Page 56 of Crown of Iron
He cocks an eyebrow and leans forward, so we are practically nose to nose. “Come now, princess, the king may trust me to lead his army, but in the same room with his beloved goddaughter? Never. As far as how? You'll just have to wait and see. We’ll leave in three days.”
Twenty
Slipping my arms into my brown jacket, I step out of the officer's quarters for the last time. The dirt streets are quiet and the lanterns illuminating them glow in the predawn darkness. I take a deep breath and revel in the crisp air laced with fresh grass and lingering campfire. Sliding my hands in my pockets, I stroll toward the stables and admire the rustic buildings. It only took weeks for this place and its soldiers to stake a claim on my heart. I never imagined saying goodbye would be this hard.
I chuckle, the sound echoing off the building sides.
The girl who arrived here was naïve. I thought I was going to waltz in and lead Greer, Ulric, and Terro on a covert mission to save my father. Instead, they taught me patience, strategy, and how to hold my own. I’m not the same. It feels like I’m an entirely new person. A better person.
Leif and Wel work with a small group of soldiers, rushing around the stables to pack the carriage and prepare the horses. Despite the early hour, everyone appears in a good mood, cracking jokes and helping one another with their tasks. This camaraderie is what I’ll miss most of all.
Greer glances at me and her conversation with Terro comes to a halt. “Why are you still in your uniform? I had the clothes you arrived in washed and delivered to you last night.”
I examine my worn leather pants, simple tunic, and beat-up boots. “It just doesn't feel right to return home in the same condition.”
She places her hand on my shoulder and pulls me into her arms. “The uniform suits you, Your Grace.”
“Greer,” I moan my disapproval against her muscular shoulder, but she only holds me tighter.
Despite our rocky start, Greer mentored me in a way unlike any other. She showed me what it takes to lead with authority and to never back down. I'm proud of the person she has taught me to be, and so many of her lessons will serve me well in the future.
A throat clears from behind me, and Kyron asks, “Can I get in on the hug?”
“No,” Greer and I say at the same time.
She releases her death-squeeze on me, and I turn to find him looking exceptionally… dapper? He has abandoned his black leather jacket for a long olive coat with golden embellishments and a chest of pins representing his superior rank. His crisp white tunic, black pants, and riding boots look hardly worn, and he has combed his dark hair back, placing his sharp features on display. He looks handsome, regal, different.
I move closer, studying his face. The angles of his jaw and nose are the same, but something about him is softer. I suck in a breath when our eyes meet. His are no longer black, but the golden light brown color framing his irises. The tell-tale trait that he’s Stigian is gone.
“How did you do that?” I ask.
“Glass lenses. They form to my eyes and make it impossible to see. Everything is distorted, set in a golden haze, but they let me pass as Lucent.”
“Remarkable,” I whisper, unable to look away.
“Everyone is ready to head out when you are, Kyron,” Ulric says, draping his arm over my shoulders. “Keep an eye on our general, nanny goat. He always returns from the capital in a sour mood.”
I smile at the ridiculous nickname and say, “Maybe if you hold off on playing cards without him, he would be in better spirits.”
“Speaking of which,” Kyron says. “My winnings mysteriously dwindled a few weeks ago. None of you would know anything about that, would you?”
With a shrug and smirk, I say, “You know the rules, general. Sickness or health, you better show for card night.”
“Aye. Our Elle will be a fair ruler one day.” Ulric laughs, swayingme back and forth.
“Traitors, all of you,” Kyron says with a lopsided grin.
I take Ulric's hand and step out from under his arm. “Thank you for everything you've done for me, major. I'd hate to imagine what this experience would have been like without you.”
“It was my honor, Your Grace.” We hug, and Ulric gives me a couple of firm pats on the back before letting me go.
Kyron opens the door to the carriage and gestures for me to step inside. I glance back at Ulric and Greer and give them a final melancholy wave. It feels strange to set off on this next leg of the journey without them. They became such a critical part of my mission. But they best serve our cause by commanding the camp while Kyron is away.
With a final nod at Terro, who sits atop Nortus at the back of the caravan, I say farewell to Basecamp.
The whining and crunching of wheels and the clapping of hooves fill the silent carriage. Kyron sits on the padded bench across from me, looking out the window while mindlessly unbuttoning his long jacket and loosening the strings of his tunic. He stretches his legs and slouches like he’s shedding the weight of his responsibilities for a bit. I try to hold back a chuckle, and it comes out as a snort instead.
He slowly lifts his light brown eyes and says, “What's so funny?”
