Knightfall (Page 26)

He went to the next bush. And a third. And a fourth. But on his fifth bush, he turned every thorn to berries. After he realized what he’d done, he turned to me in shock.

“I … I did it.”

I squealed. But we were on a steep ridge full of rocks. So, I couldn’t hug or jump or do much more than wildly clap my hands.

After Declan changed bushes six and seven, I let out a loud farm-girl whistle. Nearly every head on the hill turned toward me. “Can everyone step back from your bushes please? Two feet ought to do! And then our amazing Knight, Declan Hale, will transform all the thorns into more berries!”

I got a lot of strange and questioning looks, but the title of crown princess came in handy for eclectic requests.

Declan just stared at me, aghast. “I’ve done three bushes. Three! And now you want to ask me to do this in front of everyone!”

“Declan, you already know how to do it on a huge scale. It’s easy. Just let your power rip.”

He did. For a moment, the bright yellow pulse made it feel like a midsummer afternoon. And when the pulse faded, the bushes were so loaded with berries that the branches sagged to the ground.

A laugh and a cheer went up through the crowd.

I used my booming voice once more. “Let’s declare this Declan Day! A half-holiday!”

A cheer went up around us.

“To the genius of Evaness! Who can trade thorns for berries and turn weeds to wheat!” I shouted.

The little group around us all shouted, “The genius of Evaness!”

Declan turned an adorable shade of pink. I think the tips of his ears might even have turned full red. Or it could have been the berry juice. “I … it was nothing.”

“I’m having beer and food delivered to the town square. Meet us down there!” I screeched to the people.

A roar went up. And it was smiles and hugs all around.

“I really didn’t do anything … like you said, the big part is easy.”

I stood on my tiptoes and bopped his nose. “No getting out of it. The palace is throwing these people a party. And they deserve a little rest. So shut your trap.” I turned back to the crowd. “Declan deserves a party. Am I right?”

“Right!”

“Three cheers for Declan!”

The crowd clapped and wolf-whistled. Two men came and grabbed Declan, despite his sticky state. They lifted his protesting form onto their shoulders and awkwardly ran him to the base of the hill.

Ryan strolled over to me, from where he’d been picking berries with his mother.

“You brought us to my hometown to make him a hero?” Ryan shook his head.

I just smiled at him. “You’re already a hometown hero and you know it. Besides, I can see it in your face. You like seeing him happy.”

Ryan shrugged, watching the villagers pass Declan around.

“Fine, don’t admit it. But you do.”

“You know he gets motion sick, right?” Ryan asked.

“Nope. No idea.”

“Can’t ride a pegasus to save his life. Nearly died on that horse on the way here. Part of why we hung back so much. When he first took the ship over from Sedara, he—”

“Well, he’d better hold it in now. I don’t want Declan Day ruined.”

Ryan laughed and trotted off after the crowd. “I’d better go get him down.”

I got to work.

After a quick rinse at the burgmasters, where Ryan kindly brought Declan and I some clothes from his family, I went out to the square to coordinate the celebration.

As planned, the page from this morning and a group of kitchen servants arrived in a wagon weighed down by kegs of beer, wine, suckling pig, and wheels of cheese. The smell of fresh bread also wafted toward me. “Wonderful. Would you all please set it up in the clearing right there? Picnic style,” I gestured to a field of clover that was dulled from the chill of fall. “Once you’re done with set up, you’re welcome to stay and celebrate, of course.”

A few of them raised their eyebrows, but they all got to work. And not a single one left after set up was done.

Four hours and quite a few kegs later, Ryan and I sat on the ground and watched the villagers dance around a bonfire. One old man played a fiddle, and many clapped their hands. The children giggled and wove in and out of the adults, playing crack the whip.

Declan plopped down beside us. “Thish is great.”

“Yesh it ish,” I couldn’t help but tease him. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drunk before.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been drunk before,” he responded.

“About time then,” I patted his arm.

He grabbed my hand. “Thank you Bloshie. You’re good at spreading Peach. Piss. Peash. I can’ talk.”

“That would be the alcohol.” I tried not to laugh.

He pointed at the smiling people. “You did thish. Made them happy.”

I turned so our knees touched and waited while his eyes struggled to focus on mine. “No, this is Declan Day. You did this. You do this. Every day. I know it can be hard to see, when you’re up there in the castle running the numbers. Calculating the boring-ass stuff you do. But, Dec, you help these people when times are hard. You keep their children’s bellies full. When they’ve lost hope, they look to you. Do you know how many people I’ve seen cry … tears of joy … because you saved them? Your power is amazing. But the way you use it … thank you. Thank you for being selfless.” My eyes smiled in gratitude, and I stroked his cheek.

He smiled and leaned into my hand. And for a second, he looked completely lost in bliss.

Then his eyes popped open. “I think I’m gonna be shick.”

And he was.

Chapter Sixteen

Declan lay with his head on the floor. His legs were tucked under him and his butt stuck in the air like a toddler. Next to him was a chamber pot. Ryan had already emptied it two times.

We were in Ryan’s old home. A farmhouse, down the road from the town square. Ryan’s parents had given us the master bedroom, insistent we use it to care for Declan. Then they’d gone back to the celebration.

I ran a wet washcloth over Declan’s forehead one last time. But, when he emitted a snore, I gave up the task and stood.

I sighed. “Well, I didn’t quite expect that.” I shook my head at Declan and turned to Ryan. “If you want to go back out with your family, visit with your mother and fathers some more, I’m fine here. I can keep an eye on him.” I gestured at my silly, snoring husband.

Ryan didn’t respond, and I looked up. When I did, I saw a bit of hesitancy in his eyes.

“Um …” he glanced toward the door. Then back to me.

He didn’t want to leave me. But he didn’t want to take me. Sard.

My tongue tripped over itself. “You don’t need to feel obligated to stay with me. This is your town. Your friends. I promise, I didn’t bring us here to make things awkward for you. And you don’t have to lead me around or anything. I’m fine. I’ll just stay here. Perfect excuse, right?” I didn’t know what to do with myself. I put the rag in a basin. I grabbed a blanket out of a chest and unfolded it. I laid it over Declan’s back.

Ryan didn’t speak.

So my mouth continued to ramble. “Poor Dec. I just wanted … he was so hurt this morning. Did you know people at court call him the invader knight? I just wanted him to know—never mind. Please tell your mother thank you for the dress. And your dad or brother or whoever’s clothes Dec has on. We’ll wash and return them. I’m pretty sure ours are ruined.”

“Bloss …”

I rubbed Declan’s back again, feeling nervous and jittery. Why was I feeling nervous? What was wrong with me? I was acting like a school girl. A stupid one. Ryan was going to leave and have fun with his family and friends. And that was fine.

He was going without me. It was what I deserved. Which made me think … I hadn’t told him yet. I suddenly realized why my hands felt clammy and my throat kept constricting.

“Before you go … this morning, Wyle sent a page to me with a message. He let me know that the spell regarding … your release … has been undone. I have the note,” my hands fumbled with my dress. It took me a second. “Oh, right. Not my dress. Here. I’ll get it, so you can see it.” My heart thundered in my chest as I stood back up and ruffled through my ruined dress to find that slip of parchment. It was soaked, but luckily still readable.

“What release?”

“The um … the spell where you can only find physical release with … me.” I stared at the floorboards, cheeks burning.

I’m a sarding idiot, I thought. I could talk dirty to all of them. I could tease them endlessly. Why the hell was this making me so uncomfortable?

Ryan reached out and grabbed my hand. “Really?”

I nodded. “Yes.” I made myself take a deep breath and look at his eyes. I handed him the slip.

He stared down at the words for a long time. When he looked up, his face was stone. I didn’t know what that meant. Shouldn’t he be happy?

For the last two weeks, there’d been lots of innuendo and naughty exchanges. But he’d never made a move to kiss me. Touch me, yes. All the time. But that was just his pent-up frustration, right? It wasn’t me. Tonight, he’d prove that. Tonight, he was free. My stomach lurched at the thought and I closed my eyes.