“October 11th,” he repeats as if to commit it to memory.
“What hap—“
“What about your mother?” he interrupts. “What was she like? I haven’t heard you mention her.”
“I don’t know. She died during childbirth. Me and Syra’s.”
“I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “Can’t miss someone you never knew.”
“Hm, I’m sure it felt like you were missing something,” he says quietly. We dissolve into the quiet of unspoken words for a few minutes before he brings the speed of Epona down until we come to a full stop.
“What are we doing?”
“This is the end of the Ettin Woods. I thought you might want to take a break and stretch your legs. We’ll be in the open for awhile after this so it’s better we do now where we have some cover. And, I thought you might like to see something.”
I raise my brows, curiosity piqued. He tows me from the horse. My legs are so stiff I stagger and he chuckles as he steadies me.
Sitri assures me there’s not much to be too concerned with in the Ettin Woods and I excuse myself to tend my needs some distance away. When I come back, Sitri’s leaning against the tree, munching on a piece of jerky.
“Come here. I thought you might like to see Croatoa.”
“You’re going to show me the kingdom?” I ask excitedly.
“Just from the distance.”
He leads me a short way over a steep hill of the Wood, and we emerge from the treeline with a great valley below us. In the distance are the outskirts of Croatoa. Like Samore there’s no wall. It’s both similar and completely different from Samore. The buildings taking different shapes and different colors. Unlike the menacing black castle of Samore, this castle is a faint reddish brick.
Somehow, it still doesn’t feel real to see anything other than the Wall. My eyes flit over to him briefly to find him very much regardingmeinstead of the kingdom below.
“Aren’t you supposed to be taking in the view?”
He gives me a crooked grin. “You’re more interesting.”
A discomfiting warmth blooms low in my stomach and I point my gaze back to the kingdom below. “Doubtful.”
“I forgot what it feels like to still be amazed by things.”
“Do you think we could go there someday?”
“Maybe,” he murmurs, but his eyes go distant. “If I ever had spare time, I would show you. I would show you all the kingdoms.” He heaves a breath, tension bracketing his face. “But things are probably going to be tight for a while.”
“So you and Syra are twins?” he asks me as we make our way back to Epona.
“Yes.”
“Identical?”
“Yes…well, we were before—“before the daemon embedded itself in my soul.The words slip out before I can think better of them, and I curse myself internally.
“Before?” he imitates.
“Pass.”
His eyes flare. “What? You can’t pass that.”
“This was the agreement we made. We can pass no questions asked.”
