inside her. The master trainer had just bestowed a great honor, one that could get him—and her—into trouble. Self-preservation warned against going to the clearing. But her life had become such drudgery that she couldn’t ignore the invitation.
Master Dupree became her sparring partner, pushing her harder than the men. And although her body was often so sore or bruised she could hardly move the next day, she always went back. He taught her how to fight with a sword and dirk, how to grapple, and perfected her skill with the longbow to such an extent that he’d praised her for being better than his other trainees. But most of all, he had become her friend—the best gift he could’ve given her. She turned away from the window blinking away tears.
A soft knock at the door was her only warning before Milly entered. Never one for formality, Milly always barged into her room without waiting for approval. Carina’s eyes widened in surprise when Milly properly addressed her.
“Are you all packed, my lady?” Milly stood at attention.
“Why did you say that?”
“What?” Milly asked with an innocent lift of an eyebrow.
“My lady.” Carina rolled her eyes. “You’ve never called me a lady.”
“Pshh,” Milly scoffed with a wave of her hand, dismissing any pretense. “Because you’ve never been chosen as a mistress before.” A mischievous glint burned in Milly’s eye and she laughed with delight. “Oh, Carina, I would’ve given anything to see Marissa’s face.”
Carina smiled. A deep sense of satisfaction rippled over her skin knowing Marek had chosen her. She barely knew him, yet for the first time in her life someone had noticed her and her entire body glowed in the warmth of that knowledge.
“Ah, good,” Milly said, nodding in approval. “You’re packed.” She walked over to the bag and tied it. “I’ve been sent to fetch you.”
Fear knotted Carina’s stomach at the thought of leaving the only home she’d ever known. She sat at the foot of the small bed and clasped her hands together in her lap. Milly plopped down beside her and placed a comforting arm around her waist.
“Sweetie,” Milly whispered. “You know King McKay will never accept you as his daughter.”
Carina knifed her hands between her legs and tried to ignore the onslaught of tears. “Why, Milly? Why doesn’t he love me?”
“Because dear one, his heart is small and he only has room for two, Marissa and himself.” Milly rested her head on Carina’s shoulder. “Haven’t I always looked after you?”
Carina nodded, splashing tears onto her riding pants.
“Go with King Duncan and be happy ,” she urged. “He seems nice and fair. With him you have a chance at a good life. If you stay here, you’ll grow old long before your time.”
Carina clutched Milly’s calloused hands. “You and Master Dupree are my only friends. What will I do without you?” She choked down a sob as a fresh set of tears tumbled over her lashes.
Milly pulled Carina into a tight hug and rubbed her back while making little shhh-ing noises. “You’ll do fine, Carina. You’re strong and so like your mother.”
Carina buried her head into Milly’s shoulder. “I’ll miss you.”
“Then honor me by being the brave woman I know you are.” Milly squeezed Carina one more time before releasing her. “Meet me downstairs in two minutes.” She raised two fingers to stress her point before grabbing Carina’s travel bag and disappearing through the door.
Carina stood, and wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. After a final glance, she walked out the door knowing she’d never see her little room again.
11 – FAREWELLS
Marek, his riders, and twelve Critons fidgeted within the confines of the graveled driveway. Most of Regin’s household staff also stood in a line to the left of the front door. Having so many servants present made for a good showing indicating a king’s wealth.
Leaning against FireStrike, Marek
Master Dupree became her sparring partner, pushing her harder than the men. And although her body was often so sore or bruised she could hardly move the next day, she always went back. He taught her how to fight with a sword and dirk, how to grapple, and perfected her skill with the longbow to such an extent that he’d praised her for being better than his other trainees. But most of all, he had become her friend—the best gift he could’ve given her. She turned away from the window blinking away tears.
A soft knock at the door was her only warning before Milly entered. Never one for formality, Milly always barged into her room without waiting for approval. Carina’s eyes widened in surprise when Milly properly addressed her.
“Are you all packed, my lady?” Milly stood at attention.
“Why did you say that?”
“What?” Milly asked with an innocent lift of an eyebrow.
“My lady.” Carina rolled her eyes. “You’ve never called me a lady.”
“Pshh,” Milly scoffed with a wave of her hand, dismissing any pretense. “Because you’ve never been chosen as a mistress before.” A mischievous glint burned in Milly’s eye and she laughed with delight. “Oh, Carina, I would’ve given anything to see Marissa’s face.”
Carina smiled. A deep sense of satisfaction rippled over her skin knowing Marek had chosen her. She barely knew him, yet for the first time in her life someone had noticed her and her entire body glowed in the warmth of that knowledge.
“Ah, good,” Milly said, nodding in approval. “You’re packed.” She walked over to the bag and tied it. “I’ve been sent to fetch you.”
Fear knotted Carina’s stomach at the thought of leaving the only home she’d ever known. She sat at the foot of the small bed and clasped her hands together in her lap. Milly plopped down beside her and placed a comforting arm around her waist.
“Sweetie,” Milly whispered. “You know King McKay will never accept you as his daughter.”
Carina knifed her hands between her legs and tried to ignore the onslaught of tears. “Why, Milly? Why doesn’t he love me?”
“Because dear one, his heart is small and he only has room for two, Marissa and himself.” Milly rested her head on Carina’s shoulder. “Haven’t I always looked after you?”
Carina nodded, splashing tears onto her riding pants.
“Go with King Duncan and be happy ,” she urged. “He seems nice and fair. With him you have a chance at a good life. If you stay here, you’ll grow old long before your time.”
Carina clutched Milly’s calloused hands. “You and Master Dupree are my only friends. What will I do without you?” She choked down a sob as a fresh set of tears tumbled over her lashes.
Milly pulled Carina into a tight hug and rubbed her back while making little shhh-ing noises. “You’ll do fine, Carina. You’re strong and so like your mother.”
Carina buried her head into Milly’s shoulder. “I’ll miss you.”
“Then honor me by being the brave woman I know you are.” Milly squeezed Carina one more time before releasing her. “Meet me downstairs in two minutes.” She raised two fingers to stress her point before grabbing Carina’s travel bag and disappearing through the door.
Carina stood, and wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. After a final glance, she walked out the door knowing she’d never see her little room again.
11 – FAREWELLS
Marek, his riders, and twelve Critons fidgeted within the confines of the graveled driveway. Most of Regin’s household staff also stood in a line to the left of the front door. Having so many servants present made for a good showing indicating a king’s wealth.
Leaning against FireStrike, Marek
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