Page 8 of Hallowed Games

He held my gaze for another second too long, then walked past me back into the atrium.

I did as the lord suggested, moving as fast from the temple as I could.

Rufus was dead, Leo was safe, and I never wanted to set foot in Penore again.

CHAPTER 5

Two and a half months later.

Spring was arriving in full, and a few shoots of green grass were beginning to spring up in the courtyard. Outside, Father’s pear trees were starting to burst with white blossoms. A gorgeous spring day, and a wedding I would rather not attend. Today, it would be official—I’d lose Anselm forever.

But it had been my choice, hadn’t it? There was no other way.

I stood and tried to get a glimpse of my reflection in the glass, but the light wasn’t quite at the right angle. When I looked down at the dress, my mood immediately started to brighten. Its delicate beauty delighted me—blue and silver, with billowing sleeves and a tight velvet bodice. As a soldier, I almost never got to wear beautiful things like this. And silk gloves—how lovely and smooth they felt against my scarred skin.

The creak of stairs behind me turned my head.

Leo stood at the top of the stairwell, his eyes widening. “Elowen. Look at that dress! You look like a queen.”

Leo wore a royal blue tunic with a silver surcoat to match my dress. I’d saved a full year for these outfits. “And you look like a prince.”

Leo tried to suppress his grin.

“How’s my hair?” I asked.

He cocked his head. “I think I have a comb. Can I try to fix it?”

Not good, then. “Put some gloves on first.”

He crouched down, peering under his bed until he pulled out a pair of leather gloves and a small comb made from cow bones.

I sat on my bed so he could reach my hair, and I felt a tug from behind. “Wait. Are the gloves on?”

“Yes, Elowen. You always ask that.”

So you don’t die, love.

I exhaled and I let Leo tug at my hair with his comb. I was pretty sure he was making it worse, turning the dark curls into frizz. But since Father died, it wasn’t often that I had anyone looking after me. I wasn’t in a hurry to interrupt this rare luxury.

“Elowen, who’s the smartest person in the world?”

“Pretty sure it’s me.”

“But I mean, seriously.” His comb snagged in my hair.

“You don’t think it could be me? I’m definitely the smartest person in these barracks, and that is our world. I don’t think any of the men have read any books.” I waved at my sparse wooden shelves tucked behind the bed. “Look at the wealth of information at my fingertips. Three books of philosophical musings about the Archon and the Serpent. A military treatise on war tactics from four centuries ago, and a romantic poem that the Order banned years ago. Which, by the way, you’re not allowed to read until you’re twenty-one.”

“I meant at learning about the stars. How to make gold. Things like that.”

I shook my head. “Ah, love. That sort of knowledge is forbidden now, too. Only the old people remember.”

“Elowen, I learned how to make butter yesterday. I can make you some. I think it was the best butter I’ve ever had.”

“I love butter.”

He paused, trying to smooth my hair with his gloved hands, then he let out a loud sigh. “I’m not sure this looks good. Maybe we could pick some wildflowers outside? I think you need a flower crown to cover it up.”

My lips curled. “You seem very invested in how I’m going to look for this wedding. I’m afraid to tell you, no one will really be looking at us. All eyes will be on the golden couple.”

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