Page 103 of The War of Wings
Cielle raised a single brow. “And that one?” she asked, nodding to another tree farther down the path.
“That is a flowering branch tree. Its bark is highly poisonous. Don’t want to go anywhere near that one.”
“And what about that one?”
“A softwood gum tree. Easy. Its leaves are edible.”
Cielle chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment, somehow holding back the laugh I knew had to be bubbling up as she nodded toward the first tree. “Eddenian broadleaf. Not rare.” Her face remained straight as she continued down the line. “Dewdrop oak. Not poisonous. And you actuallyalmostguessed the last one correctly.”
“I did?”
“No. That’s a dusk olive. And its leaves are not edible, but its fruit is.”
Miles stood in silence for a moment. “Oh. Well, the lighting here is different, so it’s harder to tell what kind of trees they are, and–”
And then his words stopped, because Cielle began laughing. It was, admittedly, a beautiful sound, and I fought my ownsmile when I saw Miles’ shoulders relax. Tears welled in Cielle’s eyes as she threw her head back, her golden hair catching the rays of the setting sun.
What a fool he’d been. A lucky fucking fool that Cielle didn’t get up and walk away as soon as she realized he was full of shit.
“Nice try, soldier,” she sighed as she caught her breath. She shuffled down the bench a bit, making room for Miles before she patted the spot next to her. “Sit with me.”
Miles hesitated for a split second, his hands flexing at his side before he slowly,slowlywalked in her direction and took the seat beside her. I finally had a view of his face again. He cleared his throat, then asked, “What are you reading?”
“Oh, just another love story,” she answered, shrugging. “Trying to distract myself from the end of the world, you know?” She gave a weak laugh, looking away from Miles.
“And how have you been?” he asked, his words measured.
She raised a brow, looking back at him again. “How have I been? That’s the question you want to start with?”
“Sure.” His tone was noticeably softer. “I could think of some other questions I’d rather start with, but let’s go with that.”
Her laugh was humorless as she clutched the book in her lap, her thumb running along its spine. “I’ve been…good,” she answered. I couldn’t read the look on her face. “How have you been?”
He inhaled deeply, his chest and shoulders tensing as he answered, “Good days and bad days.”
There was a pinch in my chest at his words. It’d been, what, four, five years since he’d last seen Cielle? How could he summarize the past five years? To be honest,good days and bad dayswas as concise as it could be.
Miles’ eyes moved around the garden, looking everywhere but at Cielle. “You still have your harp.”
She nodded, absentmindedly fiddling with the pages of her book. “It’s a good instrument. It might not be the prettiest, but it still plays beautiful music.”
Miles swallowed hard, and I couldn’t tell if it was pride or surprise that painted his features. “That’s… That’s great, Cielle. That’s incredible. And, it’s still… It’s the one I gave you.” He gave her a harp?
“It is.” Her words hung in the air. I rubbed a palm over my face, careful not to disturb any branches.Come on, Miles.
“And your family is doing well?” he asked. Okay, there were worse questions to ask.
“Yes. My mother and father weren’t the happiest when I decided not to wed Prince Rayner, but I think once they realized how much I truly loved playing the harp, their attitudes changed a bit. Not entirely, but they’ve been supportive.”
I was trying to keep track of the story. She’d been meant to wed Prince Rayner of Zidderune but decided to play the harp in the Royal Orchestra instead.
Miles swallowed hard, fighting to keep his face neutral at her response. “And Nieve?” he finally asked when he gained some semblance of control over himself.
Cielle blew a breath through her lips, shaking her head. Nieve was her cousin. The one with the dark hair. “Nieve is still Nieve. You noticed her darker hair, yes?” At Miles’ nod, she continued. “Well, do you remember when my family left Taitha because my mother claimed she’d found a cure to what ailed Cenric? Claimed she found a way he could walk?” Cenric… Cielle’s younger brother.
“Oh no,” Miles groaned. “A Bloodsinger? The solution was a Bloodsinger?”
“Sure was.”
