Page 44 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame

‘An unknown,’ Raiden replied, crossing his arms.

‘Enough.’ Thierre waved his hand with a fraction of the command he could employ. Cahra’s jaw tightened, as did her chest; the ribs encasing her heart. ‘Enough,’ he said, softer. ‘There is no need to be at odds, now that all is revealed.’ Wyldaern was silent. So was Cahra.

‘Fine,’ Cahra said finally. ‘So now what? Wyldaern must continue on her journey.’ She thought aloud. ‘Maybe I’ll join her.’

Thierre looked wounded. What did he want from her? He was Luminaux’s Prince, he could befriend anyone he liked. He didn’t need her.

And he hadliedto her, even if it was lying by omission, not once, but twice. What else had he not told her? Was anything between them real?

Cahra knew she wasn’t being fair. Deep down, she understood the need for secrecy.

‘Prince Thierre’ would have been killed on sight in Kolyath. But that didn’t make his secret any less hurtful, or any less a betrayal of her trust.

Because as Terryl, as a lord, it had felt like the two of them weren’t so different.

But as a Prince…

There was no hope. And she felt stupid and naive and totally, utterlyhumiliatedthat she, a beggar, had feelings for aPrince, had even thought he might have feelings for—

‘Cahra.’ She was yanked from her thoughts by the sound of her own name as Thierre called to her, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.

‘What?’ She instantly regretted her disrespectful tone.

‘If you wish to go, that is your choice.’ Why was he so upset? It had been her fantasy, not his. She and Thierre would never be anything and she just needed to forget her idiotic, childish feelings, forget him and get away. Far, far away, from him. From all of them.

‘But first, we must ride for Luminaux.’ Thierre was still speaking. ‘If Kolyath and Ozumbre have aligned, we are at risk every second that I am not behind our walls.’

‘On the condition that Cahra and I can leave at any time,’ Wyldaern declared.

‘Of course. As I have said, you are our guests,’ Thierre told her.

‘Your word, that we may leave,’ Wyldaern said. ‘On the throne of your King Royce.’

Cahra looked between the two of them, first at Wyldaern for her brazenness, then at Thierre, so taken aback the whites of his eyes showed.

‘I give you my word,’ Thierre vowed. Wyldaern seemed satisfied. He surveyed her, asking the Seer then, ‘Are you in need of healing?’

Wyldaern gave him a thin smile. ‘I shall manage.’

‘So,’ Raiden said, raising his head. ‘A question.’ He eyed Wyldaern. ‘By the stream, you said you were going to see your teacher.’

‘That is not a question,’ Wyldaern told him. ‘What of it?’

‘An Oracle, then,’ Raiden continued.

‘Shall I repeat myself?’ Wyldaern smiled, but her gaze was unyielding.

‘And you want to go, too.’ Raiden cocked his head at Cahra. Another non-question. Cahra didn’t like where this was heading.

‘So what?’ Cahra countered, ‘If I’m free to leave?’

‘A Seer, and the messenger of the prophecy’s first omen.Yourpeople’s prophecy,’ Raiden said, turning to Wyldaern. ‘What are you not telling us?’

‘Raiden.’ Thierre sighed. He sat slumped, clearly dispirited after their exchange. Cahra ground her teeth against feeling sorry for him. ‘They are not telling us whatever they are not telling us because we must regain their trust. Despite events, that is prudent. At least, until they meet the King and Queen, and can decide of their own volition.’

Raiden, who looked like he wanted to argue, said nothing.

‘Avail yourself of our hospitality,’ Thierre went on. ‘Experience Luminaux, then judge us, leave us, if that is your will. We are not the sister kingdoms of Kolyath or Ozumbre. See our kingdom with your own eyes and decide.’