Shadowguard

“And that’s exactly why I’ve told no one but you,” she sighed. “I want my parents to realize this was my decision, not something someone talked me into, and that’s not going to happen unless I leave without telling anyone.”

“How were you planning to get there, then? Alund’s a five-day ride to the north, and that’s after you get out of Inverness which, with this snow, could take a week,” he said, eying her with suspicion. “That road’s dangerous. It goes through the Ablow Gorge in the Marlrock Mountains, which are crawling with cave trolls, among other things. You’d need a company of guards to escort you, if not another half.”

She flung her hands up in exasperation. “I don’t know! All I know is Shroud’s not going to stop coming after me and gods knows my parents won’t help me! They won’t even let me piss by myself and I’m fully healed.”

He was quiet for a few moments. “Osain’s sending Vina to Alund in a week’s time.”

Everna groaned. “Great, I get to deal with Vina more.”

“You want in? You’ll have to get the recommendation from Osain, anyway. You can’t just walk up to the door with a stolen badge.”

Sighing, she turned away from the vanity and moved to the window, peering at the snowy town beyond. Children cluttered the streets, hiding behind mounds of glittering white as they lobbed balls of snow at each other. Adela poked her head out from behind the farthest most bunker, a snowball striking her square in the face. She appeared again moments later, this time to lob a ball of her own at her brother, who shuffled past, draped in the regimentals of the Guard.

Since the revelation of Mayor Ashburn’s survival, Pendel returned to genuine normalcy once more. Even the looming food shortages and long winter couldn’t dampen their spirits. The streets were lively once more, the tension that blanketed the town gone.

“I just don’t want to see anymore Windhollows.”

“That wasn’t your fault,” he said, crossing the room to stand beside her at the window. As always, he made no noise as he walked, even the creaky floorboards silent beneath his feet. “They don’t blame you, you know.”

“Perhaps Windhollow wasn’t, but what happened in the stronghold was. I’m the one who insisted we go after Godwin. I almost got us all killed because I had to prove something.”

“Is that why you’re joining Shadowguard? To prove something?”

She turned to him, fully, and pursed her lips. He truly was handsome, in a rugged sort of way that even the delicateness of his elvish half couldn’t quite overshadow. He still looked more a scoundrel than a prince with the worn leathers, several days’ old scruff around his chin, and daggers strapped to his hip. There were more than she saw, she knew; she’d watched him pull them from several places she’d never thought possible.

“I’m tired of seeing the people I care about nearly die trying to save me.”

“And you think I- the rest of us don’t feel the same when it comes to you?” he asked, his eyes narrowed. “Do you have any idea how terrifying it was to watch you nearly tear yourself in half just to get at Godwin?”

Everna chewed on her lower lip. How could she not? She barely remembered what she’d done, but not two seconds after she opened her eyes, she’d gotten the lecture of a century from eight different people. Her mother slapped her so hard she felt the sting for the next four hours.

“I’m sorry,” she said at length. “Not just for that, but for everything else. I think I caused enough problems to last this Shadowguard a few more months.”

“It’s not like you went looking for trouble with Shroud,” he said, his voice a touch softer. “Besides, it’s our job. Someone’s got to help the damsels in distress.”

“Which I hear is a regular occurrence for you,” she said, jabbing him in the shoulder. “Couldn’t help yourself, could you?”

“Well, it’s not every day a feisty little barmaid gets pulled into Shroud’s plots. It was a pain in the ass, sure, but it was entertaining, if nothing else.”

He could say that, but Leah and Lisette made it clear that wasn’t entirely the case. Cian stayed when he normally wouldn’t. He cared what happened to her, even if he refused to admit it. With people like him, actions spoke louder than words.

The letter sitting on her bedside table spoke volumes, whether he realized it or not.

She would miss him when she left. He might be a cheeky ass about most things, but that was a fair part of his charm. She never did like overly proper men; she liked them cheeky and with just enough moral ambiguity to keep her on her toes, but not so lacking that it caused problems.

It’d be at least a year before she saw him again, if their paths ever crossed. Lisette said Shadowguard agents went where they were told. Cian likely remained in Inverness because of his status, but there was no telling where they’d send her once she joined their ranks. She might find herself stationed halfway across the region for years at a time.

To hell with it, she had nothing to lose.

She lifted her hand to his face, his stubble rough against her palm. His eyes widened, the light catching the colors of his eyes — the green as vibrant as the spring forest beneath the lamp burning at her bedside table.

“Thank you,” she said, pressing a soft kiss against his cheek, “for everyth-

She hit the wall, the window sill digging into her lower back. His hands found her hips as he pressed against her, stealing her breath with a searing kiss. Heat rushed to her cheeks, her heart skipping several beats. Her arms hovered lamely at her sides, then, as her eyes slid closed, she threw them around his neck.

Everna had been kissed before, several times during drunken revelries in the capital, but it never felt quiet like this. There was no head rush; no butterflies in her stomach with them. With him, it was all of that, and a touch more. Every point of contact burned, his hands hot on her hips despite the thin night gown between them.

Perhaps with him, it was a matter of familiarity. The others were nameless faces, the result of one too many drinks or whatever games her dorm mates cajoled her into playing. This was almost three months of tension finally finding some resolution.

Maybe Lisette and Leah were onto something after all.

Just as she leaned back to catch her breath, her door flew open. Her entire room shook as it slammed into the wall, startling the both of them. Everna jumped, her head knocking into the underside of the open window. Cian jerked back, his eyes wide, this time with fear.

Please be Corden. Please be Corden. Please be-

“I knew it!”

Ah, shit.

Cian spun to look over his shoulder and cursed.

Her mother stood in the doorway, mouth twisted with disapproval. Then, she smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. A dagger slipped out from beneath the sleeve of her dress.

Everna scrambled out of the way as Cian bolted through the window. From there he dropped onto the low hanging roof below, which sheltered the tavern’s side entrance from the weather, and took off into the streets. Her mother tore after him, flinging herself down the drain spout, her curses carrying on the breeze. Several of the children below paused their wintry fight to watch the commotion. Adela peered up at her, and even from her window, Everna caught the curious tilt of her head.

Despite the heat in her cheeks and her heart hammering in her chest, she couldn’t help but chuckle as she propped her elbows on the sill and watched as their figures grew distant, people stumbling aside to let them pass. She’d catch him, surely. Gods help him when she did.

Gods help her when she finally came home; if her father didn’t take the hinges off her door, she’d be lucky. It would be a pointless endeavor. His figure disappeared around a corner and she released a sigh.

There was a possibility that may be the last she ever saw of him.