Page 98 of Harbinger

I nearly choke on my wine. “Taliesin—”

“What?” He spreads his hands like this is completely normal dinner conversation. For him, it probably is. “You said he was a guard. It’s a fair question.”

But Kieren shakes his head. “I wasn’t really a guard. No one quite knew what to call me after Arden’s father died. I guess ‘guard’ sounded better than calling me their obligation.”

The word sticks. Obligation. I’d never thought of him that way, but somehow, I’d missed that he did. Bishop’s assessing gaze flicks to me before he looks back to his plate.

We make it through dessert by sheer force of will, conversation skirting safely to weather and rations and away from anything that might draw blood.

“I’ll walk you out,” I tell Kieren when we’ve finished, pushing back from the table before anyone can object.

He stands immediately, relief flickering across his face.

Bishop rises as well, but he doesn’t look at either of us. “Training starts at dawn,” he says to Kieren. “Don’t be late.”

I usher Kieren into the hall before Bishop can offer more thinly disguised threats. We cut through the kitchen, where Lenora is already scrubbing a pan.

“Thank you for dinner,” Kieren says earnestly.

She looks up in surprise and smiles broadly. “It’s nice to have a gentleman in the house again.”

Kieren flushes, mumbling something polite before I steer him onward.

She waves her wet rag at me. “He can come back anytime.”

I force a smile and shove him out the back door.

It swings shut with a click that sounds way too final. The only light comes from the windows behind us, gold spilling across the weeds and broken stones, as the stars burn cold and watchful overhead.

Neither of us speaks. The reality is that so much has happened. Now there’s too much to say and no easy way to start the conversation.

When we reach the garden, Kieren turns and slowly surveys the place. “It’s not what I expected.” He kicks a dislodged paver into place and stamps it into the mud with his boot. “Lord Marius could use a gardener.”

“Bishop let the place go when his parents died.” I’m not certain why I’m making excuses for our host, especially after how he behaved at dinner.

But Kieren nods in understanding. “I guess we let plenty go when your dad died, too.”

We pause by the crumbling fountain, which is full of rainwater, dead leaves, and Stars know what else. Something rustles in a tree above us, and then the night settles. I tap the stone, watching the moss flake off. “Maybe we can bring it back to life. There’s still plenty of time to plant before winter comes.”

Kieren scrubs the back of his neck. “I’m not sure I’m welcome here, even as a gardener.”

So, he picked up on that. But I refuse to let one uncomfortable evening ruin everything. “You’re welcome as long as I’m here. Don’t let Bishop scare you away.”

“Arden, I’m not like you. I don’t have a birthright. No magic. Not even a family name. I don’t belong in a place like this.” His words land like punches, one after the other.

“I don’t belong here, either,” I say, admitting the truth about my own magic for the first time aloud, but he looks unconvinced. I try to shake it off, determined to salvage what I can of the night before he returns to the Bellatorum.

“You really joined up just to see me?”

“I’d follow you anywhere,” he says, winking.

“But you’ll send me a crappy letter that makes me cry.” I smack his shoulder.

Kieren drops his head. “I’m sorry. I’d already decided I was coming when we got your letters. I was so angry when Broderic burned his that I couldn’t see straight to write you.”

Knowing that makes the letter hurt for all new reasons. Someday, my brother will forgive me. I just need to give it time. “Was he surprised when you told him?”

“No,” he says firmly. “But he didn’t seem upset that I was leaving. Andry, on the other hand, says he won’t speak to me again until he’s old enough to come here, too.”