Chapter 8
“Your Grace, the King will be furious if he finds out
The attendant’s voice trembled, but Prince Roland cut him off “Keep craving
The needle bit into flesh Blood welled to the surface with each stroke as Cecily’s name was carved over his heart an oath of devotion forged in pain
From a distance, Eleanor watched in silence Each cur to his chest felt like a blade to her own
It wasn’t her name etched into his skin And yet, the wound was hers
Two hours later, pale and barely standing, Roland clutched at his bleeding chest but insisted on dressing himself
“We ride for Starfall Crag.”
“You can’t!” the knight protested. “That place is treacherous- and Your Grace, you’ve just had the engraving done
“I said now.
Eleanor stood by her window, the wind brushing past her sleeves like a cold whisper
She remembered Cecily’s laughter, her taunting conditions for choosing a suitor
“He must carve my name over his heart.” Cecily had said sweetly
“And bring me a Starbloom Rose from the cliffs of Starfall Crag.”
Eleanor laughed bitterly. Laughed until tears fell silently down her cheeks.
The next morning, Cecily strutted through the manor with a white Starbloon Rose pirmed in her
haiz.
Only hours earlier, before dawn had broken, Roland had returned. Bloodied. His right arm broken
Yet despite his wounds, his lips curved in a smile
The following morning, as Eleanor stepped out of her chamber, Roland emerged from the corridor
His face was pale and his arm bound tightly in fresh cloth. His runc hung loose, the edge of the
arord whial still visitde
Aly lady, he sand hoarsely, suffered an accident last night. F’ll need to remain at rest for a few
Bays Emay not be able to guard your for now
Acident
It was clearly from the climb
But she didn’t challenge his lie. Only nodded faintly and walked past
Today, she would say her goodbyes
The Silver Chalice In bustled with warmth and wine.
“To our Eleanor Linette Ravenshade–Eleanor’s best friend cried, flinging an arm around her
Soon to be Lady Wolveston of the Westmarch! We drink until dawn!”
The private parlor was filled with familiar faces-girls she’d grown up with, laughed with, trusted.
The laughter rang out, yet Eleanor felt oddly quiet inside
“I say, marrying a dying man is a blessing in disguise!” Linette slurred as she swirled her goblet
“The Wolvestons are rich, powerful, and feared even by the Crown. And you Crownspire’s finest
gem
will be their future lady. No husband to serve, all the luxuries in the world? Bliss!”
“Exactly!” another chimed in. “And when the time comes, all that estate will be yours!”
Eleanor chuckled softly, tracing the rim of her cup with a finger
“Once I’m married, I’ll have to behave. Mustn’t embarrass the Wolvestons, after all.”
Her friends went sllent-then burst out with nervous reassurances
“No, surely Lord Edmund will recover!”
“He’d be mad to stay asleep with a beauty like you by his side!”
“You’re the fairest in all of Crownspire he’ll wake just to see you.”
Eleanor similed and drank, letting their voices wash over her like waves she no longer felt the need
te-swim against
When it came time to part Linette hugged her tightly
Her voice cracked “Your father is a damned bastard. And Cerlly Say the word and we’ll ruin her
My need. Eleanor said, patting her friend’s back gently “Once Heave, none of this will insites
themous by one, buga gister falpell By the Cot everynaud’s eyes were rell
Washi passed a side chamber on the war (amiliar voices drifted through whalf open door
That flowris wally that hard to ger
Abenistered seartall Crag is weer sonable climbers with decades of experience wor
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Precing through the narrow gap; Eleanor caught sight of Cecily toying with a fresh Starbleor Rose
Across from her one of Eleanor’s old acquaintances looked absolutely giddy with gossip
And yet he were anyway? Risked his life just to bring it back for you? I heard he even carved your
nahe mo his chest’ He raust truly be in love
4 lowly guard. Cecily sneered, brushing her fingers over a torn petal. “Hardly worthy. But ! suppose if Roland is willing to throw himself at my feet, there’s no harm in letting him adore me a
Hittle longer
