Page 47 of Wings of Ice and Steel

‘Not an easy one, that one,’ she said with the hint of a smile, surveying Nieve with shrewd eyes. ‘Ariadnne is so bloody fast when she drops past those cliffs. You might be one for our reigning champ, Lucile, to watch.’

‘I was lucky,’ Nieve said with a small chuckle.

‘Right team. That’s us for today,’ Josef called over their heads. ‘Let’s get some food. Find out which one of you rotten lot won!’

The knights cheered their approval, trailing across the dirt after him towards the exit. Nieve couldn’t help glancing back at Ariadnne. Melixanthe stepped up and took the varanya’s arm, leading her the other way back towards the councillors.

*

It turned out Nieve had come third in the rankings, despite being new to the course. Everyone agreed that was impressive, and more than one pair of eyes appraised her as the results were announced. They were gathered by the board at the end of the dining hall to see the tallies after a hearty lunch of pheasant and freshly baked bread. After the announcement, knights made their way from the hall, but Nieve lingered, hoping to catch some of her old company who were evidently avoiding her. When Sabine brushed past her without even looking at her, Kayla took her arm.

‘So, you’re new, and I’m still pretty new and could do with some female company. We deserve an afternoon of shopping and a drink at the Crooked Oak, so I can get to know the infamous White Knight and learn all your secrets.’ Kayla raised her slender eyebrows, something in the slant of her smile telling Nieve she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Nieve nodded—she would welcome the distraction.

‘Of course. I’d love to.’

Kayla’s face lifted. ‘Lucile!’ She waved to the knight behind Nieve. The tall, white-haired Gale turned to them.

‘Still at the top.’ Kayla nodded to the rankings board. ‘Five months unbeaten! I tell you what, the day this one beats your score I’ll buy drinks for the whole team.’ She flicked her grin towards Nieve, before clapping Lucile on the back. ‘Honestly, though. You were brilliant.’

A flush of pride infused Lucile’s cheeks. ‘Thanks, Kayla,’ she said, and turned to join Rook who was heading toward the common rooms.

Kayla turned to Nieve. ‘Let me know the next time you’re free?’ she said, her lips twitching with a smile.

‘Of course, let’s make it happen,’ Nieve said, and Kayla’s eyes flashed as she spotted Josef by the doors to the courtyard. With a last sideways smile at Nieve, she ran to catch up with him. Nieve shook her head. She would have her hands full with that one.

Her smile dropped. Something about the idea of forming new friendships didn’t feel right when she remembered the way Ariadnne had been left alone after training.

Isolated, punished, and for what? For how she’d been born?

Curiosity gnawed at Nieve’s gut. She had so many questions—like whether Ariadnne had friends, or what she did in her free time.

The persistent tug at her breast was hard to ignore, and Nieve thought back to her parents, of the intense love they had shared. The type of love bards wrote ballads about.

The same bond the legendary varanya Beatrix had shared with Helias.

Of all the people in all the world, fate had drawn her to the most untouchable, and she was damned if she knew what to do about it.

Part Two

Twenty-three

Nieve

Nieve, wake up!’ Kayla’s rosy face swam into view. She was leaning over the bed, her mouth wide with laughter.

What Nieve had intended as a quick lie-down had turned into a full-blown nap. It had been a long month, and it seemed exhaustion had finally caught up with her.

Her head swam. Had she agreed to meet Kayla this afternoon? Her memory was foggy—the last thing she remembered was Ariadnne watching her as she left the training yard, teeth tugging at her lip, disappointed that again they’d barely exchanged a word. At this point it was physically painful, each brush of their arms or stolen glance tipping an avalanche of sensation that demanded she march back to the varanya and claim her—an act there would be no coming back from. Not for her.

Spending time with Kayla was a much-needed distraction. The curly-headed knight had been as relentless in pursuing Nieve for her company as she was now in waking her up—

‘Come on, sleepyhead. It’s not like you to flake out on me. You feeling okay?’ Kayla’s golden brows furrowed as she put a hand on Nieve’s forehead.

‘Ugh, yes. Just tired.’ Nieve swatted her away, hiking herself onto her elbows.

‘Not a good enough excuse.’ Kayla teased. ‘Dantro and Lucile are waiting, and if we don’t make a move they’ll drink the bar dry by the time we get there.’ Without further ceremony she gripped Nieve by the arm and hoisted her into a seated position.