Chapter 10
The days blurred into one as the preparations continued. Now, seven days before the tournament, the entire castle was already decorated, guests were arriving, and as I had heard, the knights were in their final days of training.
I had not gone out at all with everything that was happening, but every waking moment I thought of Lys. While they dressed me in different gowns and measured their lengths, while they questioned me about food and drink, his two brown eyes followed me everywhere.
Even though he had said we would see each other one last time, we had never said when or where.
Still, something seemed to be calling me today, urging me to go out and walk every path he and I had once taken.
“Welme, come with me,” I said across the dining hall to her, where she stood to the side. I rose from my seat and pushed my chair back in.
“Where are you going?” Sando asked, biting into a chicken drumstick.
“Just for a short walk through the city, I haven’t been out in a while.” Technically, it wasn’t a lie. I was going into the city, but the reason wasn’t entirely truthful.
He nodded and stabbed a roasted carrot with his fork. “Good luck,” he said, his mouth full, a faint, greasy smile on his face.
I shook my head, fighting the urge for my lips to curl at the royal sight of the great heir to the throne. I kissed the side of his head and gestured for Welme to follow me. Behind me, her greetings followed as I opened the door into the corridor.
Welme’s footsteps traced mine like a shadow as we moved through the halls toward the exit.
He stood with his hands behind his back as the strong waves crashed against the wall. Water sprayed all around him, yet he seemed not to feel it at all.
I turned my face slightly and whispered, “Stay here.”
Welme only looked at me, pressed her lips into a thin line, and nodded.
I swallowed the knot that had lodged itself in my throat, choking me at the same time, and then I took a step toward him. The sun shone over his hair while the wind carried his curls.
He hadn’t heard me approach.
“Lys,” I said, just loud enough to pull him from his thoughts.
He lowered his head slightly. “I had already feared I would never see you again.” Though his tone did not change, his hands tightened at his words.
“I’m here,” I said, stepping close enough to place my hand against the small of his back and stand beside him on the stone ledge. I felt his gaze on me, but I didn’t lift my eyes to meet his.
“I can’t stay for long,” I added quietly, pressing my lips together afterward. I took in a deep breath of the scent of sea foam and clean pine.
“Sol…” he said suddenly.
His eyes were filled with something I could not name. He looked over my entire face before a faint smile touched his lips.
“I am truly glad I met you…”
He took my hand in his and squeezed it. “Thank you for everything,” he said, then slipped his other hand beneath his shirt. From it, he pulled the shell knife I had given him weeks ago and turned the handle toward me.
“I think this belongs to you.”
His grip was so tight his knuckles had gone pale.
I placed my hand over his. “It’s a gift, Lys. So you always remember me.”
He smiled faintly and lowered his head. “Thank you, my lady.” Then his expression changed, and a quiet sadness filled his eyes. Indescribable, yet so familiar.
“We won’t see each other again, but perhaps one day, one beautiful day, our paths shall cross again.”
He closed his eyes as if imagining it. “Your hair will be long, longer than it is now, and you will wear a long red dress. You’ll be riding a white horse… or no… a grey one. And everyone will know you.”
His voice softened.
“I will watch you from a distance, because I won’t be allowed to come near you anymore. But that’s alright… I will always remember this… what is just ours.”
I felt the tears gathering in my eyes.
“But all of that will only be possible if I survive.”
He clenched his jaw.
His words echoed strangely in my mind. It did not feel like he was speaking in general. It felt as though he was hinting at something. As though he feared something.
I placed my palm over his hand and slowly stepped closer, leaning into him. I rested my head against his chest and wrapped my arms around him.
I felt the tears spill down my cheeks.
His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer, his chin resting atop my head.
“Perhaps in another life, we would have had more time… more of everything…” he murmured, almost to himself.
?Perhaps,” I whispered.
I stepped back slightly and placed my hand against his face. His beard had grown a little, and the rough hairs brushed against my palm.
“Goodbye, Lys. I truly am glad I met you.”
He closed his eyes. “Goodbye, my lady,” he said softly. I lowered my hand from his face and turned my gaze toward the sea. It continued to crash against the shore as if nothing had happened. As if my heart wasn’t breaking upon its edge.
The sea was untouched by any of it.
I clenched my teeth and turned away.
I couldn’t look back.