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Shit. “I was on a run,” I blurted without thinking. “For training.”

“A run through Sidus.”

“Yes, through Sidus. And I ran into Lord Castemont and Tyrak leaving Inkwell. They were going to the pub and…I asked if I could join.” The lie burned my tongue as I spoke it. I wasn’t being honest anymore.

Her toe suddenly stopped tapping. “They were leaving Inkwell?”

“Yes.”

Aunt Berna’s expression went blank at my answer. But she suddenly blinked hard, snapping out of whatever thought had been behind her neutral face. A heavy sigh escaped her nostrils and she shook her head. “Lord Castemont did not force you to drink. You’re lying because you don’t like him.”

Shock bolted through me. “That’s not true, Aunt Berna, I do like–”

“I’m disappointed, Cal.”

My words tangled in my mouth at the look on her face. I couldn’t fight her on this. She was going to believe him over me. That fact made my chest feel hollow, because even if I wasn’t telling the whole truth, hehadordered me to drink. I looked at my hands folded in my lap. “I’m sorry.”

She took a deep inhale and it felt like her stare would burn a hole in my skin. The pain in my leg was excruciating, and I felt like maybe I deserved it for disappointing her. The minutes felt like hours as I sat in my shame. But her face softened suddenly and she reached for my hand. “I know things have been difficult since Tobyas died,” she said. The words hurt just as much as the day he’d fallen. “I’m proud of the work you’ve put in. Are you going to drink again?”

“No, never.”

“You have a bad break, Cal. Just like Tyrak said, you could walk with a limp forever and be ineligible for the Guard.” My chest heated with fear. She stared down at my leg. I tried to keep my eyes from looking back down again but I couldn’t. Even if I hadn’t looked at it, I knew just how bad it was. “But if anyone can come back from something like this, it’s you.”

I sat forward slightly, a tiny sliver of hope flickering like a candle in a dark room. “So I can train again?”

“Once you’re healed, you can train again. As long as you promise me never to drink again.”

My face split into the biggest smile it possibly could. “Thank you, Aunt Berna. I promise.” I tried to lean forward to hug her, but the pain from my leg stopped me in my tracks.

She closed the distance so I didn’t have to, folding me in her arms before pulling away with a stern look on her face once again. “But one more slip up like this, and you’re done,” she warned.

I nodded. “I won’t slip up. I promise. I’m going to make the Guard at eighteen, just like I planned.”

She stood and bit the inside of her cheek as she stared down at me. “We’ll see.”

Chapter 24

Nine Years Ago

“We stand here today as you swear in as members of the Royal Guard, Protectors of the Realm, and Guardians of the Royalty of Widoras.”

My heart pounded like a war drum in my ears. It reverberated through my chest as I waited on bended knee on the dais of the Eserenian throne room. I felt the eyes of Aunt Berna, Tyrak, and Lord Castemont on me as King Umfray’s croaking voice echoed off the marble floors and carved columns.

“Your training and skill have proven you fit to uphold the sanctity of the Eserenian Royal Court,” he continued. The soldier next to me shifted uncomfortably. I knew some of the others weren’t thrilled that an eighteen year old was joining the Guard. These men had served in the Eserenian army for years. Only eight other soldiers were being inducted today, all eight of which were thoroughly gray around the ears.

All eight of which I assumed didn’t like me.

I let their dismay roll off my back and stared at the floor. It was a fight to keep my eyes from moving to the King. I’d never been this close to him. I wanted to see if he truly was as old as he sounded.

“Now you will take the lifelong vow of the Royal Guard. Please rise.”

Not only was I the youngest of the men, but I was also the tallest and arguably the most agile. The others received years of training, but no amount of training could return a man to the former spryness of young adulthood.

“Will the sponsors please join their inductees?”

Lord Castemont rose from his place in the audience, straightening his finely made surcoat and striding easily to the dais with the other sponsors. His face glowed with pride, and I fought back the smile that threatened my neutral expression. I was so grateful for the man — for his kindness and belief in me. I didn’t know why I ever doubted him.

Sometimes people are kind simply because they are kind people.