Jessa nodded. “Yes, but shortly after she shooed us, she’d suddenly find the urge to bake us a sweet, so we never shooed far.”
“Do you miss her?” Emariya asked. “I know I do. Her
and
Reeve.”
“Of course I do,” Jessa said, crossing the room and giving Emariya a quick hug. “And it’s all right that you miss Reeve, too, you know.”
Emariya’s eyes grew wide; she was surprised that Jessa felt that way. “Really? Even after what he did?”
“What he did was wrong. He never should have lied to you about Torian requesting your hand. And he should have told you about the gifts, and who Khane was.” Jessa’s eyes darkened at the mention of Khane. “But, as wrong as he was, that’s on him. He’s your brother, and that hasn’t changed. It is only natural that you miss him.”
Listening to Jessa’s matter-of-fact explanation, Emariya thought it sort of made sense. Jessa could be counted on for many things, but without fail, she always had very solid ideas about what was right and what was wrong. “I thought of something we could do for Garith and Rink for The Day Of The Three,” Emariya said.
Jessa’s eyes lit up. “Really? It’s so hard to figure out gifts here in Thalmas. There isn’t much to work with. Unless you like stone, of course.”
“I’d like to give them tabards. I don’t think they really know what their place is here. But Torian introduced Garith to the queen as my ‘adviser.’ I think that’s the perfect title for him, and he needs the formal vestments to go with the appointment.”
“Riya, that’s a great idea, but I don’t know if I can get the fabric in time. They don’t make their own here like we did at Warren’s Rest.”
“Oh.” Emariya frowned. “Well, hopefully we can find some. Even if it isn’t in time for The Day Of The Three, I’d like to do it. And one for Rink, too. Do you think you can make them if we can find the fabric for you?”
Jessa grinned. “Absolutely. I’ll ask Kora where they get the fabric for the uniforms that Torian’s guards wear.”
That was one thing off her list of things to sort out. Jessa’s shared enthusiasm for her idea helped lift her spirits, but then she remembered she had no idea what to do for Torian as a gift. “What should I give Torian?”
“The only thing I know he wants is your hand.”
“Well, I’ve already promised him that.”
“You’ve only halfway promised him,” Jessa said with a pointed look. Emariya was well aware of Jessa’s disapproval of her and Torian’s deception. It wasn’t that they wanted to deceive the people of Thalmas; they just didn’t want to put anyone in danger. Regardless, while to them their reasons justified their half-truths concerning their betrothal, Jessa still viewed it as a lie.
“I want to marry him, I do. I truly hope that we are able to. He knows that.”
Jessa sighed. “If it’s good enough for him, I suppose it will have to be good enough for me. What about embroidering him a handkerchief?”
“I don’t know…that’s kind of…ordinary. I want to give him something special.”
“You can personalize it to make it special. Embroider something that shows the merging of your families.”
“Like his wolf, with a wreath of leaves around its neck?”
“Exactly. He’ll love it,” Jessa said as she stepped around Emariya to the bed. Working with practiced hands, she deftly took up Kora’s unfinished task with the linens.
“Do you think I should do something for Khane?” Emariya crossed the room, peering out her window that gave her a view of the bridge leading between the castle and the mainland.
“Why would you?” Jessa asked.
“He’s the only actual family I have nearby. This will be the first Day Of The Three my brother and I haven’t spent together.”
“Torian is your family now, or he will be. Forget Khane.”
***
The Day Of The Three dawned, cold but clear. A recent snowstorm had left the castle grounds coated in a fresh white blanket.
Throughout the previous week, Emariya had barely seen Torian. Something had preoccupied him; she assumed it was the preparations for the guests that would soon be arriving at the castle. Whatever it was, it had kept him distracted enough that she had been able to complete his handkerchief as well as a few other gifts.
Soon after first light, Jessa and Kora came to draw Emariya a bath and help her dress.
“Were you able to finish Garith’s and Rink’s gifts?” Emariya asked.
“No.” Jessa shook her head. “But the fabric is being dyed, and it should be ready soon. I’ll have them finished before we leave for Sheas.”
Jessa held up a gown for her to wear. “Red?” Emariya asked, surprised. “It is awfully bright.” Emariya tended to prefer more natural, earthy colors, and lately she’d begun to wear some of the silvers and black that symbolized Thalmas.
“You’ve been so sad lately, I hoped maybe the brightness would rub off on your mood.”
“Has it been that obvious?” Emariya felt a bit guilty. She’d tried to avoid bringing her companions down with her mood. Apparently, she hadn’t been successful.
“No matter, you’ll look beautiful in this.” Jessa quickly helped Emariya into the gown.
“What’s this?” Kora asked from across the room as she picked up a linen handkerchief from the dressing table.
Emariya took it nervously in her hand. She hadn’t meant to leave it out for anyone to see.
Kora prompted, “Is it for your father, for The Day Of The Three?”
Swallowing hard, Emariya nodded.
“I don’t think she wants to talk about it,” Jessa said, glaring at Kora.
“I’m sorry, Milady, I didn’t think.” Kora’s eyes grew wide and almost frightened.
“It’s all right, no harm done. Yes, it’s for my father.” Emariya ran her fingers lightly over the embroidery. Woven in dark thread, Torian’s name curved around to meet hers, woven in green. Together, their two names outlined a perfect, balanced heart. Inside the heart, she’d embroidered her father’s name.
Oren Warren
. As she cradled it in her hand, she could feel the parchment inside crinkle slightly. She pictured the note she’d carefully written.
Father, Torian may make my heart whole, but he’ll never take your place inside it.
At least her heartfelt note had been kept from Kora’s prying eyes.
Jessa held out an empty palm. “I’ll make sure to pack it with your things. You can take it with us when we go to Sheas to bring Lord Warren home, if you like.”
Emariya relaxed slightly and smiled, grateful for Jessa’s offer. “Yes, thanks.”
“I’ll go let His Highness know you’re ready.” Jessa hurried toward the door.
“Let him know I’m ready?” Emariya asked, but Jessa smiled and left, leaving Emariya alone with Kora.
“I really am sorry, Milady.” Kora kept her eyes turned down.
“You have nothing to fear from me, Kora. Friends displease each other sometimes. Think nothing of it.” Emariya tried to make her smile as encouraging as possible. She took a deep breath and then added, “But if you’d like, there is a favor you could do for me.”
“Oh yes, Milady, anything,” Kora said.
“You must promise not to tell anyone.”
Kora nodded solemnly and twisted her fingers in a locking motion at her lips.
“Will you find an extra blanket and take it to the dungeon for Khane? Please? I don’t want him to get too cold. After all, it’s The Day Of The Three.”
“
A day for goodwill, where even enemies are friends.
” Kora’s words echoed the phrase that Emariya had been taught since she was young.
“Exactly.” Emariya smiled. “But I don’t think His Highness would want me to visit Khane, and I’m not sure that I’m ready. But it would mean a lot to me to send him a blanket.”
Kora nearly floated out of Emariya’s chamber after a parting grin. She seemed to have lightened considerably; almost buoyant with the joy of being assigned such an important task. Emariya had liked Kora immediately upon her arrival at Castle Ahlen, and she’d begun to feel like she could count on her. She’d miss the girl once they set out for Sheas.
Without warning, the door opened again, and Jessa slipped inside.
“Turn around,” she said, holding up a white bolt of flowing fabric.
“Why?” Emariya asked, cocking her head to the side.
Jessa stamped her foot. “Hurry up, Torian is waiting. Now, turn.”
Recognizing the same tone Jessa’s mother Mairi had been using on her all her life, Emariya knew that it would be useless to argue. With an exaggerated sigh, she turned her back to Jessa, crossing her arms in front of herself.
Jessa’s nimble fingers secured the fabric across Emariya’s eyes, and Emariya couldn’t help the little shudder that coursed through her unexpectedly.
“Riya, are you all right?” Jessa asked, her voice touched with concern.
Emariya tried to shove aside the mental image of the last time she’d been blindfolded. She’d been on a horse, having been abducted on her way to Castle Ahlen. As much as she tried to fight it, her shoulders began to tremble. “I’m sorry, Riya. Here, I’ll get it off.”
The fabric fell free as the door opened behind her. “Your Highness, get in here.” Jessa’s voice—abnormally stern—cut through Emariya’s fog of fear.
In moments, his arms were around her. “Shhh, what is it?”
Jessa answered for her. “I put the blindfold on like you asked, and she started shaking.”
Emariya felt the need to apologize. “I’m sorry, I was just remembering being captive and—”
Torian interrupted her. “You have nothing to apologize for. It was insensitive of me.”
A shaky smile slipped through and her head began to clear. “I guess we’re both forgiven, then.”
“We can only hope that we will always settle any issues that arise so easily.” Torian returned her smile with one of his own.
Emariya pressed into his embrace and then sighed. Tearing herself away from the comfort of his arms, she crossed to the dressing table and picked up the small, carefully wrapped package that she’d prepared especially for him.
Torian’s gray eyes danced as he took it, handling it as if it were a priceless artifact. “For me?”
“Open it.” Emariya leaned forward, watching as his fingers pried back the parchment.
Torian glanced up, and saw her watching him. He turned his shoulder away, blocking her view of the package. “Oh, My Lady, you weren’t trying to watch, were you? I almost think you are more excited than I am,” he teased.
“I want you to like it.” Emariya let her vulnerability show.
Letting the parchment drop, he lightly touched the embroidered linen, examining it closely. A proud wolf stood guard at one corner, a wreath of ivy leaves around its neck.
“Emariya, I love it.” His eyes met hers, and, for a moment, time stood still. His thank you hung in the air as he moved closer and brushed his lips against hers.
“May I take you to show you your gift now? No blindfold.”
Eagerly, Emariya nodded.
Emariya had been trying to guess what he might give her. She’d come to the conclusion that the obvious gift was a horse. They bred their own at the castle, and she knew foals were due soon. She hoped it wouldn’t offend him if she declined. She and Raina, her white filly, had developed quite a bond.
When they stopped outside his chambers, Emariya looked at him in confusion.
He doesn’t honestly think we are going to…
She shook her head.
Torian instructed the guards following them to remain outside his door, and then flashed her a devilish grin. “This way, My Lady.”
She tried to ignore the brand new door that replaced the one consumed in the fire. As he led her inside, she forced herself not to look at the scorch marks on the wall or the lack of a rug on the floor.
Clutching her hand firmly in his, Torian led her to a door at the back of the first floor of his quarters instead of toward the staircase that would lead higher into the tower, in the direction of his sleeping chamber. He let go of her hand briefly; long enough to grab a cloak from a hook near the door and wrap it around her shoulders.
The latch sprung free easily, and he led her onto a private balcony overlooking the sea. She could make out the peaks near Connor’s Cliffs in the distance.
Even though the snow had stopped, the air high on the balcony was bitterly cold, and Emariya was grateful for his cloak’s offered warmth.
Torian turned to face her, blocking her from exploring the balcony further. “I hope that these are
our
quarters someday. To help make it a place you can consider your own, I created this for you.”
Emariya recognized the same vulnerable hitch in his voice that she’d heard in her own earlier when she’d presented him with his gift.
“I know you miss Eltar and your garden.” Torian stepped out of her way, giving her an unobstructed view of the entire balcony.
A tiny circle of stones blocked off the center of the terrace. In it, poking awkwardly out of a pile of dirt and hay, carved wooden roses created the essence of a garden.
“We’ve planted some of your herbs around the wooden roses. I don’t know if they will grow, but maybe with your gift they will,” Torian said.
“You did this for me?” she asked, unsure what else to say. Emotion welled thickly in her throat.
He nodded and gestured to the pillars near the terrace railing. “I’ve commissioned masons to come and carve roses twisting up along the pillars. They weren’t able to do it on such short notice, though.”
“Torian, I love it. I didn’t realize it was so obvious how much I missed ho—” She paused, then continued, correcting herself, “Eltar.”
“I hope you have a blessed Day Of The Three,” he whispered the traditional holiday greeting.
“You are my blessing.” She reached out to trail a finger along his cheek.
Looking around, warmth slowly spread through her, radiating from her heart. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever stop missing Eltar, but slowly, the harsh, unchangeable landscape of Castle Ahlen was evolving in her eyes. It was becoming softer, more welcoming, and, someday, perhaps she would even call it home.
Keeping Secrets
Rink checked and double-checked the cinch on Raina’s saddle without giving it much thought. He’d tended to horses so often he could saddle a horse with his eyes closed. It would be better to keep his eyes open, though, to make sure he didn’t miss anything.