Page 41 of Of Iron and Moonlight

“It would be an honor to die by your sword,” said the Duke of Lemierre to a lowly blacksmith, as simply as if remarking on the weather.

Gavriel smiled. The laugh that followed was unguarded. “In another life, one that was more fair, we might even have been friends before that happened.”

Lemierre returned the smile and nodded once. They racked their blades. Gavriel let the silence hold while he weighed a sudden thought.

“As I’ll remain here,” he said after a moment, “with little else to do but observe the general splendor.” A pause. “Perhaps I might teach a few ravens to sing.”

The duke nodded, understanding. “I’ll listen.”

Then he disappeared into the Norrelian night.

Watching him go, Gavriel somehow knew, deep in his soul, with a certainty he now reserved only for two simple things, that he would never see that man again.

Chapter 22

Gavriel

For some time, Gavriel sat at the edge of the training yard, letting his breath even out and the exertion throbbing along his ribs ease back into its usual ache. By the time he realized there was someone else nearby, Njall had already lowered himself to the ground beside him.

“It’s incredible how you do that,” Gavriel said, not without admiration. The familiar hum of Njall’s magic, manipulating the air around them into a pocket of privacy, whispered against his senses. “All this moons-cursed frost, and not even a footstep.”

Njall chuckled and clapped him on the back. “So long among us, and you still haven’t grown accustomed to how we move?”

Gavriel swatted his hand away. “You say that as though you aren’t better at it than most.” He shook his head with a quiet laugh. “How was your journey to my humble human half of the continent?”

Njall let out a resigned huff. “Much the same.”

“Mostly the same,” he amended after a pause.

“Same orders?” Gavriel glanced sideways at him. “One or two from every small town west of Netherreach, without making too much noise about it?”

“Exactly,” Njall confirmed. “Find the color. Don’t ask questions.” He dragged a hand down his face. “I take them to Celestine Isle, and I never see what comes after.”

Color. Like Kora’s. A shiver crawled up Gavriel’s spine.

Njall grimaced. “The missions have been more frequent these past few months.” He exhaled, shoulders lifting. “One of them this time was only a boy.”

Gavriel’s brow furrowed. “Is Oorlon still threatening your father?”

Njall nodded, the motion heavy. “If I give him even the slightest reason to think…” He trailed off, tapped his forehead twice lightly, then continued, “Selvara and Ameriel know I want him to live. Even Hanura, if the Tsuchitsan goddess cares for me at all. But what if I’m helping something far worse by playing along?” He hesitated. “No. There is no doubt something isn’t right about these missions. I just don’t know where to draw the line.”

“Unfortunately,” Gavriel said, sympathy softening his voice, “life is rarely as clean as being loyal to whom you should be and turning away from whom you must.” He set a hand on Njall’s shoulder, squeezing once before letting it fall. “You’re a decent male, Njall. You’ll recognize the line and make the right choice when it matters.”

Njall grunted. Gavriel suspected it was part protest, part resignation.

They sat in silence after that, watching Hanurath’s rise, listening to the dwindling sounds of the festival’s merriment as the night deepened.

“Are human women always so stubborn,” Njall muttered finally, “or is it just my luck?”

Gavriel gave a bemused laugh. “That depends entirely on the woman. What brought this on?”

Njall waved a hand in dismissal, as though brushing away a gnat. “Nothing worth dwelling on. Nothing I can’t handle.”

Gavriel chuckled again, this time at the genuine bewilderment etched across Njall’s face, but he let the subject go. Instead, he fixed Njall with a look that carried more knowing than humor. “Speaking of women. Well, females,” he corrected mildly. “You missed the festival again.” They both knew his stretched absence wasn’t a coincidence.

Njall’s shoulders sagged. “I can’t do it,” he said quietly. “I can’t watch…” He stopped, planting his elbows on his knees, head bowed.

“How is she?” Gavriel asked. “Have you seen her?”