Page 28 of The King’s Bodyguard (Catkin Trilogy #1)
Epilogue
Landis
T he sky overhead was like my wedding day—a blue sky and a bright sun, but this time with long low clouds crouching on the horizon, promising more snow.
The wind, blowing from the northwest, was crisp and chill.
Beneath my boots, white snow that had remained from last night crunched loudly.
I could smell the sharp clean air of winter, a hint of smoke, and the ever-present scent of Corrin.
Leather and horses, sun-drenched hay and pine.
His arms were around me as he drew me in for a quick hug.
“You ready?”
I stared up at the rope that had been knotted about the great oak’s now bared branch. It was the thickest branch and did not so much as tremble with my weight, but I couldn’t help but wonder about the integrity of the knots.
“Why do I feel like this is some assassination attempt waiting to happen?” I joked.
“I’ll always check before you have a go.” Corrin chuckled. “Do you need a starting push, your majesty?”
“Yes, good ser,” I said with a light snicker that suspiciously sounded more like a giggle.
“Gods, they are stinkingly sweet, aren’t they?” Hugh said from his cold seat on the stone bench where Gareth also sat.
The two watched Corrin and I fuss about the swing he had hung for me.
There was a slight smile on Gareth’s face.
Knowing that Corrin was by my side and would remain there for the foreseeable future no doubt made his and Lord Elthorne’s job easier.
Hugh simply enjoyed the romance. He was the court’s most renowned rake, but that love of tumbling girls and boys hid a deeply steadfast soul that was loyal and devoted to me.
If I was happy, Hugh would be happy as well.
Walking into the snow-covered garden, Alan approached, looking a little disgruntled. He huddled in his thick fur coat against the cold. I had no idea how many layers he had put on, but he resembled something more similar to a fat sheep.
“Does Alan not look like a fat sheep?”
Corrin surveyed the young, white-haired, bespectacled mage and laughed.
“How is he moving? He looks positively rotund. It’s a miracle.”
“I have to,” Alan said crossly, stamping his feet. He tucked his hands into his coat pocket and stared at Corrin and I who had opted for fur jackets, a scarf, and little else. “I would die in an instant otherwise.”
“I suppose the White Tower does not get snow?” Hugh’s lips twitched with amusement. “Too far south?”
“They have created a shield of ambient temperature—“Alan scowled and broke off. “Not that you actually care.”
“I don’t,” Hugh agreed blithely. “But it does seem a tad bit short-sighted to coddle their mages that way. Perhaps we should move it further north? Velamere, perhaps?”
Alan looked horrified. Even Gareth joined our laughter with a dry chuckle.
“Well,” sniffed Alan. “While the rest of you were gadding about, I was hard at work.”
“With that potion of yours?”
“Which one, Hugh? You really must be specific.”
“The, er, Elixir of Divine Fertility or whatever gods forsaken name you gave it.”
“Oh, that? That is coming along swimmingly, thank you. But no. I had a report written up for you, Gareth. Hand-delivered. For security’s sake.”
Alan’s voice lowered a little as he struggled to drag a small packet of parchment paper out of his fur coat’s pocket.
Corrin ended up helping him since his mittens were really too thick to manipulate anything remotely delicate.
I slowed the swing, dragging my boots through the snow, and came to a stop. Hopping off, I joined the small group.
“You can read it in full tonight. In summary, the hired catkin came from the west. I let Lord Elthorne know. He has placed inquiries, but you might wish to access your, er, contacts, Gareth, for more information. And I inspected the blade. You were right. There was poisonous oil on it. Just breaking Landis’s skin would have…
” Alan trailed off. He added hurriedly. “Some of the ingredients are rare. I will put out some inquiries with certain buyers I am acquainted with.”
“We won’t get Lord Morne today,” Gareth said. “Sorry, Landis, but your Blades and I won’t give up. One day, he’ll overstep his bounds, and we will get him then.”
“All of the trails have gone cold, but we will keep searching,” agreed Hugh fervently. “In between our other duties, and, uh, pleasures.”
Gareth swatted him.
“What?” Hugh put on a look of outrage. “Landis and Corrin can enjoy themselves, but we cannot?”
“There are too many loose threads for my liking,” Gareth muttered.
“I agree,” Corrin said. “The poison. The assassin. The thistles on Sanson’s back. The mysterious missing redhead. The girl.”
“Ah, the servant and the maid? Yes. That was odd.” Gareth’s brown eyes narrowed. “I have some thoughts about that as well.”
He pocketed the packet and rose. I pouted, recognizing the signs.
Gareth wanted to read Alan’s report in private.
My lips pressed lips together as I glared down at the snow.
I wanted him to stay if only for a little while longer, but I felt ungrateful when Gareth spent so much time on my behalf.
There was a short silence, as I scuffed the snow. I raised my head and forced a smile.
“We probably have things we must do as well,” I said. “Right, Corrin?”
I turned. Cold snow suddenly splattered across my face.
I gasped in shock, barely catching a glimpse of Corrin bending over to grab another handful of snow.
This time, he lobbed at the back of Gareth’s head.
Hugh, Alan, and I froze in shock. Corrin pointed at me accusingly.
Gareth raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing that I would throw snow at him. I couldn’t help but giggle though.
“Running away so fast, huh, Gareth?” Corrin cheerfully taunted.
Gareth stiffened. Now there was a glint in his eyes that promised vengeance.
I instantly dove for some nearby snow. For the next while, there was a breathless snow fight.
The air filled with snowballs as Hugh taunted Corrin, as Corrin taunted Gareth, and as Gareth decimated the competition.
Alan subsided under a mountain of snow, shrieking with horror.
I was laughing so hard, I fell over, suddenly feeling rather breathless.
Corrin was instantly at my side, brushing snow out of my curls.
“Are you alright?” he asked, green eyes filled with worry.
“Tricked you,” I smirked, pulling him in for a kiss.
Corrin, ignoring the snow now pelting his broad back, sheltered me as he kissed me back. Here, in the snow, in our favorite spot, I finally felt as though this was truly where I belonged. Corrin and I had found freedom and a home. All thanks to love.