Page 44 of Forged in Cursed Flames (Crown and Crest 2)

Lawrence has shifted close, and now he brushes a knuckle over my cheek. “Don’t begrudge me a bit of joy. The commander is just down the deck, looking like he wants to murder me.”

Much to Lawrence’s amusement, I roughly shove him away. “Touch me like that again, andI’llmurder you.”

With a smirk, he walks away. “Just remember, in the end, you are mine.”

Unsure what else to do, I trail after the prince, holding my breath as he passes Henrik. I pause next to the commander, waiting until Lawrence is a safe distance away before I speak.

Focusing on a broken piece of rail, I say, “It’s not what it looked like.”

“It’s not my place to question you,” Henrik answers brusquely.

I bite my tongue before I can ask him if he wants it to be his place. Lawrence’s words circle in my head, confusing me more than I already was.

Instead of leaving, I sit on a crate, staring at the endless sea. It seems so vast. I cannot imagine what the oceans beyond Caldenbauer are like.

Henrik stands at the rail, looking across the water with me.

It seems like it’s been a long time since we’ve had a moment just tobe. I’ve been rushing from one thing to the next—getting attacked by aynauths, getting attacked by elves, being framed for murder.

It’s been a busy season.

“Why did you want to become a knight?” I ask idly, watching the wind create gentle waves in the water. “Why not continue the family craft and become a blacksmith? What was it about being a soldier that appealed to you?”

Henrik looks over at me, frowning slightly. Finally, he clears his throat. “In his youth, my father was injured while working toward his seal. He lost his leg and had no choice but to go back to his forge.”

“So, you’re doing it for him?” I ask. “To fulfill his dream?”

“Not exactly,” the commander hedges.

I wait patiently, and he gives me a look that informs me he doesn’t enjoy answering personal questions. But it’s not like we have anything better to do, and we are friends. He said so himself.

“My father doesn’t approve,” he says when he realizes I’m not going to drop the subject.

“He’s not pleased you’re working toward your seal?”

He shakes his head.

I laugh a little, astounded at the thought of any parent being less than thrilled to have a commander like Henrik for a son. The soldier has accomplished so much, and in so little time.Everyoneadmires him.

Henrik leaves the rail to stand next to my crate, and I scoot to the side and pat the empty spot with my hand. He hesitates, likely unsure if it’s wise for us to sit so closely, and then he gives in.

Together, we look at the sunset water, our shoulders brushing. Warmth kindles in my stomach and spreads, making me feel nearly weightless as we sit side-by-side.

“My mother died while my father was away on his last mission,” Henrik continues. “Angry at the world, he’s never been the same. Not only did he lose his wife and his leg, but he also lost his hope for the future. After believing we would be living a comfortable life, there he was, in the same trade as his father before him, barely making enough to put food on the table.

“There isn’t a lot of gold to be made as a blacksmith, even when you work directly for the king. We were always strapped.”

“But your sister is at Dulnmarin’s,” I say softly. “How is that possible? Prestigious schools like that aren’t cheap.”

Henrik nods. “As soon as I was old enough, I joined Algernon’s army. I wanted to give my family the life Father could not. In the beginning, I thought it would please him.”

“But it didn’t.”

“He said I was a fool for throwing my youth away for a king who would abandon me in the blink of an eye.” He shakes his head. “But it no longer mattered what he believed. I was working for my own future; I was working for Brielle. And when I became a commander, people began to treat me differently. They showed me respect that no one ever bestowed on the son of a blacksmith.” He pauses to give me a dry smile. “Everyone except Lawrence—and you.”

I laugh, amazed he’s still talking.

He continues, “I wanted to challenge myself and see how far I could rise. I knew if I could earn my seal and a title, Brielle’s future would be secure. She would no longer be the daughter of a bad-tempered blacksmith. She’d be a lord’s sister, elevated into the nobility by association. And at the same time, I could serve something greater than myself. My life would have a purpose.”

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