Page 59 of Ashborne Phoenix

An hour later, dressed in my riding leathers which he’d reluctantly scanned with the power and believed hadn’t been marked by magik, with my hair tightly braided and under my hood, and my heart in my throat, we strode out of the castle. We used a gardener’s door on the ground floor, because only a short lawn’s distance from the castle itself, a small wood was thick within the garden walls, and would mostly obscure our passage from anyone who might make a casual glance out from a window or door.

Even once we were out of the grounds and crossing the open landscape toward the stables, our hope was that if we were seen, with the hood and the clothes, I wouldn’t be recognized. There were few in the castle who knew Voski as Vane, or would care if they saw him. To them, he’d appear to be nothing but a servant. But my face would be noted and pursued at once.

The castle was in an uproar because the king had closed the road into the Crown district. Guards patrolled the road and walls, and everyone waited with bated breath for word of my bleeding—or not.

The thought made me grimace. But only for a breath.

I was outside.

Free. With Voski. And on my way to my dragon! My heart danced at the thought of finally seeing and touching Koa.

The late afternoon sun descended toward the mountains, giving the gardens and trees a golden glow.

Soon, out on the grass, we’d be visible to anyone who cared to look, if their eyes followed the path across the expansive lawns and rolling grounds beyond the castle, toward the stables.

But we’d have our backs to them, and we prayed all they would see were two servants in dark clothes, walking quickly to their tasks in the stables.

It was rare for nobles to walk anywhere outside the hallways of the castle itself.

The dragons weren’t here yet. They would wait until nightfall when they could land without being seen. But that would only be a couple of hours.

And with this kind of space around us, finally we could speak openly.

“You’re very impressive,” I said, somewhat breathlessly. Voski’s expression didn’t change but he shot me a questioning look. I grinned. “You move like a cat. You know every hidden corner. You anticipate every potential obstacle… I wish I had your skill.”

He snorted. “You possess plenty. You’ve snuck up on me multiple times.”

“Yes, but—for instance, I wouldn’t have known to avoid the corridor with the privies. That would seem like an unpleasant area. To my mind, a place I was far less likely to meet a noble. I would have been inclined to use it as a route.”

“When you traverse any building in stealth, avoid any route that is guaranteed to be used by others—privies, while unpleasant, are necessary. An hour would never pass without multiple bodies moving through that corridor. And because others—especially women—might be embarrassed or tense about being seen there, their guard will be up as long as they’re in the area. They’re far more likely to notice your presence if you cross paths, out of their own desire not to be seen.”

It was good advice, and I would remember it. But it merely made my point. “How did you learn all of these things?”

“I was trained,” he said with a shrug.

“But you train others now. You have exceeded your masters and coaches. Even Gil says you’re—”

“No, Grace,” he said quietly. “I was trained in and practiced stealth for years before I was a Furyknight.”

Oh. Of course. My heart sank and I put a hand to his arm. “That woman makes me… furious!” I muttered.

Voski shrugged again. “Kham always points out that, whether they meant to or not, they armed me with their training.” But his tone was low. He kept his eyes ahead and not on me. I felt the tension in him.

I sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t think—”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” he said darkly, picking up his steps as we moved out into the open estate and hurried toward the stable buildings that were a mile or more from the castle itself. “She’s the one who’s earned my anger.”

I nodded. Then, on a whim, I took his hand.

It was a risk. If anyone looked out of the castle, though our features wouldn’t be visible from this distance, the sight of two servants holding hands would be remarkable enough that a curious noblewoman might look twice. But I decided I didn’t care. I held his hand tightly and looked up at him.

“What I meant to say was that I admire you. And I want to learn from you,” I said quietly.

His shoulders dropped an inch and he finally turned his head to look at me, though we continued walking quickly. “If I could, I would kiss you right now.”

I smiled. “Hold that thought for later.”

What Love Is