Page 119 of Queen’s Gambit

We strolled through the courtyard to the outbuildings housing the officers and the infirmary. A pungent smell of herbal balm hit me as soon as the door opened. The scent was distinctive. Garlic and ivy extract dominated, both plants used to patch up wounds.

‘No healers?’ I asked, but Reynard shrugged. ‘We don’t have enough, so I focused their efforts on the worst cases. Here, we used what nature provided.’

I nodded. When we stopped in front of the plain infirmary doors, I placed a hand on Rey’s shoulder. ‘I want to talk to him alone.’

A muscle in Reynard’s jaw ticked rhythmically until he exhaled and opened the door. ‘Fine, but make it brief. You still need rest.’

The room was small, with narrow windows that didn’t let in much light. Most of the beds were empty. Of the three still occupied, the last one belonged to Siras.

The medics bowed and left as I entered, whilst Siras struggled to stand. His body was encased in bandages.

‘I should have come earlier,’ I said, even though we both knew I couldn’t.

‘You sent the assassin. That was more than enough,’ he said, still trying to get up. It didn’t escape my notice that he wasn’t using his hands.

I pulled up his sleeves, revealing bandaged stumps where his hands should have been.

‘Siras!’ I gasped. He moved away, shaking his sleeves down.

‘The Hierophant decided just burning me wasn’t enough. I was to be kept alive till the end of the battle. The damage was beyond saving,’ he explained with a shrug. ‘It doesn’t matter now. The war is over. I have to ask. Will you keep your promise?’

I swallowed hard, then nodded. ‘I will. I don’t know yet how, but I will.’

‘That’s all that matters.’ He tilted his head, trying to pull up the blanket that had slipped from his legs. ‘In four days, the ships will take the survivors back to Tangra. Come with me, please.’

‘I’d sooner cut your throat than let her go to Tangra!’ Reynard’s roar shook the room. He stormed in with the berserker’s gold in his eye, and I moved in front of Siras.

‘That’s my decision to make. Why were you eavesdropping on me?’ I asked with a steady voice.

‘Because of things like this! Since you brought Tova back, something’s been off with you. Then you refused to promise you wouldn’t leave us again.’ Reynard was shaking, his muscles bulging under the shirt. ‘Why the fuck do you want to go? You owe him nothing.’

‘I owe him a life debt. For saving Irsha, for helping me. Rey, his country is dying. I cannot walk into a new life weighted by it. I will return to you, I swear.’

Reynard’s body vibrated, his fists clenching so hard that blood fell from where he’d hurt himself. I stepped closer, but he withdrew, turning away from me. I lowered my head, fighting the hopelessness washing over me. How could I explain this desperation to him?

When he finally turned back, gold light filled his eye. He grasped my hand, pulling me to his chest.

‘So I have four days before I lose you again?’ he growled. ‘Roksana Regnav, you make loving you a gods-damned challenge.’