When Hest awoke, his arm was numb, and it baffled him until he realized Siobhan had fallen asleep on it. Taking care not to disturb her too much, he shifted.

“Is it time to get up?” Siobhan mumbled.

Hest smiled at how her voice sounded, still rough with sleep. “Not quite yet, I don’t think.” He sighed. “Sometimes, I wish I still had Handi and Tsiki to tell time.”

She shuddered. “I wouldn’t want to live in that kind of darkness my whole life.” She turned over and wrapped her arms around him. “But you’ll have to take me there some time. Just to visit, to see your home and the inn, all the places you came from.”

How he wished he could. Slip away, just the two of them and Usheen.

“What’s wrong?” He felt her edge away.

“Nothing. Why?”

“You suddenly tensed. Are you sure everything is all right?”

Hest sighed. “Aye, Siobhan.”

“You’re not…” Her breath came heavy on his chest. “You’re not…”

“Want me to light a lamp so you can see for yourself? I’m fine.”

“I suppose we might as well get about the step,” she said abruptly, and the mattress shifted as she rose.

Holding his frustration in check, Hest put the flint to the lamp, casting shadows across the room. He wanted to be sure she saw he was still himself.

Why not bring her to me, heart of my hearts?

That’s perfect; if she spent more time with you, maybe she wouldn’t be so afraid. Where are you?

I can come to the courtyard. There aren’t many people awake yet.

Then do so; I’ll bring her out.

Siobhan sat at her dressing table, running a brush through her long tresses. Hest took a moment to admire her before he approached. “Come with me; let’s go out to the courtyard.”

She gave him a bemused glance in the mirror. “Why?”

“Usheen’s offered to—”

“I’m not dressed,” she said quickly.

He rolled his eyes. “Well, then slip into something that you can come with me.”

She glanced about. “Allya’s not here to help me.”

“Really? You can’t get into something on your own?” he retorted. She glared over her shoulder at him before turning back to the mirror, the brush moving more snappishly through her hair. He tried again.

“If we can just—”

“Nay, I won’t go.”

Hest couldn’t believe his ears, but he tried to reason with her. “No? Why not?”

“I don’t see any good reason to go traipsing about the castle before everyone else is awake?”

“To spend time with my arc lukesure.”

She muttered something, and he leaned closer in time to catch the words, “…reason not to.”

“Siobhan!”

She raised a hand, halting his protest. “Maybe later.”

When?”

She set the brush down and huffed in exasperation, finally pivoting to face him, staring him down from where she sat—reflecting the regal upbringing that had prepared her for a throne. After a long and weighty pause, she intoned, “The fact that I am not saying ‘never’ should be enough for you. But if with Usheen is where you’d rather be, then go.”

“Fine!” He started to storm out of the room.

Her chuckle followed him. “You’ll want more clothes on than that if you’re going out into the hallway, Moor’neen.”

He stomped his foot, and she laughed aloud. How could one person be so infuriating and so adorable at the same time? He carefully set his anger aside, allowing a little of it to drain away.

“Why won’t you just say that you’re never going to want to come?”

She shook her head with a small smile still lingering. “Diplomacy is a habit I’ve been brought up with. And not a bad one to keep, I think.”

“I’d rather you didn’t, not between us. Diplomacy is just not telling the truth.”

Cocking her head in thought, she tilted her hand back and forth, as if weighing their opinions. “Nay,” she said slowly. “I think it is choosing which truth to tell.”

“I don’t like it.”

She pursed her lips over a grin, and her shoulders shook. Then she covered her mouth with one hand and gave up, leaning forward as she laughed. “Moor’neen, I love you. But there is some stable boy in you, still.”

He couldn’t say he was insulted by that.