Kingdom of Sea and Stone

“We have hours.” I sat down on the bed with a sigh. Last night I had been so relieved to be safe, and so exhausted from the road, that my fear for our parents had eased a little. But I was growing restless. “We’re wasting time. We don’t even know what’s happening in Ilara. I hate that they don’t get any news this far north.”

Zadie seemed hardly to hear me, so I continued to think out loud.

“And I’m worried about this council. Roan said Talin, Osius, and Grig would have to face them, as if they’re on trial or something.”

Zadie held her gown up in front of the mirror, twisting back and forth. “They allowed Sami to stay.”

“Did they allow it?” I couldn’t keep the edge out of my voice. “Or is he being forced to stay? Besides, Sami isn’t Ilarean. And he’s not a prince.”

She came to sit next to me in her shift. “Try not to fret. Roan seems like a fair leader.”

“He’s not a leader. Not the only leader, anyway. These people aren’t at all bothered with what happens outside their borders. It seems impossible they’ll agree to help us.”

“A few days ago, it would have seemed impossible that we would even make it to Galeth, Nor. But we’re here, and we’re safe.”

Maybe we were safe, for the moment. And I knew it was a miracle that Sami had survived and we would get to see him soon. But that was only one battle in a looming war. We had no idea what was happening to our parents, and every day here was undoubtedly another day of suffering for them.

I startled at a knock on the door. “It’s Talin. May I come in?”

“Just a moment.” Zadie snatched her cloak off the bed and wrapped it around herself, then called Talin in.

He peeked gingerly around the door. “I’m sorry to disturb you. I was going to find something to eat. I thought you might like to join me.”

“I’m too anxious to eat,” Zadie said. “I’m going to see about a bath. But you go, Nor. Bring something back for me.”

I pressed a quick kiss to her cheek before following Talin into the hall. “Where are we really going?” I asked once we were outside. I was fairly certain we could have gotten a meal at the inn if he was that hungry.

He smiled at me. “You know me too well. I just wanted to get the lay of the land. I don’t like that we’ve been completely at the mercy of the Galethians since we arrived.” He took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it. “And I wanted to spend some time with you.”

I was filthy from the road and full of anxious jitters, but Talin’s calm demeanor helped ease my mind. “I’m glad you came,” I said. “I needed the distraction.”

“Good. So,” he said, swinging our hands between us, “what do you make of Galeth so far?”

I glanced around the bustling street, hoping Talin was keeping track of our progress, since I hadn’t been. Leesbrook was just as overwhelming as Riaga, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find my way back to the inn on my own. “I don’t know yet how I feel about this city, but I like certain things about Galeth.”

“Hm?”

“The way women seem to have so much freedom, for example.”

When Talin didn’t respond, I turned to see his expression. He was looking at me, one eyebrow raised.

“What?”

“Did Roan say something to you?” he asked.

My scar tingled as my cheeks heated. “About what?”

“About us.”

I glanced away. “What about us?”

“If we were betrothed. I noticed the way he looks at you. Not that I can say I blame him.”

I stopped in front of a shop selling gloves, but these gloves appeared specially designed for riding, unlike the knit gloves I’d seen in New Castle, or the fine ladies’ gloves in the shop windows of Riaga. “He asked if we were lovers,” I admitted, though my face was threatening to melt off from embarrassment.

I was slightly appeased when Talin spluttered the way I had at the question.

“I told him we weren’t, of course,” I continued.

There was another long pause. “Oh.”

I turned toward him. “What was I supposed to say?”

His eyes were fixed on the display in the shop window. “Nothing. He shouldn’t have asked you such a personal question. I just worry you gave him the impression that we aren’t attached in any way.”

I had grown used to seeing Talin with a beard on the road, but he had shaved at the stone cottage, and with his smooth cheeks and tousled hair falling over his forehead, he seemed younger, more vulnerable.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I said, stepping closer to him. “But we aren’t attached. Not formally, at least. And you made it clear on the road that your priority is restoring the throne.”

“Nor—”

“I understand,” I said, taking his hand and forcing him to look at me. My heart still stuttered in my chest every time his eyes met mine. It seemed quite possible he would always have that effect on me. “My priority is helping my family, too. And I don’t want either of us to feel beholden to anything. Not when there’s still so much uncertainty.”

For a moment I thought he might try to argue with me. A part of me hoped he would. But he only nodded and turned back to the street. “Let’s find something to eat,” he said. “I really am starving.”



* * *



I spent the rest of the day wondering what I should have said differently to Talin. I didn’t want him to think I was pulling away from him because I was interested in Roan or my feelings had waned. But maybe it was easier to let him believe that than try to explain that I wasn’t sure yet what I wanted, that his vision of our future together might not match mine.

I helped Zadie brush out her long, dark hair, which hung in shining waves to the small of her back, and laced her into the corset of her new dress. It wasn’t nearly as fine as the gowns I’d worn at New Castle, the silks and taffetas and rich velvets that had felt more like shiny cages than clothing. But aside from the pink gown she’d worn for the choosing ceremony, it was the finest garment she’d ever owned, and she looked lovely.

I was not in the mood for corsets and lace. I chose a pair of black leather leggings and a black tunic with embroidery along the cuffs and collar, as well as the fur vest from Roan. Zadie helped me fashion my hair into a braided crown.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather wear that?” She glanced wistfully at the gown Talin had purchased for me. It was simple, like Zadie’s, made of moss-green velvet, with only a bit of delicate lace at the cuffs and collar.