Brightly Woven(81)

“Then tell them you did that when you found me on the mountain,” I said. “Tell them you did it to honor them.”

“When did you get to be so clever and devious?” he asked. He brought a hand up to my much shorter locks.

“I suppose I’ve been spending too much time with wizards,” I said.

“I have a favor to ask of you…,” North began hesitantly. “And you certainly don’t have to. It’s just a stupid old tradition for luck.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“Will you come with me to the tents?” he asked. “A wizard is supposed to ask his lady to arm him. For luck, I mean. After that you’ll go back up to the castle with the other women.”

“Of course,” I said, taking his hand firmly in mine. “I’ll come wherever you need me.”

North and I twisted to the outer banks of the Lyfe. I held his hand tightly as we navigated the hundreds of colorful tents that housed the wizards and laborers.

“All right,” he said. “Come on, we don’t have that much time.”

The supply tent North was assigned to was empty by the time we arrived. Trunks of armor and weaponry were stacked in the center, and though candles had been lit to compensate for the gray winter sky, the tent was still fairly dark and cold. North solved both problems with a simple flick of his old red cloak.

North and I said nothing as I slowly unknotted his cloaks, catching them before they could flutter to the ground. I handled each piece of the black leather armor with care, making sure it was in its proper place. North helped me with the arm and leg pieces without a word. I could see my own miserable expression reflected in the surface of the mirror across the tent. I fastened the last piece of armor with trembling fingers.

It was all over too quickly. I gathered his old cloaks, folding them in their proper order, and clipped the new cloak in their place. The vibrant colors I had chosen were dull in the poor light. His hand came up to take mine, but I wasn’t finished.

I lifted the thin silver chain from around my neck and placed it over his head. The braided silver slipped beneath his armor, out of sight but still there.

“Keep this for me, all right?” I asked. Astraea would protect him when I couldn’t.

I stood on my toes again, bracing myself against his strong form, and pressed my lips against the smooth skin of his cheek.

“For luck,” I explained.

“Thank you,” he said.

I waited until he had disappeared completely from the tent before moving. I sat down heavily on the bench, my face in my hands, as anger, love, and fear all fought to rise up inside of me.

The tent flap banged open. I brought my head up, and there was Wayland North.

I was on my feet in an instant, but he had crossed the distance between us in two long strides.

“What—?”

He pulled me to him, grasping my face between his hands. And then he was kissing me, kissing me so deeply, so fiercely that I could feel my toes curling in my shoes. The world spun away, and it was just the two of us.

Then it was over. North sighed deeply, and there was that heartbreaking half smile again, the one reserved for times of resignation and failing hope.

“I’m going to need,” he said, “a lot of luck.”

When I reached for him again, he was already gone.

The few women and children who had been left behind by the party of wizards made their way back up to the city’s bridge in silence. Once or twice, someone tried to make conversation, but no one was in the mood to talk. I hung back at the very edge of the group, watching the afternoon light play on the blue-green water of the lake.

It was ridiculous to be so afraid when they weren’t going off to fight a war. Even so, the party of wizards and diplomats was still in danger. We would all be in danger if the negotiations fell apart.

“Lass!”

Owain’s enormous body pushed through the crowds on the bridge. He waved both arms in the air, not stopping until I was at his side.

“He’s off, then?” Owain asked. He pulled me closer to him as we maneuvered through the lines of people, animals, and carts. There were several more guards at the gate than usual, but they didn’t stop us. Owain seemed to have that effect on people.

“Wasn’t the Sorceress Imperial closing the city?” I asked. We were wedged between a long line of street vendors and their customers as we made our way up to the castle.

“Queen wouldn’t let her,” Owain explained. “I’m starting to like that girl. She’s got more nerve than I thought.”

I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. By the time we reached the marble steps of the castle, night had fallen, and there wasn’t a soul to be seen.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“To your room, of course,” Owain said. “I’ve got orders from the lad: Do not let anyone in or out of her room until I come back.”

I groaned. “He didn’t.”

“He sure as spit did, lass,” he said. “Not even the queen will get through on my watch!”

But as we turned down the final hallway, it was clear that the queen was a step ahead of him. Her violet dress blended with the darkness, and the dim light caught the strands of gold in her hair. Owain and I watched in silence as she lifted a fist and knocked twice on the door to my quarters.