“I don’t know. It’s strange, though. I’m sure there’s a reason. We just don’t know it yet.” Traits of old Nolan, the scholar, slowly emerged. Alec could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. “I’ll do some research and see what I come up with.”
They kept further conversation shallow, such as the topic of Kael being an arse—one of Alec’s favorite discussions. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they neared the edge of Faylinn. A fire crackled in a nearby clearing, casting shadows on the surrounding trees. Drums started a steady cadence, followed by a flute playing a lively tune.
“What’s that?” Alec asked.
“The gypsies. Like I said, they’ve made camp near us, waiting for Jezebelle.”
“So why haven’t they gone home?”
“Don’t know,” Nolan said. “With the attitude of the soldiers, I figured they’d be long gone.”
The music stopped, and a chorus of laughter took its place. A few squeals of merriment, and then the music started again.
“I will say one thing … ” Alec said. “I don’t trust Jezebelle.”
They stopped within sight of the campfire light. Nolan’s eyes glowed faintly with his Perception Shay. “Neither do I.”
After passing the gypsies uneventfully, they arrived back at the castle. When Nolan and Alec entered the throne room, Megan and Emery stood alone. They leaned in, deep in discussion.
Nolan’s posture stiffened.
Alec cleared his throat. “Congratulations on your marriage.”
They looked up, and upon seeing Alec, Megan grinned. “Alec!” she said. “So glad you’re back.”
Emery shifted, staring at his boots. Finally, he straightened and met Alec’s eyes, avoiding Nolan altogether. “Greer told me about your adventures,” Emery said, “especially with the townspeople of Neda. I’m glad you were able to help.”
“Yeah, well. That town is full of idiots.”
Emery chuckled. “I’ll have to send some Rol’dan there to remind them of the error of their ways.”
An awkward silence followed.
“Where is King Kamalin?” Alec asked.
“I’ve given them rooms in the blue wing, on the third floor. It might not be the grandest section of the castle, but they’ll have more privacy.”
More awkward silence followed.
“So Nolan said you were married this morning?” Alec asked.
“O-officially, yes,” Emery stammered. “We’ll have a more traditional ceremony in a few months when Megan’s brother and the rest of our friends can make it here.”
Nolan took a step back. “If you’d excuse me, I’m not feeling well.”
“Do you need the light?” Emery asked, concern on his face.
Nolan shook his head. “The sun is too low. I’ll wait until tomorrow.” He turned and strode from the throne room, not saying another word.
The three of them stood in silence.
“So what’s going on?” Alec finally asked. Judging by all the foul moods, there was more to this than it seemed.
Megan bit her lip.
“Nolan filled me in on the specifics,” Alec added. “You don’t need to explain that part.”
A flush crept to her cheeks, but she nodded, seeming relieved.
Emery grimaced and ran a hand over his beard. “Nolan and I haven’t been talking much the last several days. We had a … um, disagreement.”
Megan crossed her arms over her chest, giving Emery one of those glares that turn men’s blood cold. It looked as if the disagreement didn’t stop with just Nolan.
Alec couldn’t put aside the idea that Nolan still had feelings for Megan. If so, it would be no wonder Nolan was so upset. She’d chosen Emery—a man nearly twice her age—over him. It would put any fellow in a foul mood.
What Nolan needed was a distraction, something—or someone—to focus on besides Megan. An idea formed in his mind, one that made Alec smile.
“Where’s Lieutenant Connelly?” Alec asked.
“She’s in the army, so her quarters are in the barracks,” Emery said.
Alec nodded, his resolve crumbling slightly. As much as he wanted to drag Nolan from his melancholy, he dreaded setting foot in those barracks. Most of the Rol’dan were a bunch of conceited twits. He sighed. “I guess I should turn in for the night. Congratulations again.”
“Thanks, Alec,” Megan said, giving him a strained smile. “I’m glad you’re home.”
Alec turned to leave and stopped, looking back at the couple. They sure didn’t seem like newlyweds. A tension rested between them like an invisible wall. Alec hoped they hadn’t gotten married because of the rumors. Of course, what did he know? The only time he’d been in love, she’d died. And now he was falling for a girl who would sail away on the next wave. Why care for anyone when you only lose them in the end?
Alec shoved his problems aside. He may not be able to do anything about his own nonexistent relationship, but he could do something for his friend. He left the castle, ignoring the watchful eyes of those assigned to guard the gate. Turning toward the barracks, he hesitated when he spotted a lone building on the way. Smoke rose from the chimney, and coal smoke filled the air. Alec turned from the barracks and headed toward the armory. He needed to talk to Father.
Chapter Sixteen
KARDOS DEVERELL DIDN’T NOTICE notice Alec; he was too absorbed in his work. Dark hair, peppered with gray, hung in strands around his face. Lines creased his eyes, and soot was smudged in the permanent scowl folds between his brows. His eyes glowed bright blue with his Precision Shay as he worked on the project in front of him. Alec wondered how long it would take his father to notice him there.
Kardos’s muscled arm hammered a steel rod—the start of one of his famous swords. A leather apron covered his shirtless chest, and numerous scars decorated his arms. They weren’t scars like Alec’s. These were burns marking his years at the forge. Alec watched his father longer, realizing he didn’t have one nightforsaken sword mark. Not once in all of those years had Alec been able to hit him.
That had to change.
Kardos’s face rose, his mind so absorbed it took him a moment to realize Alec was there. His hammer arm paused, and the light in his eyes faded to normal brown.
They stared at each other before Kardos finally spoke. “When did you get back?”
“Few hours ago.”
Kardos grunted and picked up a rod, shoving it into the coals. Wordlessly, Alec took his place at the bellows, slowly pumping it until the coals glowed. Kardos pulled the rod from the coals, and it shone white instead of the typical orange. Alec gawked. It was beautiful.
“This one has Guardian steel mixed in,” Kardos said, noticing Alec’s reaction.
“Father?” Alec said.
Kardos’s hammer arm paused over his head. His serious expression faltered, and he set down his hammer. “What’s wrong, Son?”
Alec didn’t know what to say, or why he’d come. They’d rarely talked. Most of his life, Kardos had been a tough man, pushing his son to fight and to hate. But since he’d come into his Precision, and since they’d found their new friends, he’d changed.
“I was wondering … ” Alec shifted from one foot to another. “ … have you ever moved on?”
Kardos’s brows furrowed. “Moved on? Moved on from where?”
“From Mother.”
Kardos blinked several times and then released an open-mouthed sigh. “Had to get rid of my hate, first. But I let it go. Not that I’ll ever stop loving her, but yes. I’ve finally moved on.”
Alec nodded. A Strength Rol’dan had killed his mother. Alec had watched it happen, watched him defile her first and then break her neck. Kardos’s obsession with the murder had absorbed both their lives. However, Alec knew if anyone could understand loss, it was Father. At least his father had someone to hate all those years. Taryn hadn’t been murdered. Alec could only hate himself.
“You thinking about that girl?” Kardos asked.
Alec n
odded.
Kardos stepped toward him, and Alec wouldn’t meet his gaze. He shouldn’t have come. Just as Alec was going to dismiss the whole thing, his father wrapped his arms around him.
It was an awkward hug. They’d rarely shown much affection. Kardos’s arms were thick and warm from the forge—and he didn’t smell all that good either. He was about the same height as Alec, something he hadn’t noticed before. Typically, they spent their time two sword lengths apart.
“I’m so sorry, Son.” Kardos squeezed him. And, as much as Alec tried to pretend he didn’t hurt, an emotional dam broke loose, and he started to sob.
They stood for a while. After Alec spent his tears, Kardos gently pushed him away and yanked a sword from the wall. Were Father’s eyes red?
“All right, boy. No cheating with that Speed Shay of yours.”
Alec wiped his face with his sleeve and slid out his sword. He grinned. It was about time Kardos Deverell added some stripes to those forge-burned arms.
***
Alec grinned as he held his shoulder, covering a fresh gash. He considered going back to the castle to find Nolan to heal him, but Alec feared what kind of mood his friend would be in. Instead, he headed to the barracks. He’d get help there. Besides, he needed to send someone back to heal Father anyway.
After a trip to the healing barracks, Alec scanned the remaining buildings and found the golden flag of Speed. This is where he would’ve been placed had he taken the mantel of the Rol’dan. He squared his shoulders and made his way toward the building.
As with all the barracks, there was no need to knock. Each common room held an inn-like atmosphere. Food wafted through the air, and light conversations filled the room.
Rowdy laughter erupted from inside as the door opened, but it stilled to a dead silence when Alec entered. Apparently, killing Kael had given him quite the reputation. Kael sat at the largest table, a group of Rol’dan soldiers surrounding him. They’d lost their capes and jerkins but still wore their leather breeches and golden shirts; most were casually untied and no longer tucked in.
Kael rose and closed the distance as whispers trickled from the other soldiers. Kael’s blue eyes pierced into Alec, holding his gaze.
“Decide to join us?” Kael said, frowning. No matter how much they pretended to get along, Alec still hated the man.
“I’m looking for Lieutenant Connelly.”
“Ladies’ barracks are in the back. Her room is on the second floor, last room on the right.” Kael smirked. He seemed to know the ladies’ barracks well.
Alec left and looped around to the rear of the building, entering another door. A few ladies mingled in another common hall. He passed them, ignoring the smiles and whispers. When he reached her room, via Kael’s instruction, he barely touched it before the door flung open.
Kat Connelly wore only a thin nightshirt. No uniform. Legs bare. Alec stared before he pulled his eyes away.
“Alec?” she said, her face flushing. She grabbed a robe off a hook and slipped it over her gown. “I was just about to get a drink. Is everything okay?”
Alec cleared his throat. “Can we talk?”
“Let me get dressed, and I can meet you downstairs.”
“Would rather talk in private, if you don’t mind.”
She glanced down the hallway in each direction and motioned him in. Her room didn’t have much decor. Neat and organized books lined her desk from tallest to shortest. A quill and inkpot sat off to the side, aligned evenly. A candle burned, its red wax leaving trails down the side. Light flickered through a single window from the torchlight outside.
Kat’s hair was getting longer, still short, but more feminine than when he’d first met her. Loose curls framed her face. She was actually pretty when she tried not to dress like a boy. Her eyes flicked to the blood on his shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Stopped by to see my father.”
“Ah,” she answered with a knowing nod. She waited expectantly and finally said, “You wanted to talk?”
“Um, yeah.” Alec rubbed the back of his neck. “I wanted to talk to you about Nolan.”
She snorted and turned from him. “What about the Emissary?”
“Well, I figured, since you and he—”
“There is no him and me.”
“But I’ve seen you two together.”
“And I’ve seen you with him,” she added. “Does that make you two an item?”
Alec blinked. “Oh, for Brim’s sake. You know what I mean. What about you two in the bedroom?” He crossed his arms over his chest, triumphant. She couldn’t deny what he’d seen at the inn in Renfrew.
Her face paled, then reddened. “Who told—” She scowled. “I’m not sure what happened in Megan’s room. I have no idea why he tore open my shirt and kissed me. Now he doesn’t even talk to me. Doesn’t respond to my notes. Doesn’t answer when I knock. And when I do see him, he avoids me like a disease. He doesn’t see me at all.”
Alec had stopped listening halfway through Kat’s rant. Tore open her shirt?
“Alec?” Kat said
“Um, yeah,” Alec said, shaking off his shock. “What were you saying … about your shirt?”
“My blouse. In Megan’s room?”
“I was … um … talking about the inn in Renfrew. What happened in Megan’s room?”
Kat’s face turned an uncharacteristic shade of red. “Oh.” She cleared her throat. “I-I thought that Nolan told you. Forget I said anything.”
Alec shook his head. There was no way he could forget that. However, tearing her shirt on purpose didn’t sound like Nolan. He would barely speak to a girl, let alone rip off her clothes. But of course, that was the old Nolan, before he became a half-Guardian. Maybe the new Nolan was braver.
Then Alec remembered when he’d found them in Kat’s room in Renfrew, how embarrassed Nolan had become when he’d discovered his lack of clothes. No. He hadn’t changed. He wouldn’t have ripped open a woman’s shirt if he’d been himself. Nolan was the most controlled fellow Alec had ever known.
Alec huffed. “Well, it would explain why he’s avoiding you.”
“How does it explain anything?”
“He’s avoiding you because he’s embarrassed.” She started to protest, but he ignored her and kept speaking. “When I first met Nolan, he’d hidden his Precision Shay for two years.”
“He … he hid his power?”
“Yes. He hid it from his own brother. He hid it from the Duke of Alton. He hid it from a whole town full of soldiers. The only reason anyone found out was because of Emery.” He gripped Kat’s arm. “Can you even imagine trying to hold back your Shay?”
She shook her head. “It’d be impossible.”
“Impossible,” he said. “Except for Nolan.”
“So what does that have to do with this?”
“My guess is he’s so embarrassed about losing control, he can’t face you.”
“No,” she said. “If he’s as controlled as you say he is, then why would he lose it and kiss me? It’s even more obvious he did it on purpose, to make Megan jealous. It’s the only reason I can come up with.”
Alec opened his mouth to protest, then stopped. She had a point. It would confirm Alec’s suspicions that Nolan still had feelings for Megan. However, Nolan wasn’t like that. He could see Kael using someone, but not Nolan. Never. There must’ve been something else going on. He’d have to talk to Nolan and figure things out. “He doesn’t use people.”
“Maybe this time—”
“No. I know him. He isn’t that way.”
Kat stared ahead in consideration. Finally, her brows furrowed. “What about Megan? He liked her at one time, didn’t he?”
Alec couldn’t deny it. He shrugged. “She’s married now. She’s no threat to you. And, who says that someone can’t care for two people at the same time?”
Alec flinched, his own words smacking him as Rayen flashed in his mind. Could he really like the girl? Taryn hadn’t been gone bu
t a few short months; how could he fall for someone else so soon? But, by his own words, he’d claimed it possible.
“Alec?” Kat said. “Are you okay?”
“Um, yeah,” he said, shaking off his revelation.
“So you think … he’s embarrassed?”
“It’s only a guess.”
The hope faded from Kat’s expression.
“Although,” Alec quickly added, “when I walked in on you two at the inn in Renfrew, you distracted him so much, he didn’t even realize he’d forgotten his clothes.”
Alec remembered Nolan’s red face, seeing the horror spread across his friend’s expression. Nolan kept his composure so often, Alec had enjoyed watching him squirm. “I’d say he’s interested in you.”
She licked her lips. “So what should I do? For being interested, he’s ignored me enough.”
After a good hour of discussion, they decided that getting Nolan away from the castle would be the best option. They also decided Kat might want a more subtle approach, even if it would be difficult controlling her thoughts. Alec would arrange a trip tomorrow, after Nolan woke and had taken the light of the stones, and they would run into Kat “accidently”. At some point, Alec would go back and work at the armory, leaving Kat and Nolan alone.
There were major flaws in this plan. Since Nolan’s transformation, he’d become even more aware of things. They’d have to control their emotions at all times. For Alec, this would be nearly impossible. Which meant the plan was doomed to fail.
Still, Alec would try. He hadn’t been a good friend to Nolan since Nolan’s transformation. Alec struggled with forgiveness—a trait he shared with his father. But Nolan had tried to do the right thing by bringing his conceited twit of a brother back to life. It wasn’t Nolan’s fault that Kael was Kael.
He headed back to the castle, thankful to be away from the Rol’dan barracks. As he passed the armory, he noticed the smoke still trailing above, a sign his father was still working. He’d have a chance to get to sleep before Father’s thunderous snores took over.
It’d been a good night overall. He’d gotten off the nightforsaken boat, finally, though he suspected his land sickness was returning. He’d beaten his father for the first time and given him a pair of scars to remember it by. And he’d taken a step to help Nolan, but he wasn’t sure how well it would work out in the end. Alec paused, and the building ahead seemed to pitch and fall like the sea. Whatever Greer had done was wearing off.
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