More on this book
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Don’t worry,” he added, flashing her a smile. “You should have realized by now that I find Jins detestable. You’re perfectly safe from me.” Her stomach knotted. She wasn’t sure which of his comments she wanted to hit him for, but it was all she could do to stop herself from actually trying. She weighed her words carefully. “You talk as if I have a choice.” She quickly glanced away as he turned to her and softly whispered to Sakku that he would not see the tears welling up in her eyes.
The woman’s eyes continued to stare at her through the veil. “Young woman,” she said evenly. “You should not give your trust to a man so easily. Your master, he has been here before.”
She was sitting there, gazing at her transformation on a mirror, when she heard the door open yet again. This time, it was Ylir. He looked back at her and was strangely silent. She laughed to break the awkwardness. “So, your escort, am I?” He coughed. “I didn’t expect—well, yes, to your question.” “You’re very efficient. Cook one day, riding partner the next…”
She nodded, the smile on her face frozen. She felt him stroke her hair before pulling it up to tie the ribbon around it. She glanced at the mirror again. He knew what he was doing. “Did a bedmate teach you this?” she asked, by way of a joke. He didn’t smile back. After a moment’s hesitation, he shook his head. “My mother did. She said, if I ever had daughters…” “Sakku forbid,” she said with a laugh. “No offense.” Now he grinned. “None taken. Now, are you ready?” He offered his arm to her. She took it, and together, they strode out of the room and down the main hall.
👀
Ylir took her hand in his and lifted it high up. Her skin felt cold. If he allowed his gaze to linger, he was convinced he would see goose bumps. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve seen princesses in the Kag who can’t hold a candle to you.” She looked like she wanted to kick his face in. “How many hours do you spend each night practicing those lines?” “About one or two. If I’ve been drinking, then none at all.”
A servant offered him golden-coloured wine. He hadn’t been planning to drink at all, but now he saw little harm in it. Delicate flavours of apple and orange swirled on his tongue. If Sume played her cards right, her family needn’t starve anymore and she’d get the sort of recognition her name deserved. Wasn’t that what everyone wanted in the end? Comfort, security, and a legacy to pass down to one’s children not built around shame? Mhagaza was rich, powerful, and still young enough to sire half a dozen semi-prince and -princesses if he wanted to. There were worse things in life; she wouldn’t
...more
Sing, little bird, he thought. Be his little golden bird from now on, and I will never forget how you paved the way for my freedom.
She smiled at them, and they left. Once they did, she bolted the door, and without really thinking about it opened the window and jumped down. It wasn’t as dangerous as she imagined it to be. Gasparian architecture demanded alcoves every couple of feet or so, and so it was almost like descending stairs in the darkness. She felt her heart hammering in her chest. If she could make it past the stables, maybe she could make it all the way back home. Maybe. It was difficult to say, and it was too dark for her to even think coherently.
You know what he’s offering you is better than anything you could ever have back in Jin-Sayeng.” He sounded frantic, which was unlike him and made her want to push him over a ledge.
“If you marry Mhagaza tomorrow, we might never get the chance to—” “Do mages land on their feet, like cats? Because I swear to Sakku if you don’t shut up and leave right now I’m going to push you
“But you’re both wrong,” Sume says, smiling still. “He hasn’t got family. He’s all alone in the world.”
🥺😩 you deserve better
Her groom is waiting for her by the steps. “Are you ready?” he asks, holding out his hand. “Let me make it up to you.” She smiles back at Ylir and wakes up.
“I’m flattered you think so, my lord, but our company has many contacts. All I did was ruffle up a few favours.” He smiled that smile, the one that said, I’ve got you. There’s no point fighting it. She remembered last night’s kiss and involuntarily gave a shudder.
The scream came, high-pitched. Was it her? It had to be. He leaned against the door, even though every bone in his body told him to open it now and run to her.
She almost said so, looking up, but then she stopped when she saw his face. One of his eyes was puckered shut, black and dripping with blood. He laughed, seeing her reaction. It was disconcerting. “This?” he said. “Rajiat’s price for your freedom. He was going to have you killed. Now he’s decided to release you, under the condition that he stick a knife in my eye.”
“You sold me,” she said in Jinsein. “And then you almost kill yourself trying to get me back.” She started to say something else, and instead found herself laughing at the complexities of men, the absurdity of it all.
“Let me start from the beginning. My name—” “I know,” she said. “It’s Enosh.” She watched the reaction on his face and suddenly regretted speaking so soon. Was he about to lie to her? It was probably a good thing if she had let him, because then she would have a reason to walk out. But maybe she wanted to give him all the chances she could. He was silent longer than she was comfortable with. “You had dreams,” she admitted at last. “You said, stay back. I’m just Enosh. It sounded like you were fighting someone.”
“I just wanted you to understand that I’m not being grateful. The father had a kind soul, Enosh. The son wouldn’t have fallen too far from the tree.” “How long will you last in life, thinking like that?” “This long at least.” She pressed her hand over his face and smiled. “Go back to sleep. I’ll send that letter and get you some food.”
Now he wasn’t. Now the woman was more than a night of pleasure for him, and he didn’t know what to do about it. He carried on like a man drenched in darkness, grasping for light, and when it was over, he rolled to the side, closed his eyes, and felt like the wind had been taken out of him. He felt her move and then, unexpectedly, her arms around him.
“I’ll talk to the innkeeper. Enosh—” She finished by leaning over him and kissing him softly. He could feel her heart beating. He still didn’t understand, but when she left, he found it hard to think of anything else. It was beyond disconcerting.
“I am more than that,” he replied, closing his eyes. His lips brushed over her cheek. “Promise me you’ll stay.” “The sun hasn’t risen yet and you’re already thinking the strangest things. Where would I go?” “I mean it. I’m really getting used to having you around. I—I wouldn’t know what I’d do if you’re not here tomorrow.” “Oh, Enosh.” She kissed him, long and lingering.
Hes got attachment issues
I feel like I could drown…surrounded by land. It was unfair how her words back then had so precisely echoed thoughts he had never voiced out in all those years.
He twirled her fingers in his and kissed them, one by one, and imagined her standing at the edge of the sea before he said, “We’re heading out today to Lake Enji. I am to lead a hundred and ten hired men in an attack against Bannal and his mages and not die, so Ab help me.”
It killed her, of course. Almost an appropriate end. I have studied this story for most of my life and I have never felt remorse for that unbelievable bitch.
That box your brother retrieved from the temple in Gorent contained a piece of Sarohkitram. It was entrusted to Jaeth, a mage who was also chief of Agantuan village. Your ancestor.”
Kefier, you understand now? Your brother is working for Yn Garr. Whatever they have planned involves releasing Naijwa’s beast back into the world. I love my sister, but if Moon was in his place, I would stick the dagger into her heart myself.”
Exhaustion gripped him. His head dropped to the side, and he caved in to the darkness around him. It felt like an instant later when he woke up to a blast. His senses swirled. The only thing he was aware of was the taste of dirt in his mouth and the strong, steely scent of the blood on his face.
The mage, the man who was going to kill Dai—Kastor, she thought in her head with a start. It was Kastor, the man she’d met in Fuyyu well over a year ago.
The old man looked at him, and he recognized now that shadow of pain crossing his features. It happened every so often, when he looked at him, though less these days than it used to. “Go,” Yn Garr said, breaking the silence. “Retrieve Jaeth’s eye. The road still stretches before us. Bartleby!” And he whistled for the big, grey dog, who came bounding over the fence and into his arms. Enosh walked away, so he wouldn’t have to listen to the sound of an old man crying.
