Page 6 of To Fight and To Fold

“You’ll have to come around to her eventually. I like her, you know,” she muttered, and Starspark remained quiet.

“I could come by tonight, afterwards, and tell you about it, if the Second Guard will let me. I have connections.”

This time he snuffled promisingly, and she patted her hand against his head.

Affection struck her. “Tonight, then.”

She saw now why it was called Lover’s Peak.

Besides the peek she’d gotten at a few bold young couples on her way to the top, the crest of the hill was…

“Breathtaking,” she whispered.

The grass hissed against her boots as she came to a stop, and before her stretched… everything.

She had a perfect view of the castle, torches alighting it and bringing it to life beneath the stars.

The path she’d taken on horseback was visible, leading all the way back into town, past the market and back to the castle.

And everything looked so tiny.

She had heard about this hill before, but never had a reason to visit it. Her duties kept her busy and she was not one to go around finding lovers.

With a sigh she gathered her skirts—she’d wanted to look nice, since Thea mostly saw her in trousers fit for the physical activity involved in caring for Starspark—and leaned against a nearby cropping of rock. She hoisted herself up and sat, awaiting Thea, and adjusted the folds of her skirt. Her closest friend, Rose, another Tethered, had suggested this very dress in a soft lavender color for obvious reasons, and sent her on her way with giggles.

Her heart raced at just the idea of Thea joining her up here, in this beautiful place, and what it might mean for them.

The sun set, and Aaryn waited as night fell and the stars appeared. The moon shone brightly, casting a soft glow upon the town of Evergale.

A city that had shown her much suffering while growing up poor and on the edges of town, bordering the flat farmlands of Windhelm.

It was also a city, a kingdom, that had shown her much mercy and grace. Every one of her needs was met, as were her mother’s. While Aaryn had been moved into a tower with the other Tethered, her mother had been given a lump sum and took care of herself in a cozy little cottage near the very peaks she sat upon.

They caught up every now and then over tea, but it had been a few weeks. She’d have to pen a letter and make time.

Her palm itched, and she frowned at the scar there, scratching it absentmindedly around the jewels in her wristlet. She studied the whorls and wisps of Evergale’s crest, forever etched into her skin. It’s reminder of her duty was a comfort.

As Aaryn gazed over the kingdom and the castle, she sighed wistfully. This view would be even easier to appreciate if Thea were here. Which she should be.

Aaryn glanced around, noting the empty hill, the quieted couples as they left after their… peak.

Aaryn chuckled softly and turned her attention back to the lights. The castle was mighty busy, torches flickering in the distance. She cocked her head to the side, staring.

It was actually… very alive. More so than usual.

As she stood, dropping to her feet as if that would help her see more clearly, a pang shot through her hand.

“Ah!” She muffled her cry and gripped at her wrist. That throbbing, lightning-sharp pain was embedded in her memory. The raised skin on her left hand, her Evergalian crest, seemed to throb. Only one thing had ever hurt like this. She jerked her head toward the caves.

A burst of light, an explosion.

With a gasp, she could do little else but watch, mouth agape.

The distant boom echoed, and, and⁠—

Panic raced through her. Starspark was in danger. What should she do?

Was Thea down there, in the mix? Is that why she was late? Was she in trouble?