From Darkness Won Part 66

Achan chuckled. "To think of how many times we shared a slab of dirt before a campfire without a chaperone, huh, Sparrow? And a few chambers too."

Averella blushed and shot a scowl his way. Do you want a moment alone or not?

What? He grinned innocently. It's the truth.

Gypsum made a short hum of disapproval. "Only because my sister was lying to you, Your Highness. Had you known the truth, that never would have happened."

Averella closed her eyes a moment. Only Gypsum would have the gall to scold her in front of the Crown Prince.

Achan cleared his throat. "Would you object, Lady Gypsum, if Lady Averella and I stepped onto the balcony alone?"

Gypsum lifted her chin. "Only if you are there too long."

"We shall be quick about it, then, for your sake." Achan took Averella's hand and tugged her through the organza curtains. The outside warmth clapped onto her skin. The glorious sun hung high overhead, proclaiming victory over Darkness. Averella's balcony looked southwest over the vast blueness of Lake Arman. Two high lounge chairs were all that furnished the balcony.

Achan helped Averella sit on one of the chairs, then sat on the edge, facing her. "Are you well?"

The full weight of Achan's blue eyes made her stomach dance. "Very."

His eyebrows puckered. "You are not angry with me?"

"Whatever for?"

His mouth opened, closed, opened. "I... Bran?"

"Oh, Achan. That was not your fault. You do not blame yourself, do you?"

"Well, yes, actually. And that I have caused you pain."

"Rest a.s.sured. Of course I will miss Bran greatly. He was a dear friend. But he is with Arman now, and we both know how lovely that is."

Achan glanced down and took her hand. "Yes." He rubbed his thumb over her wrist. "I toured the castle."

"Have you?"

"Aye. The king's chambers has a balcony three times the size of this one and stained gla.s.s doors rather than curtains."

"It sounds lovely."

His voice lowered. "I want to share it with you."

Share it? She c.o.c.ked her head to the side and forced a serious expression. "Share a balcony and gla.s.s doors?"

"The entire chamber. If you'll marry me." He slipped his half of their coin into her hand. "Prince Oren said my parents had separate chambers. But I don't want to be separated from you ever again. Live with me?"

She could not help but smile at the way his brow wrinkled as he awaited her answer. As if he really didn't know what her answer would be. "But, Achan, that's not how things are done. n.o.bles always have their own bedchamber."

"So? This castle is too big for a home. Let's take up residence in only one room, like Trajen and Ressa. You can have as many rooms as you want for your gowns and changing and a solar. Have a room for every shoe and piece of jewelry if you want. Only..." he cupped her face in his hands, leaned in, and lowered his voice... "I don't want any walls between us. Never again." His eyes were so close that hers lost focus. "May I kiss you?"

Oh, she wanted him to. "But what of Sir Shung?"

He's not really watching. A small smile. "May I?"

Averella's eyes fluttered closed. "Yes, and you need never ask again."

His lips met hers softly, and she could feel them trembling. He released a breath and drew back, staring at her mouth. "All this time you were Lady Averella." His eyes flashed to hers and he smirked. "From that day I first saw you in my cell in Mahanaim. Sitting in the corner, so small and scrawny."

Averella batted his arm. "It is not kind to tell a lady she is scrawny."

His smile lit up his face. "You're anything but scrawny."

She lifted her chin. "Well, I first saw you walking in Esek's procession. You called me Scratch."

"Arman was putting us together."

Averella looked past his face, out to the lake. "I almost ruined it."

Achan set a hand against her cheek and turned her face back to his. "We both made mistakes. But Arman knew we would figure it all out."

He kissed her again. His arms slid around her waist. The heat of the day seemed to heighten with their touch. Their minds connected, and all Averella could hear him say was, My Sparrow. My Sparrow. My lady Sparrow.

She ran her hands up his arms, over his shoulders, and rested them at the nape of his neck, which was moist from the heat of the sun. He hummed and pulled her tight against him, threaded one hand in her hair.

She grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back with a gasping squeak. "Achan, please."

His chest heaved as his breathing slowed. "I'm sorry, Sparrow. I've dreamed of you for so long. I never thought things would work out between us at all-and never that they would work out so perfectly as this."

"Perfectly, perhaps. But your pa.s.sion must not consume us."

His lips, swollen from kissing, curved in a mischievous grin. "I wasn't raised with your scruples. Sir Caleb has taught me some decorum, but I'm a stray at heart and a pa.s.sionate man."

This time Averella could not keep from laughing. She loved how Achan could always make her smile. "My lips can attest to your pa.s.sion, but such pa.s.sion did not bring favor to my parents' actions."

"Did so." His grin darkened. "Their pa.s.sion created you."

"Achan, really!" She swatted his chest.

"If I promise to behave, will you allow me to court you?"

"Court me?" Her eyes flew wide.

Achan's smile dwindled. "I'll wait, if that's your wish. But Sir Caleb said I must be crowned soon. He says if you're willing, we should be married first so we might be crowned together. Otherwise, there'll be a separate ceremony to crown you after we're married."

"And you prefer we be crowned together?"

"I hoped we could be. It would be much more pleasant that way." His brow furrowed. "I guess that's pretty quick, huh?"

She sighed dramatically. "Well, if it makes things easier on Sir Caleb, I suppose we must skip the courting. But you must rein that pa.s.sion until we are married."

He breathed out a laugh. "I will. But are you sure, Sparrow? I don't mean to pressure you. What with your lost memory and having been stormed..."

"Do not think on it a moment longer. For without your knowing it, you have been courting me since I first clapped eyes on you. And if you make me wait much longer I shall be very cross."

He smiled and kissed her again.

41.

Most strays never received a manhood celebration different from any other day of birth celebration, and some never even celebrated that. Achan wanted things to be different for Cole.

For the time being, Cole and Matthias shared a chamber across the hallway from the king's bedchambers. Achan gathered Shung, Toros, and-against his better judgment-Kurtz, for the boy looked up to the man despite Achan's attempts to keep them apart.

After hours of planning in Achan's chambers, the men crept into the room that Cole and Matthias shared. Achan and Shung both carried torches, but Shung extinguished his and waved the smoky stick beneath Cole's nose. Not as good of a restorative as tobacco, perhaps, but more convenient.

The boy squirmed in his bed a bit and rolled over.

Achan fought against his smile. Shung, however did you and the knights keep a straight face when you woke me?

A warrior does not smile for this part of the ceremony.

I guess you have more self-control than I do.

You are realizing this only now?

Achan smirked at Shung. How will you wake him now, O wise one? For he has turned his back to you.

Shung poked Cole in the back with the end of his torch.

Cole, wearing nothing but undershorts, shot up to sitting. He had been rail thin when Achan had first met him, but he had meat on his bones now, and muscle too. He held his hand between his eyes and Achan's torch, wincing in the light. His voice came raspy. "You need a horse, Highness?"

Achan mustered as deep and manly a voice as he could. "Cole Tanniyn, do you wish to enter into the bonds of manhood?"

Cole yawned so long he groaned. "Bonds of what?"

Achan frowned. He'd practiced that line over and over until it sounded official and exciting. He should have known Cole would be confused. Simple was best with Cole. Achan tried again. "Want to know what it takes to become a man?"

Cole's eyes flashed as white as chicken eggs. He pushed onto his knees and glanced from Achan to each of the other men, then back to Achan. "Yes, Your Highness, I do. Will you tell me what I need to know?"

"Get dressed and come with us, and we'll tell you."

One might have thought the castle was under attack, as fast as Cole dressed. When he was ready, Shung held open the door. Toros and Kurtz went through, then Cole. Achan started toward it but caught sight of a set of eyes watching him from the other side of the small room.

Matthias.

Achan winked at the boy. "Someday, Matthias, you'll get your turn."

Matthias grinned.

The next morning was a day for visiting old friends. Achan found Poril in the kitchens. The old man wept and begged forgiveness, but that hadn't been Achan's reason for the visit. He wanted to start over with Poril, and to make sure that Poril understood he was not to beat whatever lad served him in the kitchens. By the time Achan left, Poril had fed him all the gingercake he could eat.

Next, Achan and his guardsmen exited the western arc of the keep, headed for the stables. Achan had not seen Noam since that day in Noiz when he had lost his temper with Sparrow. He also needed to make time to speak with Gren. He hated to summon any of them, but he might have to resort to that with Gren. The knights gave him so little free time these days, he might never get a chance to see her before his wedding. He hated to only bloodvoice her.

A flash of heat pa.s.sed over him at the very thought. He was going to be married. To Sparrow. He would praise Arman for the rest of his days for the way it had all worked out.

They stepped inside the stables. Achan had pa.s.sed outside them on his tour with Prince Oren but had not come in. The structure was three times the size of the Sitna stables. He sensed hundreds of animals inside. A few chickens roamed the dirt floor. And one piglet, which made Achan think about Mox, the scrawny barn boy who'd been there the day Sir Gavin had first spoken to Achan.

He peeked down the first row of stalls, which seemed to house only pigs. Where were the horses, then? "Noam? You in here?"

Footsteps plodded over dirt, nearing, as if someone were running his way. Achan's guards stepped around him.

And then Gren appeared, cheeks pinked, looking pale in her black mourning gown that seemed a little too tight over the belly. She also looked to have gained some weight in her cheeks. "Achan!" she squealed. Her eyes darted to Achan's guards, as if she didn't know what to make of them. He would see her now as well. Perfect.

"It's only Gren," Achan said. "Sir Shung, meet Gren."

Shung grunted and the guards fell back. Shung nodded to Gren. "Pleased to know you."

"Sir Shung is my Shield and friend," Achan said.

Gren lunged up and hugged Shung. "Oh, thank you for keeping him safe, sir!"

Shung's arms remained stiff at his sides. What a puppy the fawn is.

Achan grinned, but before he could respond to Shung or Gren, Noam stepped into the open.

"Achan." Noam glanced at the guards and lowered his gaze. "I mean, Your Highness."

"No, Noam. None of that from you." Achan pulled his old friend into a rough embrace and clapped him on the back. "How are you!"

"Fine, thanks. Unreal how the G.o.ds deceived us all. No wonder you were such a fighter."

"I see you have put the stables back together."

"Oh, Noam has done everything," Gren said. "There were a few stable boys who used to work here, but none knew as much about the animals as Noam."

"I figured as much," Achan said. "Which is why I came to ask you to be Lord High Master of the Horse."

"Master of what?"

"Lord High Master of the Horse. It is an official position. Means the management of the Royal Stables and all matters of horses and hounds fall to you. Breeding, care, feeding, things like that. What say you?"

"You think me worthy?"

"Are you not doing the job already?"