Chapter 11

Morning unfurlsthrough the windows as I pry my eyes open the following morning.

I rise and move to the washing stand, thinking about what happened the night before. How I had searched for hours but found no answers about Aigis Siphoning. For all I know, my mother could have made up that name.

I sigh and decide to think about something else, like Jasce.

Something tells me that he's still in Bakva. A man doesn't sneak into a cellar and kiss a woman like that, and then just walk away. Especially not Jasce.

I choose a lovely lilac colored cotehardie from my wardrobe. The color reminds me of the delicate flowers that bloom in the gardens each spring. I slip the garment over my head, the weight of it settling comfortably on my shoulders.

Next, I arrange my hair into a braid, my fingers working quickly to weave the strands together. Lastly, I grab my veil and position it over my face, the gossamer fabric a shield against the world.

A knock reverberates through my chamber, pulling me from my thoughts. I cross the room and open the door to find one of Asha's guards standing at attention. He bows, then extends a folded piece of parchment toward me.

I wait until the guard's footsteps fade before unfolding the missive. My eyes scan the elegant script, confirming it's a summons from Asha, requesting my immediate presence.

I shut my chamber door and make my way through the halls to her study. As I step inside, I find Asha seated at her desk. But it's the young man sitting across from her that immediately draws my attention.

The morning light spills through the tall arched windows, doing little to soften the man's chiseled features. If anything, the illumination only accentuates the sharp planes of his face, casting shadows that highlight his strong jawline and high cheekbones. Sunlight catches in his blond hair, each strand gleaming like threads of finely spun gold.

"Thank you for joining us, Annora," Asha says with a reassuring smile. "This is Lord Kendrick."

He stands and bows. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Annora."

"Hello." I muster a smile, knowing full well that while he may be what Asha deems suitable, my soul reaches for another.

"I've heard a great deal about you," I say, even though I haven't heard anything.

Asha should be happy that I'm at least trying to be civil.

Amusement colors his tone as he replies. "All good things, I hope."

"Of course."

Asha grins at my response, as if it's exactly what she would expect me to say to him.

"Might I request the honor of a turn about the gardens?" he asks. "I've heard they are quite stunning this time of year."

I hesitate, grasping for a reason, any reason, to deny him, but I do not find one. Refusing such a simple request would be improper, no matter how my soul recoils at the thought of entertaining this lord my sister seems intent on pairing me with.

I'm no fool.

I know why he's here, and I know that look in Asha's eyes. The one that says, This is for your own good, Annora.

She's been looking at me like that for summers.

"I would be delighted to show you our gardens," I say, trying to inject a note of delight into my voice and no doubt failing.

He smiles and offers his arm, and I take it, allowing him to lead me from the parlor. We walk in silence through the stone corridors of the fortress, past windows, where pale morning light spills in.

When we step into the gardens, I inhale the mingled scents of blooms. There is a stillness here, the only sound the whisper of leaves and the trill of birdsong.

Lord Kendrick guides us along the gravel path, past meticulously tended flower beds and towering trees. "It's more beautiful than I imagined."

"Asha makes sure they're well-tended."

"They are indeed," he says as we continue our stroll through the gardens.

He waits until he's near a bed full of bright red roses to speak again. "Tell me, how are you finding the company today?"

I sense a touch of playfulness in his tone and raise a brow. "Well, the flowers and bushes are always splendid companions."

Mirth twinkles in his eyes as he speaks with mock solemnity. "High praise indeed. But dare I hope your assessment includes the two-legged variety as well?"

I tap my chin thoughtfully, pretending to consider my words with great care. "I suppose the two-legged variety has proven adequate thus far."

The lord places a dramatic hand over his heart, as if I've dealt him a mortal blow. "Adequate? You wound me, My Lady."

"Come now." A smile twitches at my lips as I try to contain my humor. "Let us not pretend words of flattery would feel natural on my tongue just yet. We've only just met."

He nods. "To be fair, adequate is a good assessment for two strangers barely past the first blush of acquaintance."

I'm struck by his candor and find myself warming to him. There is an earnestness to him that I appreciate.

"An honest tongue is a rare thing in courtly circles."

"Courtly circles breed as much dishonesty as they do gossip," he says.

I nod, glad to find someone who shares my distaste for courtly falsities. Over the last summer, I have learned a lot about court life, and the more I have learned, the more I have wanted to stay far away from it. "My thoughts exactly, though I rarely voice them."

His vibrant blue eyes meet mine as he speaks again. "Maybe you should."

We come to a stone bench situated beside a fountain, where Lord Kendrick gestures for me to sit. I arrange my cotehardie, and he settles beside me.

"Lady Annora, might I make an honest confession?" he asks as he turns to face me.

"Please do."

"I was apprehensive about today," he admits. "Political matches rarely allow for more than tepid cordiality, but I find myself pleasantly surprised."

I tilt my head, scrutinizing him. "Surprised?"

"Indeed." Sincerity rings clear in his voice. "By your wit, your candor. I see now why Lady Asha speaks so highly of you."

He smiles again, and it's a nice smile. One that crinkles the corners of his eyes and softens the angles of his face.

"Might I persuade you to call me Kendrick? Titles stand as barriers between people. I'd like to see them lowered, if you're willing."

I hesitate, then incline my head. "Very well...Kendrick. You may call me Annora."

"Annora," he repeats. "You have a beautiful name."

"Thank you."

As Kendrick and I stand and continue walking through the gardens, he points out a vibrant patch of foxglove. "They remind me of court ladies all aflutter in their voluminous gowns."

I laugh at the apt comparison.

We cross a carved stone bridge that arcs over a brook. I pause midway to bend down and trail my fingers through the clear water.

Kendrick leans against the bridge railing. "You know, they say our lives are like streams, ever changing as we're shaped by the terrain we traverse."

I glance up, once again taken aback by his astuteness. Beneath the polished lord, there is a depth I hadn't expected.

"Do you view your own life as a winding stream, then, shaped by stones along the way?" I ask as I splash my hand through the water.

Sunlight skims his features as he looks off into the distance, his expression thoughtful. "I suppose I do. We all have those moments that alter our courses. Sometimes subtly. Sometimes profoundly."

My thoughts drift to Jasce, to the inexplicable way our paths first crossed. Is he meant to be a part of my stream? A stone that alters my course in some significant way?

It feels as though Fate conspired to bring us together. Otherwise, our meeting would have been impossible, considering the hatred between our houses.

Oblivious to my wayward thoughts, Kendrick continues. "Though I admit some portions of my stream have been straighter than others."

I smile, appreciating his efforts to keep our conversation light. With Asha's obvious intentions, matters could easily turn awkward between us.

Kendrick plucks a vibrant purple blossom from a low-hanging branch and hands it to me with a half bow. "A flower for the lady."

"Why thank you, good sir." I tuck it into my braid.

The rest of our walk continues that way. With him being insightful, sincere, and attentive. He asks thoughtful questions about my interests and dreams and seems genuinely invested in my answers. Though, he remains courteous, he makes no overt romantic gestures.

When our time together finally draws to a close, he bows and bids me good day.

The moment he walks away, I hurry to my bedchamber, hoping to avoid the inevitable interrogation from Asha. She will want details of my time with Kendrick, and she will probe to see if her matchmaking efforts have borne fruit.

I settle on a bench near the window, where the warm sunlight filters in and caresses my skin.

Asha doesn't know that I have no intention of being a mere puppet in her schemes.

I am my own person, with my own dreams, and I am no longer willing to let anyone dictate the path of my life.