Brightly Woven
Page 83

I wrote a letter to my mother and father. I told them about Auster’s king, about the possibility of peace, but I kept the rest of the story close to my heart. I signed with, I’ll see you soon, and wondered if there was any truth in that. I had told Henry that I didn’t want to return with him, but going back to Cliffton didn’t necessarily mean returning to the way things were, did it? Maybe I needed to go back, to truly close that chapter, before I could move forward.
Henry was doing exactly what I expected: packing. He and the rest of the delegates were staying in small chambers just off the castle’s courtyard. The doors along the corridor were open, and men of all ages milled in and out of one another’s rooms, laughing and chattering like they were having a grand party. They barely acknowledged me, even as I ducked my head into each room, looking for a familiar mop of brown hair.
Henry’s room was the last door on the left, well past the rooms of the older men. I stood in the doorway, watching as he folded his trousers and shirts. They were new, I realized. He probably hadn’t been able to escape from Cliffton with much.
“Are you just going to stand there?” he asked, not turning around. “You can come in. I won’t bite.”
“I seem to remember your biting me when we were seven,” I said lightly.
Henry turned around, a faint smile on his lips. “You shouldn’t have stolen my apple if you weren’t prepared to face the consequences.”
We stared at each other for a moment, until I looked away.
“I heard what happened with the queen,” he said calmly. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “It wasn’t anything to be concerned about.”
He snorted. “I suppose this is the life you’ve chosen for yourself, then. One of danger and magic and handsome wizards…”
I looked down at my hands.
“It’s all right,” Henry continued. “I mean, I understand. Why would you want a dismal little desert when you can have the world?”
“You knew I always wanted to leave Cliffton,” I said. “I talked about it for years.”
“Yes, but I always thought I would go with you,” he said. “And I don’t think you’d still have me.”
What could I say to that? It broke my heart, but it was the truth, and we both knew it.
“You mean the world to me,” I said. I reached for his hand, but he pulled away.
“But I’m not your world, and I’ll never be,” Henry replied. “I wanted to…make a life with you. Raise a family. Grow old. I want you to know the truth because I love you, and that won’t ever change.”
Henry snapped the lid shut on his trunk and dragged it onto the floor.
“I love you, too, Henry,” I said. “But I can’t give you what you deserve.”
He blew out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair.
I pressed a hand against my heart, and a part of me still felt like crying. “What will you do next?”
“Go back to Cliffton, help Father with the fields until I clear my head,” Henry said. “I’m not much for politics, but if your father asked me to, I would take his place here. It’s important work, you know? I got to cast Cliffton’s vote to allow the queen to hold on to her title. I thought that would make you happy.”
“It does,” I said. “By the way everyone talked about her at home, I thought she’d be a pretty face and little more, but she’s…”
“A bit of a lion heart,” Henry finished. “I don’t think the wizard leaders will be too happy with her when they find out she’s taking back a generous portion of their power. From what I understand, the Sorceress Imperial will have to pass everything through her and give the queen final say.”
I opened my mouth, but a distant roar of applause and cheers stole the words from my mouth. I turned toward the sound of it, wondering—
“We heard the news this morning,” Henry said. “They were successful in getting Auster to sign the treaty, though I don’t think we’re in a better position than before. The brother of Auster’s queen has assumed the throne, and from what I understand, he’s a ruthless piece of work.”
And we had sent Dorwan to receive whatever punishment the new king saw fit. What that meant for Dorwan, I wasn’t sure, but I knew I wouldn’t feel completely safe until word arrived that he was dead. There was still the chance that he could escape or somehow gain the ear of the new king….
I didn’t want to think about it, not when there was so much to celebrate.
“Are they really back?” I asked. Henry nodded. Trumpets sounded, announcing the queen’s presence, and the cheers from the courtyard grew louder.
“I guess that’s my cue to leave,” Henry said. “Well, go on, hail the conquering heroes and all that. If you get bored of this life of adventure, stop by Cliffton and say hello to the simple folk.”
“Of course,” I said. I wrapped my arms around him, but it was nothing like our past embraces. “Will you tell my parents that I love and miss them very much?”
Henry nodded. “Come on,” he said. “I’ll walk you out.”
I lost Henry’s shape in the crowds as I pushed my way through the cheering masses, trying to squeeze my way up front.
The queen stood at the top of the marble staircase, wearing her ceremonial purple robes. She was surrounded by human ambassadors and advisors, while all of the wizards were on the ground below, holding back the crowds. Banners and flags had been strung up around the courtyard.