Whatever he was thinking, he didn’t say.
Not long after, he invited me to go hunting again.
I stiffened and fingered the dagger hidden in my sleeve.
But he just grinned. “This time, you ride with me.”
Before I could protest, he lifted me onto his horse and handed me a bow.
“Ever used one of these?”
No…”
Garrick had only taught me swordplay.
Kestrel slid in behind me, guiding my hands. He drew the bowstring with me, aimed at the sky, and let loose.
}
And before I even spotted the target, a goose fell from the sky, landing at our feet.
We did it four more times before I blurted, “I want to ride my own horse,”
His brow rose, but he signaled to his
I mounted up and fired a shot.
Another bird hit the ground.
“I hit it!” I gasped.
He actually smiled.
men.
“Warlord, let’s compete!” I challenged.
“What?”
“See who gete
the most!”
He laughed, then signaled for his men to join.
“Fine. We’re a team *
“Alright.”
Across the open plains, our horses galloped at full speed. One goose after another dropped from the sky with every shot.
We charged across the finish line, and cheers erupted all around.
“Kestrell”
I jumped off my horse, adrenaline rushing, and threw myself into his arms.
“We won! We actually won!”
He caught me and spun me around before setting me down gently.
I opened my mouth to say more–but froze. We were standing too close
He’d said he hated delicate girls from Aurelia, Especially pampered princesses. The smile fada
e faded from my face. I stepped back
“Thanks. I had fun ”
After the feast, I passed by his tent. Inside, I heard drunken laughter.
Cur 12
“So, not gonna kill the little princess after all? Thought you hated pampered girls from Aurelia?”
Kestrel’s voice came low and hazy “She’s not pampered. She’s a firebloom born of the northern wilds.”
My breath caught.
Had I just… won him over?
