Page 6 of Brighter Than Gold

“How did you come to be close with the King?” I asked.

He took in a deep breath and held it a moment before exhaling. “When I was eight, my father became a military captain for the palace. My family was moved to Arronbach and myself and my sisters were invited to attend courses in the palace with the other children of important officials.”

“Oh.” Something about his admission surprised me. “So, you were schoolmates?”

“Essentially. Then later on, we attended military training together, and when Burke became King, a few of us would accompany him while he traveled through the Realm.”

A smile broke out over my face remembering the conversations Kas and I had on his balcony. He’d told me about touring the Realm and attending to his duties by day, and by night he and his friends would get up to all sorts of devious things.

“I’ve heard some of those stories…”

Callan shot a quick, guilty glance over at me. “We were young… we barely—”

I laughed. “Spare me, Callan. I know what young men do.”

He swallowed nervously, no doubt wondering exactly how much Kaspian had divulged. He’d divulged a lot… But I sensed there was something deeper between the two, something that went beyond adolescent frivolity.

“You fought with him? He told me he’s fought to defend the borders of the Realm.”

Callan’s eyes hollowed at that, and his brow furrowed with tension. “Yes,” he said simply.

I didn’t need to ask him to know that whatever they shared out there was terrible. I was sorry to have reminded him.

“He speaks very highly of you,” I told him.

“Burke is one of the greatest men I’ve ever met, and it has been an honour serving him.”

I think perhaps I could say the same about the King.

“Reyah…” He chewed on a lip tersely and I waited for him to continue. “I’m very sorry I misjudged you, and for what I said earlier.”

“It’s fine. I don’t think I would have trusted me either.”

“I was out of line, and I apologise.”

I yawned as my eyes drifted closed. “I forgive you, Callan.” I rolled to face away from him and snuggled into my pillow.

“Goodnight, Your Grace,” he whispered.

Chapter2

Reyah

Another long day of travelling had me exhausted. I slid down from my horse and barely noticed, or cared, that I’d stepped right into deep, slushy mud. I handed the reigns off and plodded slowly towards the entrance of that night’s inn.

“How are you faring, my darling?” Nyx said, putting an arm around my waist.

“I just want a bath and a decent night’s sleep,” I muttered.

The inn was much smaller than the one we’d stayed in the previous night. In fact, the tiny town we’d ridden into was downtrodden and shabby. I was glad to have guards around in a place like this.

“Supper?” an old lady croaked as we entered. At least a warm fire was burning, and the aroma coming from the kitchen was savoury.

“Yes, ma’am,” Nyx replied.

The others filed in slowly behind us. The dining area was occupied by several other travelers, all just as weary looking.

Slowly and painstakingly, we began to remove our many layers, dropping hats and gloves and scarves onto empty chairs around us. My mood seemed contagious, the chipper spirit the younger guards were normally in had disappeared, and Silva had developed a wicked cough. Briar tended to her as much as she did to me.

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