Chapter 8
ELOWIN
“Elowin!”
I barely had time to register the fact that Teon was here before they were in my arms and pressing a kiss against me.
They smelled like cedarwood and dewberry, and I’d bet my life they’d just dropped a small fortune at an apothecary’s stall.
I kissed them back and then released them, laughing. “Teon. Good to see you.”
“It’s been forever,” Teon said and then winked. “Well, it’s been about a sennight, which is the same thing.” They looked around, gaze stopping on Sparrow. “Oh, hello.”
“Hello,” Sparrow said, his voice as small as his eyes were large.
“Teon, this is Sparrow,” I said. “Sparrow, Teon. Sparrow is the Fyreham Lathian. Teon is…” I trailed off, unsure how to finish that sentence.
“The one that got away,” Teon provided helpfully with another wink.
That wasn’t exactly true. Teon and I had courted for a few months several years ago and agreed that we were better as friends than lovers.
As lovers we had been disastrous in every way, except when there was a bed involved—or on one memorable occasion, the parade ground outside the barracks of the Royal Guard—but as friends we were unshakable.
They were bright, generous, friendly, and despite their slender stature, absolutely terrifying with a sword in their hand.
“Whatever you say,” I muttered and Teon laughed.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Sparrow said, still wide-eyed.
“You too,” Teon said. “Have you looked around the market yet? I’ve heard a rumor there’s someone selling a musical charm and I simply must see it demonstrated.
Apparently, it gives you the ability to perfectly play any song you can recall on any instrument.
The bards will all be out of work if it’s actually true. ”
I thought of Sparrow playing the lute at the tavern, and how terrible it was and yet how charming. He’d been so delighted to get any noise out of the strings, however jarring, and I’d delighted in watching him do it. Listening? Well, not so much, but at least I’d laughed a lot.
“It sounds like a terrible idea,” I said. “Mimicry isn’t the same as creation.”
“The bards agree with you,” Teon said. “So do I, as it happens, but I’m curious to see if it exists or if it’s just this year’s favorite rumor.”
“This year’s favorite rumor is the one about someone very important getting engaged to a nobody,” Rowan put in from where she was now holding up different pairs of leggings against Sparrow.
“Oh, you mean the daughter of the wealthy clock designer from Gearwick and the lowly shepherdess?” Teon asked.
“I heard it was a council member’s child from Dun Steorra,” Rowan said.
“Huh.” Teon shrugged. “Maybe there’s a lot of it going around this year, or maybe it’s all bullshit. Who’d you hear your version from?”
“Thanafern,” Rowan said, and then she and Teon said together, “So it’s all bullshit.”
They both laughed, and then Rowan showed Sparrow to a space behind a curtain where he could change without showing his ass to anyone passing by.
“So,” Teon said in an undertone, “that’s the Fyreham Lathian.” They waited for my answering hum. “Not really Aldian’s type, is he?”
He really, really wasn’t. Sparrow was far too sweet and earnest for Aldian’s tastes, and I couldn’t imagine the prince listening happily to Sparrow chatter about birds, or flowers, or an interesting rock he’d found, or being as charmed as I was by his ability to generate a patch of personal sunshine.
But it was for Sparrow to discover that himself, not for me to tell him.
I hoped he wouldn’t be too disappointed in Aldian when they met.
More than that, I hoped he wouldn’t believe it was his fault they weren’t a good match.
He’d been raised to be the perfect spouse for a prince, except what happened when the prince wasn’t a perfect spouse for him in return?
I’d bet anything that Sparrow’s parents hadn’t given that any consideration when they’d raised him.
But now he was here in Everend, and the least I could do was help him to enjoy it and show him that the world was larger and a lot more colorful than he’d thought. And maybe that knowledge would cushion his pride when he was inevitably disappointed by Aldian’s lack of interest.
“Drumroll,” Rowan instructed, and Teon obediently slapped their hands on their thighs as Rowan pulled back the curtain.
Sparrow looked good. The doeskin leggings clung in all the right ways, and the blue tunic was fitted perfectly to his frame.
I wanted to trace the lace patterns up either side of his torso and touch the pale skin underneath.
The lace inserts were repeated down the length of both sleeves, offering more glimpses of skin.
The lace gleamed like dew caught in spider’s silk.
Rowan hadn’t just dressed Sparrow; she’d also redone his braid, weaving silver thread through the strands that appeared to glow even in the shade of the booth. And his hair wasn’t the only thing that glowed. His smile, shy and tentative, was like sunlight.
“Beautiful!” Teon exclaimed. “Absolutely gorgeous.”
Sparrow’s eyes widened questioningly as he looked at me.
I looked back at him.
“Elowin,” Teon said and elbowed me. “What do you think?”
I thought Sparrow was so lovely that I’d forgotten every word I’d ever learned.
“Uh,” I managed at last. “Yeah. You look great, Sparrow.”
Sparrow’s smile bloomed and became brilliant. “Thank you, Elowin.”
“You’re most welcome,” I said and forced myself to drag my gaze away from the way the light shimmered and danced on the silver in his hair. “Now shall we go and explore?”
“Yes, please!” Sparrow hurried over to stand by my side and slipped his hand into mine. And even though I knew it was purely so he didn’t get lost, it still made my insides go all soft and warm.
“Have fun,” Rowan said with a knowing smile, because my sister had always been far too perceptive. I ignored her.
“I’m sure Elowin can show you all sorts of interesting things,” Teon added with a smirk, because they were and always had been a little shit.
The tips of Sparrow’s pointed ears grew unaccountably pink.
“We’re going now,” I said and led Sparrow away before Teon could say anything else.
We wound our way along the path that led past a row of little gift shops, taking our time now that there was no rush to meet the prince.
Every stall seemed to have something that delighted Sparrow anew, and by the time we reached the end of the row, he was in possession of two delicate blown-glass chickens, an embossed leather pouch, and a handful of hair ribbons, and his smile was a mile wide.
“I never knew there were so many wonderful things to buy!” he said happily, his eyes bright. “Are all markets like this? Oh! Should I buy a courting gift for the prince? What do you think he’d—” He came to an abrupt halt and let out a gasp. “Look!”
I followed his gaze and couldn’t help but grin. Of course.
Sparrow stepped forward and stretched out a hand almost reverently, running it across the strings of the lute that lay displayed on the table at the front of the tent.
They let out a discordant sound, and Sparrow pulled his hand back quickly but continued to stare at the instrument like a man in love.
“Do you play?” the stallholder, a tall elegant elf with snow-white hair and laugh lines creasing his face, asked as he approached the table.
“Oh no,” Sparrow said, flushing.
“He’s learning,” I said and nudged him. “Do you like it?”
“It is an excellent instrument to learn on,” said the stallholder, leaning in close as though he was imparting secret information he wouldn’t share with just anyone and not just trying to make a sale. “And it’s on sale today only.”
Sparrow was clearly a stranger to markets if he believed that, but he nodded seriously. “I see.”
“You are clearly an elf of impeccable taste,” the seller said with a smile.
“Oh,” said Sparrow, blinking. He had no idea what Rowan’s clothing cost, but clearly the seller did.
And Sparrow would continue to have no idea because I’d buy them for him.
I’d seen him carefully counting his coins when it came to his little souvenirs.
Besides, it wasn’t as though Rowan would charge me what she charged every other customer.
I hoped. “Thank you. How—how much is it on sale for?”
The seller named a price and Sparrow’s face lit up, but I put a hand on his wrist, shook my head, and snorted.
He named another one.
This time Sparrow looked to me first. He was learning.
“Let’s try somewhere else,” I said.
The seller named three more prices before I finally nodded at Sparrow. “That’s fair, if you want to get it.”
He would never make a card player—the longing was written all over his face. But to his credit, he did at least try. “What do you think? Should we look somewhere else?”
“Did I mention it comes with enchanted strings that never go out of tune?” the seller said quickly. “And it has a protection spell on it to prevent travel damage.” He strummed the lute as he spoke, and it made a soft, melodious sound.
“I’ll take it,” Sparrow said, fishing for his purse.
“Let me,” I said and handed over the money before Sparrow had a chance to argue. “Call it a ‘Welcome to Everend’ gift.
“Oh, Elowin!” Sparrow blinked rapidly as the seller handed the lute over. “Thank you!” He strummed the strings once, and the seller said, “I also give lessons.”
I bit back a laugh. “No, thank you.”
Sparrow carefully slung the lute over his back, beaming.
We walked on and once more found ourselves by the grand Ceremonial Pavillion.
“What’s over there?” Sparrow asked, pointing to the tree-lined path on the other side of the street.
“Lovers’ Lane,” I said, and he went pink. “It’s where couples can meet and get to know each other better without their parents or chaperones interfering.”
His mouth opened and closed.
“We can go for a look if you want,” I offered. “Honestly, we’re more likely to see someone selling intoxication charms than to disturb anyone’s romantic interludes. And it’s a pretty place to sit.”
We crossed the street and entered the shaded park. We picked a path and followed it. Sparrow’s hand found mine again, and he tugged me to a stop so we could look at a finch in a bush. Sparrow held his free hand out, and the little bird alighted briefly on his fingers before fluttering away again.
“Are you sure you don’t have some kind of bird magic?” I asked him.
“No,” he said with a brilliant smile. “I just like them, and they like me too.” His smile faded and he chewed his bottom lip for a moment. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“It’s not wrong, is it, for elves to come to a place like this, I mean, even if they aren’t betrothed?”
“A place like…” Oh, he meant Lovers’ Lane. “No, not at all. It’s very common for elves to have had different romantic relationships before finding someone to marry. Or to not marry, if that pleases them.”
He was pink again. “Teon and you…”
“We courted,” I said and shrugged. “It was a long time ago, but we’re still good friends. They’re my best friend.”
“Is…” He chewed his lip again and then said, “Is Teon your ex with the nipple ring?”
I laughed, as startled by the question as I was by the fact he’d remembered that. “As it happens, yes. I’m sure they’d be happy to show it off, if you’re interested.”
Sparrow laughed too, still pink. “I don’t think I would even know how to ask.” He tilted his head and was silent for a long moment before he asked, “Do you think that the prince wouldn’t mind if I’d kissed someone else before him?”
I blinked. “Oh, no. Of course not. Aldian isn’t a stickler for those sorts of traditions at all. But I thought, well, I assumed…” I blinked again, attempting to marshal my thoughts. “Who have you kissed before, Sparrow?”
“Nobody,” Sparrow said. “At least, not yet.”
And then he pushed himself up onto his toes and kissed me.