Page 44 of The Kingdom Cursed By Iron

He doesn’t try to follow me when I march out of there, which is good, because I don’t go to the kitchens. Instead, I make for Destan’s quarters. He’s one of the few people in this place who’s always given me information when I asked for it, and I need that level of honesty now.

I’m actually surprised when I find him writing rather than trying on a new set of clothes. But then he puts the parchment down and I see a sketch of a beautiful coat on it, realizing he’s busy designing.

“Looks good,” I say, eyeing the drawing.

He sighs. “I can’t decide whether the sleeves should be ivory or bone. What do you think?”

“I think sleeves made of fabric would be more comfortable,” I say. Destan massages the bridge of his nose.

“I have so much to teach you.”

“I agree,” I say brightly, settling myself down on the couch beside him.

He shoots me a sideways look, wary. “Given your reluctance to take my fashion advice in the past, what is this really about?”

“Nothing,” I say. “Nothing important anyway. You know me, I’m just being nosy.”

“Right,” he says, still not fully relaxing. “And you have questions about something, as per usual.”

“Exactly,” I say, then pause, wondering how to lead into the conversation without giving everything away. Destan is Ruskin’s friend before mine—not to mention being his subject—and I know there are some things it wouldn’t be fair to ask Destan to keep a secret from Ruskin. As I think, I pick at a throw blanket on the back of the couch, tugging at the corner. “I was wondering if you knew about…I mean…if you could tell me if…”

Destan slaps me lightly on the back of my hand. “You’re fraying it.”

I drop the fabric. “Sorry.”

“Just spit it out; you’re making me nervous.”

“It’s just about true names,” I say.

“Oh right, just.” Destan shakes his head. “Just some of the most ancient and secretive part of fae magic. If this is about Ruskin?—”

“He told you?” I ask, surprised. “I mean, he told you that he told me his true name?”

“It was a bit obvious when Cebba kidnapped you that you had something she wanted. Ruskin didn’t want to own up to it, of course. I think he was embarrassed. But I made him tell me after you left.”

“He was embarrassed?”

Did Ruskin feel foolish, handing me something so powerful only for me to vanish on him in the middle of the night? I hadn’t really considered it from his perspective. Or maybe I haven’t wanted to. It was a lot easier to stay mad at him if I didn’t consider his feelings. But now that I think about it…I know perfectly well that Ruskin isn’t someone who liked to feel vulnerable, and I’d made him vulnerable, and then walked out on him. With good reason, I tell myself, but still…

“It’s not exactly the kind of thing he does every day.” Destan gives me a hard stare, and I shift uncomfortably.

“This isn’t about Ruskin,” I say. It’s a lie, but I want to move Destan away from that line of thought. “I just wanted to understand something.” That, at least, is the truth. “I know how true names work to a certain degree, but there’s something I heard about and I don’t know what it means.”

“Go on,” Destan says, his eyes narrow.

“Well, what does it mean when two fae have true names that are kind of similar? Or, you know, they just go together in some way, like true opposites?”

Destan’s face droops in relief.

“Oh, you really are just being nosy. You what to know about naminai?” He laughs. “Why?”

I don’t know how to take his amusement, but the phrase he uses catches my interest. “I just do. I’m curious,” I say. “What was that word you used—naminai? What does that mean?”

“Most people just assume it’s a quirk of magic. Others like to call it fate.” He waves his hand dismissively at the idea.

“Fate,” I repeat after him, the word carrying a new weight to it. “What does that have to do with true names?”

“There’s an old story about a pair called Aelis and Gyrell. They were perfect for each other because their true names were a match.”

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