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Useless. Disappointment. It’s all there. Hanging in the air between us. Unspoken but real.
my every sense exploding with pain, now there’s stillness. Peace.
“Faraine! What in the seven gods’ names are you doing up there?” His voice is accusing, as though I’ve betrayed him somehow.
What a gem
“What’s this, Yok?” I say, gently prying his hand away from the wound. “What have I told you about flinging yourself bodily onto the blades of our enemies?”
Lolllll
Are you determined to make a liar out of me?”
I’d made a point to wrap a fold of my own cloak around her for modesty, but there was nothing I could do when she slipped from my saddle.
“I’m happy to volunteer a spot on my saddle. No need to thank me for my sacrifice.”
There’s courage in her eye, unexpected and defiant. She may not be a warrior; that doesn’t mean she’s weak.
I have a strange feeling I could spend a great deal of time and effort contriving to hear that laugh again.
Knar’s ugly head around,
HAHAA POOR KNAR
While I miss my sisters, home has always been a place of pain for me.
Part of me wonders if I should be offended or distrustful. Another part cannot help enjoying the attention.
Me
back in that realm of existence where I’ve always been little more than an inconvenience, a bother, a disappointment.
Something else stabs at my heart, a bitter thorn I hardly dare name: Jealousy.
“Well,” he says gruffly, “a bit of adventuring does a man good. And I’m sure you made a decent show of yourself with that sparkly sword of yours, didn’t you, my boy?”
Oh, a show it was
An interesting revision of events.
“I fear,” she says, “the princess suffered under the delusion that because she’s the king’s favorite, he won’t use her for his own gain the same as the rest of us.”
You like the notion of sweeping that girl off her feet, and the two of you riding off into your own personal Ever After, a pair of gods-fated lovers and all that.”
“The equals of men, you ask?” He considers the idea, his eyes bright in the candlelight. “A peculiar question. Are we not all trolde—both men and women alike? We cannot very well exist one without the other, so how could one be deemed superior to the other?”
“I’ve heard it argued that because men are physically stronger, they must naturally take on the dominant role as protectors and providers.”
“Are your human men strong enough to endure the hardship of birthing?”
“How your human men may pretend they are stronger than their women. If they acknowledged what women endure simply to bring life into the world, they would necessarily have to adjust their thinking.”
“You do not live at the convent because of your devotion to Nornala. You are the truth that must not be known.”
“Only weak men feel the need to hide such strength behind closed doors.”
Fyndra!” “Yes, my king?” “Come here and let me toss you around a bit, will you?” “Willingly, my king!”
WHAT HAHAHA
“It is my belief that no thing of beauty should ever be caged, princess. I would only hope that even a wild bird might be convinced to remain of its own free will. And a man who truly cared for such a bird would be honored to do everything in his power to convince it.”
“Good talk, brother! Can’t wait to find out if the whims of romance mean us to live or die!”
I try not to listen when humans are talking. I find it better for my sanity on the whole.”
Still, I wonder if Faraine will be present to observe the heartfasting. I hope so.
How can I thank her for being a pawn in the games of kings? Particularly when I myself am one of those kings.
you’ll be doubly glad you made the bargain once you get Ilsevel home and into bed.
WHATT THATS YOUR DAUGHTER YOU NUT
“Keep your tongue between your teeth, or I’ll hit you harder next time.”
I watch her go, considering. Then, giving in to a foolish impulse, I push my window open and climb out.
I want to speak her name again. I want to hear her speak mine.
“I’ve already made myself useful once,” Theodre responded with a toss of his golden hair. “I don’t see why I should have to go on being useful to everyone.”
PLEASE HAHA me
the beat of his heart just behind my head. Strange, how a moment of such carnage and fear could also contain some of life’s sweetest sensations.
“None of your fainting fits now, Faraine! Gather your things.
Either way, the fate of the kingdom is in jeopardy, and you’re needed home at once.”
Sul cannot be too badly wounded if he’s still got breath for sarcasm.
“I’m fine! I’m fine! I’m fine!” contrary to visible evidence.
“Ugh.” He shudders. “A fellow like that really should know better than to show his face in polite society.”
“You will remember what you are: a servant of the crown. You will trust your betters to know what must be done, and when you are called to serve, you will serve. Willingly. Joyfully.
“Well,” I say, leaning back in my seat, “it would be difficult to rule a kingdom if I sat around like a lump all the time. Though I won’t lie, sometimes I’d much prefer to sink into a nice long nap.”
I must focus on she who will be my bride. Ilsevel. Only Ilsevel. But despite my best efforts, the image of Faraine creeps back in.
Though I hate to admit it, I can recall the details of her face with much greater clarity than those of her sister. Will I ever be able to truly forget?
“Oh, the look on your face! Our woman’s lot is hard. We must fight for everything we have. And the fight in the bedroom is the bitterest of all, for we cannot let them know how they wound us. But if we are clever, if we are skilled, if we learn and learn quickly, we may all be queens in our own right.”
“It was with the other wedding gifts, of course,” Lyria answers smoothly.
Lyria rlly carrying rn
sul x lyria book when
“No, just damn cold.” Yok flashes a devious grin. “Eager to return to Lady Xag’s warm embrace, eh? Ow!” He yelps and leaps back, rubbing his ear where Sul clipped him. “Let that be a lesson to you,” Sul says smoothly. “Children are to be seen and not heard.”
LOL
“You need not make obeisance to me. You are my bride. It is I who must honor you.”
“I’ll help you up,” Sul says smoothly, sidling over to leer at her over the back of the morleth. “I’m quite good with my hands, let me assure you.”
I KNEW IT
I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT
