Page 127 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
My finger rubs over the ring on my finger, the metal warm from wear and familiar because I can’t remember not wearing it—nothing like the cold stone still sitting at the base of my throat.
He has broken something. That strand of trust between us, one of only a few that’s been coaxed from me since arriving, and now I know why he was so urgent to help me. His father. Theinformation he had and the gaps he needed to fill. He chose not to share.
My eyes are heavy to rise to meet his. “You have. Even if your intentions were good, and you wanted to do it for all the right reasons, surely you see that keeping this from me, even for a few days, makes you just like them.” My eyes burn, but the anger keeps the tears at bay.
I walk past him and follow our steps back around the rock and the clearing and take the path back.
“Ever, wait. Please.”
“No. Let me just… let me have some time.” I splay my hands at my sides, willing him to listen and back up.
I need time to pull my heart back together. Because that’s what he’s broken. He’s taken me from the highest of highs to a crumbling foundation in a matter of moments, and the very seams holding me together feel weak as a result.
“Did you wait until today to tell me so I wouldn’t have any power?” I check.
“No. Of course not. I wanted to tell you because I don’t want there to be anything between us. Not now.”
The rushing isn’t just from the water hurtling down the mountain. It’s in my ears as blood fills them.
Anger flashes at the way he says it, like now is more important than before.
Secrets. Lies. Maybe that’s just what happens here. People lie. They keep their power hidden from everyone.
I start walking back down the path. Of course, it’s a lot harder now that it’s dark, and the bruises and strains from earlier in training decide to flare back to life.
“Let me help. You’ll trip.” He reaches for my hand, but I yank it from him.
“I won’t. I’m fine. I’ll be fine on my own.” I have to be.
“You’re not on your own. That’s what all of this has been about. And we can work on the rest together. You’re not on your own, Ever. You’ll never be alone,” he grits the last words out.
“Until the next time someone decides not to tell me the whole truth. It might just be a suspicion to you, but it’s more than anyone else has or thought to include me in. And you kept it from me. Just let me have some space.” This is not how I thought I’d be ending this day. “Tomorrow, you’re showing me your memory of that conversation. I want to know what you said and what he said in return.”
“Ever, I’ve told you…”
“No. And before you say we don’t know if we can do that, we’ll use this as training.” My emotions rise, simmering, but it’s the anger I feel ruling over my hurt.
I don’t give him the chance to protest or myself time to back down.
Praying my boots are sure, I pick up my pace down the path and head back towards The Court.
As I approach, the sounds of life and fun are louder than before, inviting sounds of people enjoying their night and partaking in the evening’s revelry.
I don’t take the path back towards the training residence, but instead, go looking for a friend.
The stables aren’t far, and I remember the way from when Ten took me. It’s a little quieter here, but I can see a stable hand barrowing hay between the stalls as I approach. He looks to be in a hurry.
As he turns down behind the wooden stable, I slip in and look for Nettle.
He whinnies and shakes his head a few times as if greeting me. It’s just a thought, but I lean my hand over the gate and let him come up to sniff me, and this time, he seems to have noproblem with my touch, even nuzzling against my hand for an extra scratch.
“Did you know? That’s why we didn’t get on, right? You could feel it?” I speak to him as if he’ll answer. He just stands and lets me stroke the velvety soft coat above his nose, between his eyes.
“Hey!” The stable boy shouts as if I’m committing a crime by stroking Nettle.
I turn to him. “Hello.” He looks me over, and all his bluster fizzles. “I’m just saying hello to Nettle.”
He doesn’t tell me not to, so I continue. “Would you mind if I took him for a walk?” Nettle neighs in response as if he agrees with the idea. “Not for long.”
