Page 5 of The Duke and the Disciple

“Maybe he believed in you that much,” Rahn replied, a far more charitable assessment than the boy deserved. But he was trying to keep her calm, not get her more riled up.

“Always getting me into trouble. Even now.” She squeezed tighter. “I’m not... I wish... I rarely get this scared, Scholar. About anything.”

“I know.”

Aesylt was fearless in a way he couldn’t fathom being. It had been his first impression of her, and a lasting one.

“But as far as fears go, dangling from the top of a very tall tree isn’t one to be ashamed of. Even Val knew it. It’s why he froze.”

“He’s... doesn’t matter.” Aesylt angled her head sideways. “You’re right behind me, aren’t you?”

“I am.” Rahn braced one hand on the trunk to show her.

“You’re insane, Scholar. Unreservedly mad.”

“I wasn’t leaving you up here alone, Aesylt. Not for a moment longer than I had to.”

“Why?” Another forced laugh escaped her. “No reason to risk your life for mine.”

There was no answer he could give that would make sense to her, or even to himself. He could say he was doing the right thing, the only thing, but in truth, he hadn’t thought about it at all. There’d been no chance of himleaving her up there alone. “Do you trust me?”

“The only time people ever ask that is when they’re about to suggest something no one in their right mind would ever agree to,” Aesylt quipped. Her spread arms shook and one hand lost purchase, causing her to yelp.

“Reasonable,” Rahn said with a light laugh. “But I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t know everything was going to be all right. If you can’t make yourself turn, then I’m going to slide my arms around your waist and peel you away slowly. Do you understand?”

Aesylt shook her head wildly.

“I promise you won’t fall.”

“I thought you never lied to me?”

Rahn moved one hand to her lower back. “I amrighthere, Aesylt. There’s enough room for us to turn fully around, even to lie down, if you were motivated enough. Let go.”

“I can’t.” Her voice quaked again. “Think less of me if you want, but I can’t do it.”

Rahn made a split-second decision. He wrapped both hands around her waist and tugged. With a scream, she went tumbling into his arms, but he pressed her close to his chest with a weighty exhale, whispering the reassurances she needed. “You’re fine. I’m here. You’re fine.”

Aesylt shook in his arms, sobbing, but her response was so short-lived, he wondered if he’d imagined it. She peeled back. Her startled gaze darted back and forth, drinking in their surroundings. “Wow. I...” Her eyes rolled back, so he quickly reached for her shoulders and guided her back against his chest. She slid lower, her head falling into his lap as she struggled to breathe.

“All right, just...” Rahn’s hands danced over her arm, unsure whether to prop her back up or let her lay across his legs. If Drazhan saw, he’d no doubt think he was being untoward with his little sister, but Drazhan wasn’t there. No one was. Rahn wouldn’t punish Aesylt for her vulnerability, no matter how confusing it felt.

“I’m fine,” she said softly. She curled her legs up toward her arms, wiggling in his lap. “Opros. Opros.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” Rahn’s hand landed on her arm. He traced it along its length, the way someone, in another life, used to do for him. She slowly calmed. “You’re safe. Help is coming.”

Aesylt laughed, sniffling. “Don’t count on it. Val probably ran home.”

“He cares about you. He wouldn’t do that.” The words grated, but they were true. Val was a lot of things—brash, selfish, wild—but he loved Aesylt. If he hadn’t been chosen for that year’s Vuk od Varem, the boy’s father might have eventually worn Drazhan down about a proper betrothal.

“Maybe,” Aesylt replied, conceding. “But it’s not Valerian Barynov comforting me at the top of a giant tree, is it?”

Rahn grinned to himself. “If I’d stopped to think about what I was doing, it wouldn’t be Adrahn Tindahl up here coddling you either.”

“Shocking behavior from Witchwood Cross’s foremost scholar, I must say.”

“Has your esteem of me been damaged?”

“No, I rather think it’s gone up after your foolhearted climb.” Aesylt turned her head upward at him and smiled. Her crystal-blue eyes sparkled with old tears. “Thank you, Rahn.”

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