Page 36 of The Anointed's Paladin

“He’ll be fine, I think. His fall today really shook him.”

“That horse thing was scary,” Nidori agreed. “I’m glad it left after. You looked so calm, though, pulling him up. Thanks for saving him.” She pressed a light kiss to my cheek.

I definitely hadn’t felt calm. Trying to climb up that cliff with Kaine clinging to me like a rain-soaked cat had taken every bit of my strength. And I didn’t even know if I’d done the right thing; letting him fall would have freed Nidori. Yet how could I not have saved him?

“I don’t know if I would have made it without your help,” I said, trying to cheer her up.

“Should I try and talk to him?” she asked, her long, droopy ears twitching nervously. “I… get a bit mixed up around him sometimes. Like I forget what I should be doing. I really want him to like me.”

“He has that effect on me too.” I glanced at his shadowy corner again. “But, no, he seems like he wants space.”

Ididn’t want her talking to him and finding out he was upset because of me.

She hummed, her fingers running through my hair. I pulled my gaze away from Kaine, wanting to change the subject.

“What about you, Nidori? How did you end up with him?”

“Oh. It’s really romantic,” she said with a sigh, settling in and starting to weave a section of my hair. “I was being attacked by these two horrible people. So, I ran away and hid, and then Kaine found me. He said he’d help me if I married him, so I did.”

“…what?” I managed, shocked. “He said those exact words?”

“No, the exact words were ‘if you’ll be mine.’ And then he asked for my blood. The strongest bond. Marriage-forever-until-death-do-us-part.”

That wasnota proposal.

“So… the blood… married you?”

She laughed. “Of course, silly. Just like in the story of the Noble Queen.”

“The Noble Queen. That’s the one where she’s trying to save her kingdom and makes a deal with a demon?”

Nidori nodded and broke into song.

“A drop of her blood is what he asked.

And what she did provide.

With a single word, he felled the army…

And so named her his bride.”

I rubbed my temple, staring at the ground. That fairy tale was supposed to be a cautionary tale. Against maoferni. This explained so much. I shot a dark look towards where Kaine had slunk off to. It was going to break her little heart when she found out the truth.

“I always wanted a family,” she said. “Sprites don’t have them. No parents or siblings or lovers. We’re all supposed to be one bigcommunity, but I always felt lonely. But now I won’t ever have to feel lonely again.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, a lump forming in my throat. “I understand.”

“There,” said Nidori, “all done.” She patted my head, and I reached up, finding she’d woven my hair into braids.

“Thanks,” I said, feeling a rush of warmth for her. She’d have been devastated if Kaine had died today. But she’d also be free. And she’d never have to know the truth of what he did to her.

“All right. I have to go tell Lei Lei we changed plans,” she said, stifling a yawn. “She’ll give us some new directions.”

“What?”

But Nidori was already off, flying towards the dim glow that led to the entrance of the cave. Must be nice, to have a patron you actually trusted. For a second, I had a mad thought that perhaps I should reach out to Lydes, but I stopped that thought with a shudder.

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