Chapter 16
Isca
I must’ve passed out the moment I hit the bed because I didn’t even remember crawling beneath the covers. The mattress was so comfortable that I didn’t want to get up. The air smelled faintly of smoke from my banked fire and the remnants of last night’s beeswax candles.
Last night. It all came back to me in a rush: the pulse of wild magic, the soft sob I thought I’d heard through Emrys’s door, getting caught, arguing.
I sat up, trying to rub the sleep out of my eyes. The embarrassment had faded, but it hadn’t vanished entirely. Had Emrys already told Nisien what I’d done? Would he approve?
A knock came, followed by Catrin’s voice.
She entered with a tray and a smile, dressed in a different crisp servant’s dress. “Sunrise was an hour ago, figured you needed sleep. Don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything important. The princes keep things quiet for a while before the summer festival.”
I yawned and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. “Are you actually a goddess sent to guide me through this trial? Because, Catrin, it’s been less than a day, and I would’ve already failed without you.”
Catrin radiated pleasure at the compliment. “I brought breakfast.” She set the tray down beside me, smiling widely. “Extra butter and jam because I saw how much you enjoyed it.”
I could get used to this pampering. I offered her a sleepy smile. “I think I see the game now. If you keep feeding me like this, you won’t have to take in the gowns you made for me!”
Catrin gave me a quick, amused glance. “You are a smart one. With any luck, we’re already well on our way.”
I glanced down at my middle. I was still far too thin, but there was a faint rounding on my belly that hadn’t been there before my meeting with Chancellor Maeron weeks before.
Catrin made no objection to my serving myself and proceeded to clean the fireplace in silence.
It was strange how quickly I’d adapted to the rhythm of this place. Strange, too, how quickly Catrin had become an important person in my life. She was the rock I was clinging to in the middle of the ocean.
I’d been far too lonely for far too long.
“I have my first report to send to the Assembly,” I said.
She paused in digging through the linens. “About the princes?”
I nodded. “About everything. There’s still not much to say. The caravan hasn’t left yet, I hope?”
I didn’t feel proud of the fact that I’d written to them about getting caught by Emrys after using my magic on him last night.
Normally, that kind of thing would be a scandal.
But wasn’t that exactly what they’d asked me to create?
I had to show some progress, and the fact that I’d been alone with both brothers after the sun went down was probably something they wanted to hear.
“No, not yet. They’re having a lazy breakfast themselves.” She changed the subject. “It’s a beautiful day. Thought we could walk the grounds, if you’re up for it. The sheep are getting ready to be sheared, so it’s your last chance to see them all fluffy.”
My spirits lifted considerably at that. “I’d love to.”
“But maybe we’ll stay close to the castle today. No horses,” she added with a grin. “You’re still walking a bit funny.”
I laughed, ducking my head. “That obvious, is it?”
She replied wryly, “Only if you have eyes.”
I rushed to get ready after breakfast. The caravan was due to leave soon, and I wanted to hand my letters to Rhotri myself. Dressed in a simple day gown with my new cloak over my shoulders, I jogged down to the courtyard ahead of Catrin, our breaths misting in the cool air.
The supply caravan was already assembled, horses snorting and stomping in place while the men checked bundles and reins.
I passed the letter to Rhotri and sent him off with a quick hug and a reminder to say hello the next time he came to Darreth.
As I waved goodbye, the sun painted the stone walls of the city below in a brilliant golden light that felt like a warm farewell to the group who’d delivered me safely here.
The day before, I’d thought the castle a marvel, but today, it really gleamed. The walls were the color of pale ivory, reflecting the sunshine, with a red and gold banner swaying lazily in the breeze.
“I never thought a place so full of politics could be so…peaceful.” It was perhaps unwise to say aloud, but the warmth of our burgeoning friendship emboldened me to speak freely to Catrin.
“Deceptive, isn’t it?” Catrin stood beside me now, squinting into the light. She gently grabbed my elbow. “Come. They’re sparring already. We can watch without getting in the way.”
“Sparring?”
***
I enjoyed the walk. I was used to city life, so the vibrant green hills alive with fluffy sheep and lambs on the far side of the castle’s walls were a wonder to me.
After a bit of roaming around, Catrin led us down a gravel path lined with rosemary toward a muddy square space just beyond the stables.
As we grew nearer, a rhythmic clack-clack-clack of wooden and steel blades filled the air.
We passed several trainer-trainee pairs, their differing skill levels and ages making their roles very apparent. Catrin stopped when we finally reached a group of soldiers, all watching the same battle.
The press of the crowd and the heavy musk of male sweat surrounded us as Catrin elbowed past the soldiers. I sensed their intense focus, the brief break in their attention as they noticed silk move by where rigid steel and leathers should’ve been.
The instant she found a satisfactory spot for us, I was transfixed. I couldn’t have looked away even if I’d wanted to.
Sweat dripped down their faces as they danced around one another, wooden blades streaking furiously, lungs heaving, dragging in ragged gasps.
Golden Nisien was smiling, moving like a duelist from a bard’s tale. He was graceful, agile, and perfectly in control—and shirtless. The finery he’d worn to their intimate dinner had failed to showcase the powerful muscles beneath.
But where Nisien danced, Emrys stormed. He was relentless, like fury given form.
Every strike forced Nisien across the fighting circle without mercy.
I already knew Emrys was built for war, but seeing the sweat sticking his shirt to his body, seeing his muscles roll with each strike left me without any doubts.
Hopefully, anyone paying attention to me would blame the brisk walk for my flushed cheeks and not the fact that I couldn’t stop ogling them.
Trying, but failing, to tear my gaze away, I asked, “Are they always like this?”
The battle appeared excessively brutal for a sparring match.
“Apparently, they’ve been at it for a while now.” Arms folded, Catrin nodded. “Argued again this morning about Prince Emrys’s behavior yesterday. This is how they…cool down. No one else dares to spar with Prince Emrys, so Prince Nisien takes up the challenge.”
Their strikes blurred. I found myself holding my breath during each exchange that ended with a point for a hit. “Why not?” I asked.
She shrugged. “He’s too good.” But I was certain there was a story there—probably a bloody one, knowing Emrys.
Nisien’s easy, teasing laugh rang out. “At least try to look like you enjoy it, brother.”
“I’m not here for joy.” There was no emotion in Emrys’s voice. I couldn’t empathically read either of them from such a distance. I sensed, though, that there was something off about Emrys, something I hadn’t seen before.
Emrys pressed his advantage. He fought like a man with nothing left to lose, every blow a warning to stay back. Then—for the space of a single heartbeat—his eyes met mine. A hesitation, a subtle shift, registered in the depths of his gaze.
Nisien must’ve seen this because he took advantage of Emrys’s momentary distraction. He ducked under Emrys’s next hasty blow, pivoted, and caught his brother with a tap to his belly. “Point to me.”
Nisien surprised me by not crowing about his victory. His humility was incredibly telling of the kind of person he was—it earned even more of my respect.
Emrys’s face remained impassive, betraying no hint of disappointment or reaction to his loss. Then, it was as if every ounce of the fight left his body at once. He bowed to Nisien and handed his wooden sword to an attendant.
I frowned, eyes fixed on Emrys. I whispered to Catrin, “I think that was our fault.”
“Our?” Catrin leaned closer to correct me with a chuckle. “Not ‘our,’ Mage Isca. It was as if he forgot how to be angry the moment he saw you.”
Or as if the fight wasn’t with Nisien at all.
Emrys had warned me against the hell I was walking into in dealing with him. Maybe the fight had been against himself all along.
“That’s exactly the kind of magic Darreth needs.” Catrin smiled at me.
“But I didn’t use my magic on him,” I argued.
Catrin’s eyes narrowed, and she looked at me with an expression that clearly indicated I’d said something incredibly stupid. “That’s not the kind of magic I was talking about.”
My cheeks heated. “You seem to take a keen interest in Prince Emrys,” I gently prodded Catrin, teasing, trying to change the subject. “Far more than Nisien.”
She let out a boisterous laugh that made the soldiers all around take notice of us. Keeping her voice low, she answered, “Not like that. I grew up in the castle too. They’re like the older brothers I’ve always dreamed of having. Emrys is just more complicated, you know?”
That was impossible to argue with. Nisien had been consistently open and straightforward with me since I’d arrived. While I could barely get Emrys to acknowledge me.
Nisien looked up like he’d heard his name. Noticing us, he wiped his sweaty brow with a flourish and turned to bow toward us. “Lady Isca! Catrin!” he called out. “Look. We practice our version of diplomacy even now.”