Allied (Ruined #3)(12)

“Oh,” Cas said, suddenly feeling very stupid that he hadn’t known that. He’d assumed Galo wanted to be captain of his guard. He’d never even asked.

“I still want to help, though,” Galo said. “I just don’t think that the guard is the best place for me.”

“Is there something you’d rather do?” Cas asked. “I have a lot of open positions at the moment.” He smiled when he said it, but there was no humor in his voice.

“I will go wherever you would like me. I could join the soldiers, maybe. At least until we resolve the Olivia situation. I’m good with a sword.”

“Maybe.”

“In the meantime I can go to one of the shelters. I won’t take up the guards’ quarters.”

“No, you won’t. I’ll have a room made up for you. How about Jovita’s old room?”

“No, that not nec—”

“Don’t argue.” Cas said it firmly, and Galo snapped his mouth shut. “I’m actually quite eager to give that room away.” He was still waiting to hear an answer about Jovita poisoning him, but the flare of anger still accompanied the thought of her. “Think about what you’d like to do. And come up with a few names for your replacement. You’ll need to continue your duties until I’ve picked someone.”

“Of course.”

“And if you change your mind, you’re always welcome back on the king’s guard.”

“Thank you.” He said it stiffly, like it was an automatic response, not an option he would actually consider.

“I’m sorry,” Cas said. “I feel like I should have known that you didn’t like it.”

“That’s ridiculous. There’s no way for you to know if I didn’t tell you.”

“Well, true.” Cas laughed even though he still felt stupid. “Did something happen with your parents that made you want to leave now?”

“No . . . yes . . . I don’t know.” Galo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “My father isn’t usually proud of me, and he suddenly was, over something that I knew wasn’t right for me. It made the decision easier.”

Cas blinked, a little taken aback. “Your father isn’t usually proud of you?”

“No. I never did that well in school, which was something he really valued. He saw my joining the guard as a last resort.”

“Was it?”

“No. Staying in Mareton and working at the mill or in the fields was the last resort. Being a guard was several steps before last resort. And he knew that. He just didn’t like making things easy for me.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” Cas realized suddenly that Galo knew everything about Cas’s family, but Cas knew very little about his. “But now that you have his approval, you’re going to give it up?”

“Well, it turns out I never wanted his approval.” Galo gave him a sad smile. “I know you understand that.”

“Yes.” Cas leaned his head back with a sigh. “I really do.”





SEVEN


“THERE’S STILL TIME to change your mind.”

Galo dropped a shirt into his bag and looked up. Mateo stood in the doorway of his room, his arms crossed over his chest. He was off duty and wearing an old gray shirt that was frayed at the sleeves but clung nicely to his lightly muscular frame. Galo had always liked that shirt.

“I’m not going to change my mind,” Galo said. He’d lost track of how many times he’d said that over the past few days. It wasn’t just Mateo; the guards, the staff—they all thought he’d change his mind about leaving the guard.

Mateo blew out an annoyed breath. “Did they even find a new captain yet? Why are you moving out?”

“Cas is finishing the interviews tomorrow. And I’m not moving out, I’m just going upstairs.” He pulled the string tight on his bag and slung it over his shoulder. He didn’t have much. He wore the clothes issued to the guard most of the time, and he’d brought very little from home. “You want to come with me?”

“I guess,” Mateo grumbled, but a smile twitched at his lips as Galo took his hand and pulled him into the hallway.

Galo walked quickly away from the guards’ quarters, hoping to not make a big scene. He knew half of the guards were happy to see him go, the other half angry he was deserting them. He didn’t want to run into either at the moment.

He walked up the stairs and down the sunny hallway with Mateo. The door to Jovita’s old sitting room was open, and Galo stepped inside.

Jovita had four rooms—a sitting room, an office, a bedroom, and a small bathing area. Galo had never been inside, and he walked slowly through all four rooms. They were huge, rooms fit for the woman who had been second in line to the throne, after Cas. Galo still felt weird about taking them. It felt like these rooms should go to someone important.

Mateo was perched on the edge of the bed when Galo walked back into the room. He pointed to the table in the corner of the room where a tray of tea and pastries had been placed. “They even brought you a snack.”

Galo dropped his bag on the bed. “I still can’t believe Cas gave me this room.”

“Of course he did. It’s a family room.” Mateo flopped onto his back. “So what now?”