Page 83 of An Archer's Reckoning

He chuckled. “Oh, child, you are still new to the job. I am afraid you will find more shackles than freedom for the one wearing a crown.”

My face fell, and I glared into the fire. Now it wasmyvoice that sounded reflective. “That is a lesson I learned at a very early age. Why do you think I ran away from the Palace in the first place?”

Atikus furrowed his brow at my somber tone. “Why did you run?”

I lifted the soup from the fire and wedged the lid on tightly, more for a moment’s distraction than anything.

“My mother wanted to marry me off to terrible men.”

“They wereallterrible?”

“No—well, yes. I do not know. Maybe. Terriblefor me, at least.”

“Do all these terrible men have anything to do with the High Sheriff’s boy? What was his name? Danny?”

“Danym.” I shot him a sharp glance, then let out a sharp breath.

Somber turned to sadness. I nodded slowly.

“I met him some time ago, quite by accident. He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen—until my horse sprayed mud all over him. I can still see his long, silky hair clumped in a muddy mess with nothing but eyeballs poking out of a dripping, filthy mask.” I closed my eyes at the memory. “I thought little of the encounter until he surfaced at a royal ball a few weeks later. Talk about a wallflower. He practically hid behind columns and plants, running like a scared kitten when anyone glanced his way. When I marched through the crowd, chittering ladies in tow, he could not even make eye contact. From the look on his face, I thought he might throw up on the spot.”

“Did he?” Atikus asked.

I opened my eyes with a smile only a memory can create. “Not even a dribble. In fact, the flippant little snot made a joke about the clucking hens hanging on my hem. Everyone was stunned into silence—until they squealed in protest and flew away to safer perches around the dance floor. I laughed so hard that I spilled my wine. The moment stuck in my mind, not just because of Danym, but because I could not remember the last time I had laughed in the Palace.”

I picked at my fingernails, avoiding Atikus’s eyes. “We walked through the gardens that night, against his many protests, mind you. The moon was not quite full, but there were no clouds, and a breeze blew the sweet smell of roses across our path. I remember every detail. He talked of little things, fumbling over his words, terrified to say the wrong thing. It was the most adorable, romantic evening I have ever known. I fell in love with him before we made the turn to head back into the Palace.”

“So why was he not an option? You were going to be Queen, after all. We do not have a monarchy, but I would expect you would have some say in the matter.”

“I do not think he fit into my mother’s royal plans. I suppose that is just as well after what he did.”

“What did he do, Jess?”

“You do not know, do you?” I looked up through wide and watery eyes. “We ran away together, determined to free me from that wretched betrothal and start a new life. I knew I was walking away from the Crown and all that meant, but I couldn’t stay in that crystal prison any longer. We made it through the Spires and past Spoke, but my mother had us followed. Somehow, she knew where we were the whole way. Those masked men chased us, too. When my mother’s goons tried to take us, Danym acted like he would save me. He told me to race up the road while he distracted them. The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by robed fanatics, and Danym was wearing one of their masks.”

I wiped my face and stared into the fire again. “His eyes—they were nothisanymore. They were all I could see through the mask, but I know it was not him looking at me. He took the mask off a few times, but his eyes stayed so . . . I do not know . . .notDanym. One minute we were holding hands across a table, the next, he was handing me over to be slaughtered. I still do not understand any of it.”

Another tear escaped before I swatted it away. Relief flooded my face when Keelan groaned and Atikus turned to check on him. Keelan leaned up on his elbow, one palm pressed to his forehead.

“Which one of you hit me?” he mumbled.

Chapter 29

Danai

Isabel watched as armored men streamed out of the lifeless town of Grove’s Pass. Bodies of fallen Rangers had been cleared and burned, but the place still felt gutted.

I stepped up to stand beside her, placing both hands on the remnant of the town’s wooden palisade. “The wheels are in motion, Your Majesty. We’re getting closer.”

She turned to head back toward her makeshift command center, never responding or looking back to see if I followed.

I did.

The house was empty. All the maps had been rolled up and secured. The tables and floors were now as bare as when we had arrived.

Isabel sat at one of the barren tables and poured herself a glass of the last remaining bottle of brandy. She savored the sip, swirling it in her mouth and tilting her head back with closed eyes. Then an almost pleasant smile parted her lips.

Almost.

---