Page 23 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

During my parents’ meetings with the fae responsible for overseeing the mine’s operations, Vestella and I would pretend to be mighty warriors, battling make-believe, legendary beasts of folklore. We would find downed branches and imagine that they were our broadswords, sparring with the thick tree trunks that we’d declared to be enemy invaders.

Now, I stare at those same trees in wonder, even as the darkness of night swallows most of the forest surrounding us.

Guiding the horse forward, Asheros chuckles behind me. “Have you forgotten what the forests of your home Court looked like, Bladesinger?”

I swallow. “Would you think less of me if I told you I had?”

That seems to give him pause.

“No,” he says, his voice softening. “How long has it been since you’ve seen them?”

“Nearly sixty years,” I murmur, my voice trailing off. “Since I first left for Keuron.”

He’s silent for a moment. “I hadn’t realized.”

“Not many do.” Something in my chest tightens when I form the words. “I don’t talk about home much.”

Part of me silently prays that he doesn’t ask why. I’m not ready to answer that question.

Not yet.

But, to my relief, he says, “Tell me something about these woods.”

“Well,” I start, “it’s said they’re home to many creatures that only awaken after dark.”

“Oh?” he asks, his voice lilting in interest. “Do tell.”

“My father used to tell my sister and I stories about the gnomes, trolls, and stone giants that many believe lurk here. Stories about fae children who wandered into the woods at night, never to return.”

“Tell me more.” Loosening his grip on the horse’s reins, there’s a gentle sincerity to Asheros’s voice that makes me want to share everything I know.

“Gnomes are mischievous, but they’ll be loyal to you if you can earn their respect. Trolls will eat you the first chance they get, but they’ll turn to stone if touched by sunlight. Stone giants are incredibly strong, but they’re slow,” I remark, recalling my father’s tales. It feels as though it’s been ages since I saw him. Since I sat with him around the fireplace during the long winter nights. He hadn’t said it aloud, but I knew my father had been worried when I decided to leave and join the Guard.

“Interesting,” Asheros muses. “Do you believe the stories?”

“Not anymore,” I reply, releasing the tension in my upper body. “But I used to.”

“Why is that?” he asks, curiosity bleeding through his demeanor. “Have you ever encountered such a creature?”

“There was one time,” I admit, my lips tugging into something akin to a smile. “I was playing with my sister, but she was off looking for stones we could use to build our pretend fortress. When I was alone, I thought I saw a gnome duck behind a tree.” I let out an airy laugh. The memory is so vivid, it feels as if it happened only yesterday. “Gods, I was terrified.”

“You, terrified? Of a gnome?” Asheros asks. There’s a light, but dismissive note to his voice. “Those don’t sound very formidable.”

“Ah, but that’s what they want you to think,” I explain. “It’s said that gnomes appear to be friendly, but they’ll trick you if you’re not careful.”

“Oh, will they now?” Leaning forward so that his chest brushes my shoulder blades, Asheros adds, “I suppose I should be wary of gnomes, then.”

“Yes.” I work to keep my breath steady. He and that gods-damned ability of his to accelerate my heartbeat without my permission. “You should.”

“And you?” Low and husky, his voice sends shivers down my body. “Will you trick me if I’m not careful, Bladesinger?”

“Perhaps,” I say.

“Perhaps,” he repeats, his breath hot on my neck.

The desire to arch my back and drive my rear into him almost overwhelms me. I dare to let myself imagine what that might feel like, to have his hardness pressed against me. To reach for him, and entwine my fingers in that silky, white-blond hair.

Don’t lose focus.

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