Page 31 of Fall of Ruin and Wrath

“Yes.” His attention shifted back to me, the greens and brown becoming visible once more. “A . . . a friend has arrived.”

Frowning, I strained to hear anything that could’ve alerted him to such a presence, but heard nothing.

“I’ll be right back.”

I blinked, and the Lord wasgoneyet again. Stunned by how fast he moved, I rose on shaky legs. I didn’t let myself think about anything as I went into the bathing chamber to gather my ruined clothing. After toeing on my boots, I stepped into the bedchamber, waiting until the very last minute before I donned my cloak.

The Lord wasn’t gone that long; it was maybe a few more moments before I felt a stirring of air in the chamber. I turned, finding him standing in the doorway of the bedchamber. He held something black in his hands.

“Is your friend still here?” I asked.

The Lord nodded. “The horse tethered in the woods? Is it yours?”

I glanced at the lone window. “If it’s the one eating everything in sight, then yes.”

“She is.” There was a pause. “That is a fine horse.”

I nodded.

“I brought you this. It is a cloak— a clean one.”

“Oh, than— ” Remembering one of the bizarre customs surrounding the Hyhborn, I stopped myself from thanking him. Supposedly they felt it tainted their act or something. “That is kind of you.”

He said nothing as he came to me, taking my soiled clothing, dropping it on the bed. “This will need to be destroyed,” he said. “Hyhborn blood will not wash from the items.”

That was something else I hadn’t known.

“How far do you have to travel to return home?” he asked.

“Not that . . .” I trailed off as he draped the cloak over my shoulders. The backs of his hands grazed my chest as he drew the halves together. The material was heavier than what was worn this time of year, but it more than reached the floor, hiding my bare legs.

“How far?” he repeated, securing the clasps at my throat.

“Not a great distance.”

He eyed me. “Good.”

“And you?”

There was something hard about the Lord’s smile, and it was completely at odds with the gentleness of his touch. He brought his hand to my cheek. The tips of his fingers glided over my skin. “It’s safe for you to leave. You should do that and do so quickly.”

A shiver erupted along my spine. “What are you— ”

“You don’t want me to answer that.” He palmed my jaw, causing my breath to catch as he ran his thumb over my lower lip.

His gaze held mine for several more moments; then he dropped his hand and stepped to the side. I didn’t move, though, not for several moments, and it was hard to make myself do it. “Will you be okay?”

There was a faint softening to his features. “I will.”

“Okay.” I swallowed. “Goodbye then.”

The Lord said nothing.

I briefly closed my eyes, then forced myself to walk. I went for the door.

“Na’laa?”

I stopped as something . . . something like hope swelled inside me. Hope for what? I really couldn’t say as I looked over my shoulder at him.