Page 27 of A Kingdom so Crimson

Calum cleared his throat, drawing me back to the present.

"My lady," Cal said, bowing and lightly kissing my hand. He swiftly straightened up and released my hand as his jaw tightened, glancing at Levon and then Jesri. Resentment burned in his golden eyes. Perhaps he, too, wanted to be free.

"Goodbye, Calum," I paused, lifting my head high, refusing to let myself cry for him. I began to speak, but before I could, he swiftly enveloped me in a hug, holding me tight and absorbing every last scent of me. I surrendered to his embrace, easing my tension.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered with a sob before releasing me and quickly retreating into the estate. I stood there, sifting through our memories together, every game, every laugh, and every argument, feeling good to let them go. To let go of every illusion and unfulfilled promise.

With determination, I walked past Jesri without a glance. Taking Levon's hand, I allowed him to guide me into his carriage, settling onto the plush, velvety seat with enthusiasm. I watched the two exchange words before Levon entered, sitting across from me with a smirk.

The sun was at its peak, casting a discomforting heat inside the carriage despite the open windows. I was thankful Aoife insisted I wear the plain white dress, which concealed my features and looked more like a nightgown, yet its elegant, silky material helped to alleviate the discomfort.

As the carriage tugged away, a flurry of butterflies stirred in my chest, tinged with emotions. Jesri walked inside as Aoife took out her white handkerchief, waving it frantically overhead as tears streamed down her face, mirroring my own. I returned her wave, feeling a rush of emotion swell up inside me as I saw her fade from view.

As we neared the gate, Darius and the other guards greeted me with bright smiles and salutes. Darius broke rank to bow swiftly,his smile now streaked with tears. As we passed through, they all broke formation, waving goodbye before closing the gate.

I kept my eyes fixed on the estate for as long as it remained visible, watching it shrink into a distant memory on the horizon. Despite the pressing tears, I willed myself to remain composed, determined to show strength even as my heart felt heavy with leaving behind everything I had ever known and unsure of what the future held.

I turned from the window with a deep breath. Levon was absorbed in a book, sitting regally in his white tunic and knee-high boots. I quickly glanced away, feeling uncomfortable being so close to him, and shifted my knees to avoid touching his. We sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, the quiet stirring my nerves.

Looking back out the window, I could no longer see the glittering sea. I wondered if I would ever see it again—or anything familiar, for that matter. A sense of dread replaced my earlier excitement as countless questions flooded my mind.

Whydid Jesri do it? Why barter me to Levon for aMatch? Why was Cal acting so…distant? And how did this tournament connect to the Leonardian War and those Spellcasters?

Nothing made sense.

I grunted in frustration, massaging my temples to quell the relentless questions and swirling emotions.

Levon glanced up from his book, an eyebrow arched. "Is something troubling you, my lady?"

"Do you have more riddles for me, or do I have to beg to find out what this Match is about?" I demanded, irritation lacing my words.

His gaze drifted downward, and he closed his book with a soft thud. "Every year, King Thealor, like his ancestors, hosts mini-tournaments, spanning from dancing and jousting to baking and winemaking. All purely for pleasure," he began, his smiledimming. "But every few years, he announces a Match—where individuals blessed with talents, such as yours, are called upon."

"Talents like mine?" I scoffed, my voice wavering. "I'm not sure I would call it talent."

"What you have goes beyond talent," he murmured softly, his eyes locking onto mine with a sincerity that made me pause.

I narrowed my brows and laughed, a brittle sound. "Then what might thesetalentshelp me with in this Match?"

"Perhaps that's another part of the riddle you'll need to solve," he mused, his tone gentle but enigmatic, a faint smile hinting at a deeper knowledge he wasn't ready to share.

I stared at him, stone-faced and annoyed, but my resolve was crumbling. Letting out a long sigh, I decided I wasn't ready to beg…yet. "Where are we now?" I asked, trying to keep my mind from wandering.

He kept his grin, looking out the window. "It looks like we're still in Fernwen," he noted, briefly meeting my gaze. "We should reach the Desrin border in a few hours, where we'll stop at an inn." He stretched out his legs, which now rested on the edge of the bench I was sitting on. "Did you bring anything to keep yourself occupied?"

I curtly nodded, recalling the book I had stashed in my satchel that sat at my feet. Glancing out the window once more, I resisted the temptation to reach for it, knowing from past experience that focusing on a book while moving could lead to motion sickness, and I was not keen on spending the next few days in a smelly carriage.

Levon straightened up, returning his attention to his book.

"What are you reading?" I inquired, eager for any distraction to quiet my racing thoughts about the Match.

"Some war tactics that would likely bore you," he replied. I folded my arms, holding back a snarky retort.

"Planning to go to war anytime soon, hm,Sir Alder?" I asked, growing irritated by his presumption.

He chuckled. "I wish,Eliah."

I sat up straighter, taken aback by the comment. "Truly?" He looked up at me with amusement and nodded. I shook my head in continued disbelief. "Enlighten me then," I commented with more sarcasm than intended.

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