to defend myself. I had respected him ever since
When I arrived at our sparring circle, he was already waiting by the weaponry rack. Nodding in greeting, he gestured to the weapons. “Which will it be today?”
* * *
We went round after round. I picked the swords, needing to feel the burn of tired muscles, the sweat of hard work. An outlet for the emotion churning inside me.