Page 29 of A Kingdom's Heart
William.
The second man beside him was blond, his armor bright in the light. He looked young, with an easy careless grin as he scanned the riverbank.
But William saw me first.
His horse slowed, then stopped completely. The movement was sudden enough that the other rider glanced over, confused.
The forest seemed to hush. Even the wind quieted. Only the river kept moving, a low and steady murmur beneath the stillness.
Raven straightened beside me, still holding the basket. I didn’t move. My fingers gripped the rope of the swing until it bit into my skin. The world around me felt too still, too fragile.
William’s gaze didn’t waver. His eyes moved across my face, searching, uncertain. I could see the moment recognition struck him. His expression shifted and his lips parted slightly.
“Elara?” he said at last, the name quiet, almost hesitant.
The sound of it caught in my chest. For a moment, I couldn’t
breathe. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The name hung in the air between us, soft and heavy, and all I could do was stare at him.
Raven’s eyes flicked toward me, then to him, her expression shifting with dawning realization. I felt the heat rise to my face, the same guilt that had haunted me since the lie first left my lips.
William shifted slightly in his saddle, his gaze steady. “What are you doing here?”
My mind raced for an answer. Of all the questions he could have asked, that one felt the hardest to meet. My throat felt tight, my thoughts stumbling over one another.
Instead, I heard myself say, “How’s your shoulder?”
He blinked, caught off guard, then gave a small nod. “It’s healing,” he said. “You did good work.” His voice softened, but the question returned, quieter this time. “What are you doing here?”
I forced myself to meet his eyes. “We’re headed to the northern farm,” I said. “To collect herbs.”
His brow lifted slightly. “Really?”
“Yes,” I said, holding the basket a little tighter. “It’s part of my duties.”
For a moment, he said nothing. Then a faint smile touched his lips. “Then we’re headed the same way. The captain sent us there this morning.”
“Oh,” I said, unsure of what else to say. My pulse felt loud in my ears.
He studied me quietly, his expression unreadable. The tension in the air felt fragile, like the space between one heartbeat and the next. Then, in that calm, he tilted his head slightly.
“Would you like a ride?”
The question caught me off guard. My fingers tightened around the handle of the basket. “That’s kind, but we’ll walk,” I said quickly. “It’s not too far.”
“It’s a long road,” he replied. “You’ll tire before you reach the fields.”
“We’ll manage,” I said, though my voice sounded less certain than I wanted it to.
He smiled, the kind that left me unsure whether he was teasing or serious. “At least let me help.”
Raven glanced at me, clearly amused. “I think it’s best we accept, Iri–” She caught herself. “Elara.”
My stomach twisted. “Fine,” I said quietly, trying not to sound as flustered as I felt.
William reached out a hand. His horse towered over me, muscles shifting beneath its dark coat. I hesitated, tilting my head back just to meet his eyes.
“Come on,” he said, voice calm but firm. “He won’t bite.”
