Lilia awoke later than usual the following morning. She only climbed from her pallet when the dawn light started to filter in through a gap in the shutters. Reluctantly, she rose from her warm nest of blankets, wincing at the chill in the air, and unlatched the shutters, throwing them open.
She gazed out, taking in the white-capped rooftops of Port Needle below. It had snowed heavily during the night, and an ermine crust carpeted the world. The sea looked like beaten iron; the sky was the color of wood smoke.
A smile tugged at Lilia’s mouth. She liked the snow: its brightness and the way it blanketed everything. Plus she had a walk with Saul to look forward to later; she would make them some mulled cider afterward.
The damp crept into her chamber, and she hurriedly closed the shutters. Lilia chose her favorite jade-green skirt to wear today, with a matching tunic and a brown leather bodice. She took care with her appearance, brushing out her curls before twisting them up into an artfully arranged bun with a bone clasp. Once dressed, she went through her morning ritual of making up her sleeping pallet—taking pains to tuck each corner in neatly—and tidying her room. She would not be able to start the day in the right frame of mind if she knew she’d left her chamber a mess.
Lilia had plenty to keep her busy that day, but she chafed at how the morning dragged. Once breakfast was out of the way, she started on her usual routine of preparing the noon meal; however, her mind kept wandering. She kept reliving that kiss, and the excitement it had provoked in her.
Neasa came in to see her, enquiring about what Lilia had planned for the day’s meals and Ailin greeted her as he went down to the cellar to bring up another barrel of ale. She didn’t see Dain until late morning when he brought a fresh bag of flour into the kitchen. Usually he had a smile for her, but this morning his face was serious, his blue eyes shuttered.
“Where do you want this?” he asked, his tone aloof. “In the store or the pantry?”
“In the pantry, please—I’ve almost finished the bag in there,” she replied with a smile that he didn’t return. Lilia watched him do as asked before he left the kitchen. Perplexed, she watched him go. She wondered if she’d offended him. Maybe he disapproved of her spending time with a customer.
Frowning, Lilia turned back to work. It’s none of his business.
Lilia and Saul walked together down Harbor Way, fresh snow crunching underfoot. It was a breezy afternoon, and the dank air stung Lilia’s cheeks and made her eyes water. Above, the sky had cleared although the watery sun gave out little heat. Lilia drew her fur mantle close and hoped her nose and cheeks hadn’t gone too red with cold.
She glanced at the tall, dark-haired man striding next to her, a thrill going through her at how handsome he was. His leather cloak billowed behind him, and for the first time she noted that he carried weapons. Knives—lots of them—adorned his athletic, leather-clad form. He had one strapped to each thigh, one on his right calf and two at his waist. The sight of them added to his aura of danger, although the weapons also made Lilia feel a little nervous. What need did he have to be so heavily armed in Port Needle? Saul also carried a pack with him this afternoon.
Sensing her gaze upon him, Saul glanced across at her and smiled. “I like a woman with freckles—they’re not common where I’m from.”
Lilia returned his smile. “Really? Many folk here have them.” Truthfully she’d always wished for different coloring. She envied Ryana her mane of blonde hair and imagined the women of Anthor, with their raven locks and almond-shaped eyes were great beauties.
The cry of gulls circling the docks below reached them then—as the sea birds followed the fishing boats into port. Lilia watched Saul’s gaze shift down to the harbor and saw his mood shift. The smile on his face faded, his gaze hooded, and he slowed his pace. Lilia’s attention was also drawn to a great ship that had anchored at the harbor entrance.
Surrounded by glittering water, the towering vessel with three tall masts piercing the pale sky made Lilia gasp. “Is that a galleon?”
He nodded curtly, slowing to a halt.
Lilia glanced back at the port, at where three wooden row-boats had docked. Cloaked figures were clambering out onto the quay.
She opened her mouth to comment on the fact that they didn’t look like merchants, when Saul reached for her arm. He pulled her with him, and together they left Harbor Way and entered one of the narrow lanes that ran along the town’s East Terraces. Tall stone houses, their shutters bolted against the cold loomed overhead, casting the lane into shadow.
A few feet in, Saul released her arm and turned to her. Lilia stared up into his face but could not read his expression. “What is it?”
“I’m sorry, Lilia—but I have to go.”
Disappointment flooded through her. “What … right now?”
“I was hoping to have more time here, but my ship has arrived earlier than expected.”
Lilia’s breathing stilled. “That galleon—it’s yours?”
Saul gave her a rakish smile. “It belongs to the King of Anthor, but yes—it’s mine to command.”
“Can’t they wait for you?”
Saul shook his head. “We travel north on king’s business—Reoul won’t be pleased if he finds out I lingered on this isle … for pleasure.” He reached out and stroked her cheek. She trembled under his touch. “I will return, lovely Lilia” he said gently. “I promise you.”
Glancing around the street, to make sure they weren’t being watched, he reached into a pocket in his cloak and deftly withdrew a small iron box. It was rusted and pitted with age. “I’ll leave something with you, as proof of my word.”
He opened the box and withdrew a pale grey stone. It was oval-shaped and had a hole at one end, through which was threaded a silver chain.
“This means a lot to me,” he said firmly. “You must keep it while I am gone.”
Lilia took the pendant from him. “It looks like a hag stone,” she observed.
“It is; a special one.”
Lilia held the pendant on her palm and peered at it in the dim light. Up close, it looked different to the hag stones she had seen. Her parents had one, hanging over the entrance to their home. The charms warded off the dead, curses, sickness, and nightmares. Folk also believed they kept shadow creatures at bay. Lilia kept a small one hanging over her window in her bedchamber.
The stone was cool and up close she saw that it was not just one color, but multi-hued in shades of silver, white and grey. Unlike traditional hag stones, which were usually irregular in shape, with a rough surface, this was smooth and a perfect oval. Yet it flared out slightly at the bottom, where the surface was rough, as if part of it had been snapped off.
“It’s broken.”
“Yes, it’s missing its bottom half.”
“I’ve never seen a stone like it.”
“It was made by the Order of Light and Darkness,” he replied, smiling.
Lilia stifled a gasp and nearly dropped the pendant. She’d never touched anything created by an enchanter. However, he reached out and folded her fingers over it. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you. It’s a charm, nothing more.”
“But you said it’s precious to you?”
“My father gave it to me.”
Lilia frowned, confused. “Then, why leave it with me?”
“Because you think I’m never coming back.”
Lilia looked away. She suddenly felt out of her depth. “We only just met,” she said in a small voice. “You don’t need to promise me anything.”
He stepped closer still, his dark eyes gleaming. “I can’t stop thinking about you,” he began, his voice low. “I don’t want to leave.”
Lilia stared at him, heat welling inside her. She’d always dreamed of hearing those words. She wanted to believe him, but a part of her cringed at his declaration. He didn’t know her. If he discovered how scared she was of life, of the pains she took to keep her tiny world under control, he’d surely think her weak and foolish.
“It doesn’t matter,” she whispered, tears welling. “I won’t think any less of you if you don’t come back.”
He reached out and pulled her to him. It was unexpected, and she gasped. However, Saul smothered her protest with his mouth. He pulled her hard against him and kissed her deeply. One hand splayed out and pressed against the small of her back, while the other lifted and released her hair from its bun. Her curls tumbled free, and she felt his fingers tangle within them. This kiss was different to the one he’d given her the night before—it was fiercer, more possessive. When they broke apart her lips felt swollen and heat pulsed low in her belly. She ached for him to do that again, but he didn’t.
“I promise I shall return,” he said softly. “Do you believe me now?”
Lilia nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Her tongue felt cloven to the roof of her mouth.
Saul gave her a slow smile. “Here, let me put the charm about your neck.”
Wordlessly, Lilia passed him the pendant and waited as he lifted it over her head. He then quickly tucked it under her mantle.
“Keep it safe, and I will return to claim you both.”
He stepped back from her then, removing the heat of his body and the scent of spice, leather and musk. Lilia clenched her hands at her side, to stop herself from reaching for him.
She watched Saul stride out of the lane and into the wintry sunlight of Harbor Way. He then turned left and disappeared from sight without a backward glance. Senses reeling, Lilia stared after him before she attempted to tidy her unbound hair. A short time later, she emerged onto Harbor Way, her gaze travelling down the long crescent toward the quay.
She’d expected to see Saul striding ahead, on his way down to the docks—but he was nowhere in sight.