"Perhaps we could go out for a drink tonight, and you can tell me all about it," Eldon said, and Nimue's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You heard me, witch."
In one swift movement, Nimue dropped her knife from his throat as her left palm drove up into his sternum.
Eldon collapsed in the freezing mud, fighting to get air into his lungs.
"I accept." Nimue plucked the knife from his hand, sheathed it safely into her belt and stepped over him. The silence broke as the soldiers erupted in cheers as Nimue walked back to where Eli was standing.
"Did they just agree to go on a date?" Saul asked Rosa. She looked over to where Eldon was trying to drag himself up.
"I think so," she replied, amazed as the rest of them.
CHAPTER TWENTY
"Has anyone ever told you that you have a pretty shoddy way of asking a girl out?" Rosa asked Eldon hours later. They were sitting at the kitchen table in the cottage, Eldon's long raven hair still damp from his shower.
Eldon frowned. "It surprised me too. And it's adrink, not a date. Also, it's none of your business."
"Fair enough, but take my advice and make the most of it," Rosa suggested, clutching her warm mug of tea. "I never got to do anything normal with Bal. I got drunk with Saul and yelled at Bal, but never actually went and had a date with him."
"Sounds like your ideas of courtship are as sophisticated as mine," Eldon chuckled. "And I repeat—it's not a date."
"You keep telling yourself that, cousin. She might not know what's the significance of it, but you do. Don't just take her to Glastonbury and yell at her."
"I don't need your advice, youngling."
"I don't care if you need it. You're getting it anyway. You two might not feel the same way about each other, but sure as hell feel something deeply. Don't hurt each other anymore." Rosa drank some of her tea before adding, "You two both deserve a little happiness when you can get it."
"It's strange. You're the second female to give me a lecture about being happy in the last twenty-four hours. Keep it up, and I'm going to start thinking you care."
"We all care, you arrogant ass," Rosa huffed. "You need to sort out whatever is eating its way through you. We all have enough to worry about with the Autumn Queen breathing down our necks, let alone whatever personal demons you're fighting and then taking out on the men."
"You're a kind-hearted girl. I'm surprised someone like Balthasar, the great Leiddiad, is attracted to you."
"Don't try to change the subject. I know exactly what Bal is and what he's done. Go out and have fun tonight. Maybe it'll get the bug out of your ass."
"Is everything I say going to upset you today?"
"Probably. You're in a dick mood."
"It was a long night," Eldon admitted. "Nimue was having nightmares."
"You were up with her?"
"For most of the night, though I doubt she remembers much," he replied. "It seems I didn't heal everything."
"There are some things magic can't heal, butyoucan." Rosa bit her lip. "This place has a way of bringing up nightmares so we can face them. If Nimue decides to share a few of hers, you had best make damn sure you are ready for them."
"Where are you taking me?"Nimue asked as they left the cottage that evening. She had dressed warmly in boots, tights, and a grey knit dress that Eldon struggled not to look at.
"I want to show you something," Eldon said, leading her along the path to the lake. "I've been thinking about what yousaid. If you want to learn about what changed me, then this is the place we need to start."
"I don't understand."
"You will." Eldon stepped closer to her. "Please take my hand or this won't work."