“What’s happening?” I ask with a gesture at the soldiers’ shadows outside the tent. “Are you about to go to battle again?” My throat burns. Is he preparing to attack another human town? Is he about to slaughter more of my people?
His expression dims, and he appears suddenly guarded. He’s silent for so long that I start to think he won’t answer, but finally, he says, “There’s been some trouble in Sorsston, and the Summer Court army is departing for the human city earlytomorrow morning.” He clears his throat. “You’re coming with us, of course—coming with me. I will arrange for you to travel in a luxurious carriage.”
“Sorsston?” Worry expands in my chest. “What kind of trouble? As you know, my parents and sisters all live within the walls of the city.”
“The trouble hasn’t affected the regular citizens of Sorsston,” he says a bit cryptically. “Your parents and sisters are likely fine.”
“What kind of trouble is it? Please tell me.”
He gives a slow shake of his head. “I’m sorry, Amelia, but I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to tell you what’s happened. Perhaps after the situation is handled, I will be able to reveal more. Just trust me when I promise you’ll be safe. And if you’re worried about your family members, I will send a soldier to verify their welfare.”
I’m about to ask him if I can visit them, but then I think better of it. My father won’t want to see me, and he probably wouldn’t permit a visit with my mother. As for my sisters, their husbands are probably of the same mind as my father. By leaving Lord Nevel, I’ve caused problems. I doubt any of my brothers-in-law appreciated having their homes searched by Lord Nevel’s soldiers. I’m certain my sisters would be understanding, but I don’t want to be the cause of discord in their marriages.
Alone. I’m about to return to Sorsston, the place I grew up and where my entire family still lives, yet I won’t get to see any of the people I care about. I’ve never felt so alone and utterly displaced. Even if I managed to escape General Dalgaard, I wouldn’t be able to reconnect with my family. I blink back tears. Should I even bother writing letters to my mother and sisters?
The general takes a step closer and gives me a concerned look. He likely believes I’m on the verge of tears because I’mworried about the safety of my family members in Sorsston, yet it’s so much more complicated than that.
I swallow hard and will myself to hold it together until he vacates the tent. The last time I cried in his presence, he tried to wipe away my tears. As though he, my captor, has the right to comfort me.
“I must finish preparing the soldiers for departure,” he says, “among other duties. I’ll return soon, however, and we can share the evening meal.” He gestures at the large desk. “Perhaps in my absence, you can write the letters to your family.” His expression becomes conflicted, and I get the sense that he’s contemplating whether I might visit my family in a few days rather than write the letters. I also sense that he fears it would be a bad idea.
My stomach clenches. How very odd. I can’t hear his exact thoughts, but I swear that’s the gist of what he’s currently thinking. I just…know.
Oh, gods. My heart races as I try to understand what this might mean. I don’t think he’s glamouring me. His eyes aren’t glowing, and though I’m a tad confused, I feel entirely present in the moment.
“Good idea,” I force out as I move to sit at the desk, partly because I need to put more space between us. “I-I’ll write the letters now, and I’ll see you later this evening, sir.”
He lifts one eyebrow at me. “Tristan.”
My mouth goes dry as I hold his penetrating gaze. “Tristan.”
CHAPTER 10
TRISTAN
My thoughts remainon Amelia as I conduct further meetings with my commanders and make the final preparations for tomorrow’s departure. I long to return to the tent and take her in my arms. I long to remain in her presence until I’m finally able to figure out why I’m so drawn to her.
How does one know when they’ve met their one true fated mate? How can I be so uncertain about Amelia? Either she is my mate, or she’s not.
Many fae visit a high priestess during their youth to learn the identity of the mate the gods have marked for them, but such visits rarely yield definite results. Most often, the priestesses can only provide a first name or offer a clue about when and where they will encounter their fated mate.
Unfortunately, when my foster father, Lord Linnshire, brought me to a high priestess to learn the identity of my fated mate, the priestess simply looked at me and said, “Tristan Dalgaard, your fated mate will find you when the time is right.”
That’s it. That’s the only clue she gave me. Even Lord Linnshire’s son, my childhood friend Kaiden, received more guidance from the high priestess concerning his fated mate, though he didn’t get a name, nor was he informed that his female would be part-human.
A growl vibrates from my chest as I head for the outskirts of the camp, searching for Commander Klemat. Armed soldiers rush by but give me a wide, respectful berth, likely on their way for a shift patrolling the streets of Glenville. Not that there’s much left to patrol. In our fury over the deaths of twelve faefolk in the new settlement of Valltea, we’d left few survivors.
At last, I find Commander Klemat conducting a training exercise with the contingent he leads. Once he notices me standing along the tree line, he passes control to his first officer and heads in my direction.
“General Dalgaard.” He gives me a brief nod. “Do you have new orders for me?” His tone is deferential but not as overly eager as many of the other commanders.
“Yes, several, actually.” I straighten, glance around the clearing where his soldiers are continuing their training exercises, then return my gaze to him as I contemplate his trustworthiness. He’s only served with the Summer Court army for six decades, a much shorter time than the other commanders, yet I believe he’s proven his competence. “First, I must appoint a Warden to remain in Glenville indefinitely, as is our custom when a town or city is conquered, but I’m hesitant to appoint a highborn warden for a town as small as this one. Your soldiers are among the fiercest in our army. I would like you to select a soldier from your contingent, someone you feel would be happy staying in the north, to become Warden of Glenville.”
“Consider it done.” Commander Klemat studies the soldiers as they spar in the clearing. His gaze eventually moves to his first officer, a male by the name of Reast. “Officer Reast likesthe north, and several of his family members have settled in the Warrlish Mountains. Though I’m reluctant to part with him, I think he would be an excellent choice to remain in Glenville.”
“Very good. I’ve already selected twenty soldiers from various contingents who will stay behind and help guard this area of the countryside.” As I talk, I can’t help but wonder what Amelia is doing at this very moment. Is the sweet human writing letters to her family? Is she taking another nap? “The soldiers I selected all have ancestral ties to the Winter Court,” I continue, “and though most of those ties are practically ancient, it will help make any encounters with the Winter Court army more…cordial.”
A satisfied look crosses Commander Klemat’s face. “A wise decision, General. Officer Reast also has ties to the Winter Court. His sister recently mated with a highborn lord from the Starlit region,” he says, referring to a group of northern isles that holds the most breathtaking views of the night sky, or so the stories say.
