“My King.” The healer eyes me knowingly, as if he understands my urge to stay with Verity. But it isn’t a simple desire, it’s a need. “You must go.”
I lay a hand on the hilt of my sword, my hand trembles. “I won’t.”
The healer’s eyes dart between my hand and my face. He stiffens, glowering at me. “You may be the King, but this is my infirmary. You are endangering my patient and you must go.”
“Altair.” I turn at the sound of the familiar voice. Navi stands in the doorway. Her auburn hair is longer now, brushing over her shoulders. Her sharp green eyes are softened with sympathy and I feel my shoulders sag at the sight of her. She reaches for me. “Now that you’ve returned, there are things we must discuss.”
I know she’s right. I know the healer is right. But the thought of leaving Verity while she may be dying has my heart in pieces. A hand takes my elbow, tugging me out of the room. The healer slams the door and I hear the faint click of a lock. I drop into a crouch, head in my hands, in front of the door. My mind whirls, the impossibility of these last few days finally catching up to me. Months of war for a lifetime of peace, I assure myself. But will it be peace without Verity?
“Altair,” Navi says. Her voice gains an edge. “Get up.”
“Careful,” I growl.
She doesn’t relent. “You’ve been gone for three months.”
“What?” My voice is a guttural rasp.
Thal and Erzur, watching, gape in surprise. “You lie,” Erzur says accusingly.
Navi narrows her eyes at the ebony Queen. “I gave up that habit. As I said, it’s been three months and there is much to discuss.”
“Time flows differently in the Ether,” Serus says. I jolt at the sound of his voice and the cat melts out of the shadows.
“I have to get to Santaya,” Erzur says, spinning towards the stairs.
“Wait,” I bark, finally relenting and rising to my full height. “Let me walk you out.”
Erzur tosses me an amused grin. “A gentleman. That’s what I like about you, Altair.”
“I’ll be right back,” I assure Navi as I follow Erzur down the stairs.
Silence hangs heavy between us until we reach the main doors. I lift a hand and call for a mount for Erzur. We wait while a stable boy fetches one. Erzur watches me with a calculating look in her eyes and she heaves a sigh. Her hints at attention would be amusing if not for Verity lying prone upstairs.
“What is it?” I ask.
“You’ll be glad you asked,” Erzur quips. She turns to me and holds out her hand. I look at with confusion and she takes mine with it, shaking it. “I’m ending our bargain.”
“What?” My brows raise. Images of her sun soldiers attacking my borders flit through my mind.
“Don’t worry,” Erzur says. “Consider your debt paid.”
I study her suspiciously, but there are no signs of malice on her heart-shaped face. "Why?" I ask, not daring to hope.
The stable boy arrives with her horse, and she swings onto it gracefully. "Verity has impressed me. Her sacrifices for us all are more than enough payment for the help of my sun soldiers in a single battle. Thank her for me, will you?"
I nod dumbly as Erzur steers her horse out the gates. I watch her until she disappears down the road leading to the main highway. Her words have left me stunned and I’m still not sure if I should allow myself to trust her—to let myself believe in a future with Verity. It’s all I could have wanted. Suddenly, the thought of accepting our forbidden love fills me with trepidation. Will Verity even want me? What’s more, will she live?
My shoulders sag, and I turn back into the castle. Navi and Thal are waiting for me beside another familiar face. Haru beams down at me from the top of the stairs. She's dressed in comfortable traveling trousers and furry gloves. She wraps her arms around my shoulder and pulls me into a tight hug. "Gods, you're so thin," she says, eyes filled with sympathy.
“It’s good to see you, Haru,” I say, forcing a smile. I study her and then look around at the bustling castle. “Haru, I can’t thank you enough.”
She silences with a raised hand. “Don’t. You saved us all. You all did.”
"Let's not dwell on it," Thal says. His green eyes rove over Haru and I suppress a grin. Looking as greasy and travel-worn as he does, he doesn't stand a chance with her. But Thal will certainly try. He rubs his palms together. "I'm starving, anything in the kitchens?"
“Come on.” Navi gestures for us to follow her down the stairs. “Altair, can we talk now? Will you be focused?”
“I’m focused,” I snap.
“Almost all of the refugees have returned,” Navi says.
I glance towards Haru who confirms with a nod. “Perhaps a few more ships.”
“Excellent, and the infrastructure?” I ask as we enter the warm kitchens. The smell of warm bread wafts over us. I pause in the doorway, eyes wide. “Oh, gods.”
The kitchen is lit with a warm glow, bustling with activity. The ovens are on, fires burning with pots of boiling water or stew. Cooks and scullery maids move to and fro, chopping ingredients, pulling fresh goods from the oven, or stirring their concoctions. My throat is tight as I watch. Life here is almost normal.
“Altair,” Navi says. I tear my eyes away from the scene before me to the others. They’re watching me. Thal meets my gaze and I see a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
“Coming,” I say.
We gather around the large counter in the middle of the kitchen. I catch the scullery maids looking at me curiously from time to time. I wonder how many of my people would truly believe I've returned—or if they would accept me again. After all, I am the King who brought war on their country and forced them to flee. I'm
