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I OPEN MY EYES. MY arm is throbbing and I’m glad I killed the hooded idiot who slashed me with his sword. I’m glad we killed the three of them. Me and Archer are quite a team-
Archer.
Everleigh is sleeping between us and I reach over her to touch him. I can feel the beat of his heart. His skin is on fire. But he’s alive.
Quietly, I leave the room, letting them sleep. He needs rest, and so does Everleigh.
Will, Finn and my old friend Kenneth are sleeping in the other room. I sneak past them and open the door. I need some fresh air. I’ve got my sword and the dagger in my boot. I’ll be safe.
“Hey.” Will has followed me out.
“Did I wake you?”
“No, I was awake. It’s not easy to sleep.”
“Tell me about it.”
“How’s your arm?”
“Painful.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
I whip my head around to look at him, to see if he’s joking, or...what? Flirting with me? “Why?”
“I think you’re good for Everleigh. She’s so impressed by you. The way you fight, the way you look after yourself.”
“So now you think it’s a good idea that I teach her to fight? You didn’t seem keen yesterday.”
“I was being foolish.”
“Ah, the fool.”
“Not anymore.”
“True. So, I’m good for Everleigh? Anyone else?”
What am I doing now? Flirting?
“Well, Addyson, of course. She’s really taken to you.”
“I like Addyson. I feel for her, but she’ll be fine. Her sister will be Queen.”
“True. She’ll be fine, but it’s been good for her to see someone like you and how you deal with your...you know.”
“I know. My mark.”
“Yes.”
“Does it repulse you?”
“No! Not even a bit, I think you’re...”
“What? What do you think I am?” I turn on him then, hands on my hips, feeling angry, hurt – here we go again, being described exactly how people describe men: strong, fearless, courageous, blah, blah, blah.
“Beautiful.”
That floors me and I cannot answer him. I’m blushing, I know. I cannot even look at him and he’s silent, probably wondering if he’s offended me or disgusted me. Truth is, I’m flattered, and pleased, and if there wasn’t so much going on now, maybe I’d even consider him. He’s a great person, funny and clever and kind.
“Um, we should get back, see how Archer is...” I still cannot look at him.
“Yes, of course. How is he?”
“Boiling hot. Not awake yet.”
“Are you alright, though?”
“Yes, I’m fine and I think he’ll be fine. The teacher is good. He knows what he’s doing.”
“True. He saved him once.”
“He’ll save him again. Where are you headed anyway or are you just joining me?”
Him calling me beautiful has left me feeling clumsy and awkward.
“Joining you, but I thought I’d check on Ginata too.”
“Oh yes, she fainted. I forgot about her, what with Archer. Do you think she’s acting strangely?”
“I think we all are to be honest. I haven’t felt like myself for days.”
“I guess. I don’t know her very well I suppose.”
“I think it’s been hard for her having to pretend to serve Millard, she’s not spent as much time with all of us-”
“You had to stay at the castle though when you were being followed. Ginata didn’t. She still saw us most days.”
We walk in to the kitchen. Cook is stirring something in a large bowl. “Morning,” she says, gesturing at some bread. We take some and it’s still warm, without a doubt the best thing I’ve eaten in a long time.
“Where’s Ginata?”
“She left a while ago, when I got up to start cooking. I was a bit later than usual, but it was still early. I thought she would head to bed, she looked exhausted.”
“She’s not in her rooms.”
Cook shrugs.
Will and I take another piece of bread and leave Cook to it. “Where is she then?”
“She disappeared the other day. I don’t like it.”
“Let’s go back up and see what everyone else thinks. See if Archer’s awake. Listen, I’m sorry if I offended you just now, saying, you know...”
I shove some bread in my gob so I can’t answer and just give him an awkward shrug.
I follow him through the courtyard, past the tower-
I grab his arm, what he said to me completely forgotten. The tower door is ajar. We run over. “Someone’s taken an axe to it.”
I push the door open, cautious but knowing in my gut that he’s gone.
Wolf is gone.
Ginata is gone.
“I bet Ginata’s got something to do with this.” I can feel the fury coursing through me. It would explain how strangely she’s been acting, sloping off, not wanting to stay with us.
“No way.”
“Where is she then?”
He shakes his head. “She wouldn’t...”
I slam the tower door and glare at him. “Who untied Millard then, who rescued Wolf?”
“I can’t believe it of her. Let’s go and tell the others he’s gone.”