Page 31 of A Conduit of Light
Heled her down the never-ending staircase, a few sconces lighting their way, and out through the kitchens, still warm from dinner.
“So, where are we going?”Shetugged her cloak tighter around her shoulders.
Theglow of the moon, full and massive in the night sky, illuminated the forest in a sort of midday mimicry, the path before them adorned in a silvery hue.
“It’snot so much aboutwherewe’re going as it is what we’ll see when we get there.”
Shenodded, stifling yet another yawn with the back of her hand.
Hestopped. “Areyou sure you want to come?Youseem so tired—we can wait for another night if you’d rather go back to bed.”Concernlit half of his face in the pale glow and his features were clear, more pronounced.Hishair was down, gentle waves pulled to one side and tucked behind his ear.
“No, no,I’mokay.IthinkI’llbe perpetually tired from this point on until we can cure theBlight.”
“Ican talk toBaronHeimlen, if you want.Iknow he’s been pushing you pretty hard, but if he does that, it’s because he really believes in you.”Henodded to a less-trodden path. “Thisway.”
Theycontinued their moon-lit journey in relative silence,BaronRevichglancing back at her often, giving her an encouraging smile each time.
Dammit.
Hewas incredibly distracting while she tried to enjoy walking in the forest under the moon.Shetried to focus on the beauty of the silver leaves, the sound of crickets and frogs singing to their mates, but her eyes continuously darted back to him.Whywas he bringing her out here?Whatwere his intentions?Andwhy did she study him so closely as she followed in his footsteps, not caring as much as she should about the first two questions?
Clairanniahad mentioned he was obviously interested in her, but she hadn’t really seen it—had she been so blind?
Astone of guilt sat at the bottom of her stomach as she thought about how rude she had been on several occasions, even though he had never been anything but kind to her.
Nowonder theQueenhad told her not to set her heart on anyone other than herself.Shemust have known exactly what it was like—the distractions attraction held.Ashhad been physically attracted toGeyrand, yes, but this—what she felt watchingBaronRevichexpertly navigatingFelgrenas if he were privy to its nightly secrets—this was something new.
Andit was exciting.
Ashscoffed aloud at herself.Howshallow she was, having been determined to hatebothBaronsupon her arrival, and now, here she was, training with the one who took her, and following the one who found her, dutifully walking behind him into the depths of the shadowy forest.Theglow of the moon gracefully highlighted the sharpness of his jaw and the cupid’s bow of his lips when he turned to check on her progress through the underbrush.
Geta grip,Ash.
“Sorry, did you say something?”BaronRevichstopped and turned back to her again.
“Oh, no,Iwas just…”—she gulped—“thinking.”
“We’realmost there,Ipromise.Iwon’t keep you up too late.”
Theabsolute treachery of her thoughts at such a comment caused her to shake her head in disbelief as scenes she knew well flashed in her mind, indecent and salacious.Shehad to shove her hands in her pockets in an effort to put her budding energysomewhere.
Thankfulhe couldn’t see her flushed face on the dimly lit path, they kept moving through the brush before coming to a copse of trees she had never seen before.
“Whereare we?”
“Weare at the southern end of theFortress.Youdon’t have reason to go here, soI’mnot surprised you haven’t yet.”Hewalked closer to the circle of trees which were arranged oddly, as if in a pattern and not by random design.Heunrolled a worn blanket from his cloak and laid it flat on the tall grass, sitting down and patting the space beside him.
“Youhad that in your cloak the whole time?” she asked, sitting on the blanket but keeping her distance all the same. “Howdid you fit it in there?”
“Oh, sure,Ican fit all kinds of large things in here, thoughIdoubt you’re interested in seeing all of them.”Hewinked at her, charming as ever and laughed.
“Iset myself up for that one, didn’tI?”
“It’spayback, what canIsay?”
“Whatare we doing here?Arewe waiting for something?”Ashchanged the subject quickly, not trusting herself ever again around this man.
“Yes, but not until midnight.Wehave some time still to wait.”
