The sun was high overhead before I decided to drag myself out of bed. It was the clattering of armor that woke me up, and it was just a little too warm to stay under the furs any longer.There was a wash basin in front of a mirror with clean water in it. I used it to wash my face and do my best to get a little cleaner. I wasn't sure if Fynn left it for me because I was starting to gross him out, or because he finally understood how much I valued being able to get clean, but either way, I appreciated it.I sort of hoped that it was because I had finally gotten too gross for him to tolerate. He needed to know what the consequences of his decisions were. If he didn't want to trust me, fine, but it meant that I was going to be so grimy and disgusting that he couldn't stand to share a bed with me. Maybe he'd kick me out of the bed though, and I hated that idea.Grabbing my dress from the rack, I pulled it over my head and cinched up the silver belt around my waist. If I could at least
*Fynn*I marched back through the camp. I had chosen to let Alastor rest today, but I missed being mounted on the battlefield. We had seen some success, but I no longer got excited over small victories. I'd been in wars for nearly a century, there was nothing new to me here. We would gain ground, only to lose it in the following battle, or the following weeks, or months, or years. There were no long-term wins or losses.Still, there was a certain adrenaline rush about coming off the field for the day that I found difficult to fight off. It surged through my veins and had my thoughts clouded. I used to join my soldiers for bare-knuckle boxing afterward to take the edge off, but I wasn't in the mood for that tonight. I could hear them already chanting the names of the men who tended to win the matches, the way they stomped their feet and yelled from around their makeshift boxing ring.I ignored it, marching back through the camp toward my tent. Ragnar and Magnus had come back early
*Sage*The next morning, Fynn got out of bed doing his best not to wake me. We had been tangled together in each other's arms though, and I was very aware of every movement that he made."You should be sleeping," he suggested as he slid out from under the warmth of the heavy furs."You should be staying with me," I complained.It was easy to be honest with my feelings in these early morning hours. I was still sleepy, somehow still recovering from the bliss of the night before. I would probably be embarrassed for asking him to stay by the time he got back this evening, but for now, I was missing his warmth and the safety of his embrace."Stay here and rest. I'll be back before you know it," Fynn suggested. He went on about his morning preparations. He slid his armor over his clothes as quietly as possible, though I was fully awake at this point."Hurry back. I don't want you to stay gone all day. It's boring to be trapped in here by myself," I complained.He chuckled in re
The troops returned all at once. There was an enormous clatter of metal as men and women stomped through the camp to return to their tents. Yesterday, they had come back in waves, sounding like a din of percussion for hours. Today, however, it sounded like an explosion, like the battle was finding its way to the camp, far from the battlefield.I stuck my head out of the tent to watch the silvery army march back. Horses and foot soldiers tromped between tents, dodging fire pits and livestock pens. There was a strong smell of sweat, both human and animal, with camp attendants scampering around to attend to soldiers and animals alike. I wasn't sure what I liked better, the peace of the camp after everyone left for the battlefield, or victorious chatter as they returned.Taking a quick glance at the bruises on my arms and legs, I realized they had faded enough at this point that they definitely wouldn't be noticeable. Thank whatever gods ruled this realm. I didn't want Fynn to catch on
The following night, Fynn came back from battle heavier than he had since we had been here. According to the others, they won again, but Fynn was clearly already growing weary. Maybe he just needed to get back into the swing of going to battle every day, or maybe something deeper was going on, but he didn't say much at all today.Ronan made some sort of rice dish that filled me up quickly, and Fynn went to bed without more than a few words to anyone. I felt uneasy at his demeanor, but he was asleep by the time I finished my dinner, so I didn't have the chance to talk with him.Just after sunset, there was a bird singing outside the tent. A huge bird with an intricately braided beard and tattoos all the way up his arms and neck.I did my best to whistle back a similar tune, but it was a weak attempt at best. Still, it seemed to get the message across because I could hear Ragnar chuckling as he crashed through the underbrush outside the tent.Slipping out of the tent as quietly a
I was beginning to develop a routine at this point. During the day, with my riding practice, I was finally able to start unsheathing the sword. I was too afraid to try swinging it just yet because I didn't want to decapitate my beloved pony. I had decided to name him Enbarr after the horse from Celtic myth, hoping that might bring him some speed and good luck.Getting ready for my riding exercises, I was fastening my boots when I heard a noise behind me in the tent. Ragnar's lessons were paying off. I whirled on my heels and had the intruder pinned to the bed in an instant.Sean snapped his fingers and was across the room instantly. I fell to the bed, off balance from his sudden absence. I jumped back to my feet, unwilling to let him catch me off guard for too long."What do you want?" I demanded."Ugh, awfully cranky today, are we? It doesn't suit you," he dismissed, pacing a few feet away. Maybe my newly learned abilities had surprised him. I hoped they did. That might teach
*Fynn*The battlefield was empty now. This wasn't a battle of casualties. There were few injured, and no dead to be removed from the battlefield. This was basically war games. Water Court was biding their time until the curse was fulfilled and they would gain everything that mattered to me.I had been unfaithful to Evangeline. This was my punishment. I had let a night of fae wine and her absence lead me to make unforgivable choices. She had felt the appropriate response was to spend her nights with anyone who caught her fancy, whether it was me or someone else.At first, I thought I deserved it. Eventually, though, I realized that it was a horribly toxic arrangement, and so I broke things off. Our marriage was supposed to join our Courts, strengthen them both. But Evangeline was a vengeful witch, and she cursed me for what she considered to be not keeping my word.A hundred years.I had a hundred years to find my true mate. It was clear we weren't mates, and she insisted that
*Sage*Fynn brought supper back to the tent. I should have gone out with him, sat with the others around the fire, and talked about battle or the weather, or whatever they liked to talk about. I didn't though. I stayed collapsed on the bed for a little while longer, wondering what in the world I was really doing."Whose turn was it to make dinner tonight?" I asked as Fynn handed me another bowl of stew. Today, at least, there was bread to go with it. That was a rarity."Ronan. He's not a great cook, I'll warn you," Fynn informed me with a smile."I'm sure it will do the job," I chuckled back, taking the bowl and using it to warm my hands.I sipped at the broth. It wasn't as flavorful as I was used to, but it reminded me a lot of food from home. The flavors just weren't as intense or as vivid as I was used to now. While Fynn seemed to be struggling through his, I ate mine just fine. I hoped they wouldn't make me cook anytime soon. They would be more than disappointed."I'm t