Page 51 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

Epiphany

Temi dropped into the chair beside me at the table with a huff. I finished spreading honey along my bread and placed the knife down. “Good morning.”

“Would you like to get an early start today?”

I took a bite of the bread, letting the sweetness of it bloom across my tongue as I chewed. I swallowed and followed it with a drink. “Are you not hungry?”

She shook her head.

“All right.” I snagged one last bite and stood, dusting my palms together. “Horseback riding?”

We stepped out into the hallway with windows that overlooked the vast fields behind the palace. Temi paused, her fingers gripping into her sleeves. “No. I need to blow off some steam. Where can we go to practice weaponry?”

I chewed the inside of my cheek and pointed to a copse of trees in the distance. “There’s a place that Valerian and I have used before.”

“Wait.” Temi turned towards me, and the intensity that had shimmered across her eyes broke for a moment. “You and Valerian have done what?”

I smirked and cocked my head to the side. “We used to shoot the bow and arrow together. How do you think he convinced me to practice reading?”

Her lips spread into a slow smile. “Oh, he has to join us then.”

“He’s working.”

She grabbed my hand and tugged me down the hallway. “He said your brother told him he was at our discretion. And I intend to use that.”

I huffed a laugh and jogged after her, ducking around columns and slipping out a door and into the bright sunshine of the garden. By the time we reached the stables, we both breathed heavily, perspiration beading up on our foreheads.

Valerian stood alongside another man, both in their rougher work clothes, a coarse, tan shirt and breeches. He thrust a forked rake into a cart full of hay and dropped it into a bin. His muscles flexed with the movement, his shirt sticking to his back, sweat soaking through the fabric.

Temi grasped my hand again and pulled me forward. “Valerian.”

He turned around and wiped his arm over his forehead before bowing. “Ladies.”

Temi grinned. “We’re in need of your assistance this morning.”

“Very good.” He clapped the other man on the shoulder and strolled down past the horses, who puffed hot breaths at us. “Do you all wish for the same mares as last time?”

“Oh, we’re not riding today,” Temi said, marching towards the exit.

He looked out of the corner of his eyes at me. “Oh? What are we doing then? I hope I don’t have to look pretty for it”—he gestured to the grimy clothes—“or it’s a disaster already.”

“Just the opposite,” Temi said as she reached the door.

“You’ll need your bow and arrows though,” I said.

Valerian stopped walking and crossed his arms. “We aren’t off to kill someone, are we? You know, Pip, I have moral boundaries… a few at least.” He winked at me.

I rolled my eyes. “There will be no death involved, but it might take up most of your day.”

“Damn. I’m not sure I can commit to that level of hardship.” He smirked.

My stomach swirled with warmth, but I tucked a loose curl behind my ear. “Any chance you still have my bow?”

He tilted his head, so that a patch of sunlight gleamed over his dark hair. “Well, this grows more and more interesting.” He ran his fingers down his jaw. “I do, actually. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

After we reconvened and walked to the wood line that sat ensconced within the palace walls, Valerian crossed the clearing and yanked weeds away from a target board. “It’s not in terrible condition considering how long it’s been.”

Temi pulled an arrow from her pack. “Do you not practice anymore, either?”