XIII—NICHOLAS ARDOVANI OF LUCIA

How she had managed to find out where his chambers were, Nicholas didn’t know. But what he did know, was that the girl he loved had magic beyond his comprehension.

“It’s been so long,” Sicca said.

They sat together on a cushioned bench in front of the windows, Sicca in one of his arms as he held her hand with the other.

“I’ve thought about you every single day since last we saw each other.” Their lips were a hair’s breadth from touching. Nicholas’ heart was thrumming inside his chest.

“I know,” she said, her voice small and demure. “Your letters…”

They had met during a parley on the battlefield. Despite only being sixteen years old, and she seventeen, Nicholas and Sicca were both fighters, expected to travel with their houses, to fight—and to kill if necessary.

There had been an extended skirmish along the border. Nicholas had gone into the Florencian camp out of stupid curiosity. Thinking himself highly capable, he had snuck through the forest in the pale moonlight on his way back to the Lucian camp.

“I still remember that time I first saw you,” Sicca said. “In the forest. You were lucky you hadn’t been taken captive—stamping about through the dried leaves as you were.”

They laughed quietly together.

Being this close to her, it physically pained Nicholas. He had missed her so much.

“And you were lucky that I didn’t capture you and take you to my father,” Nicholas said. “He would have certainly kept you as a ward.”

“Perhaps that would have been a good thing. Oh Nicholas. I’ve missed you.”

“And I you, my love.”

Their lips came together.

The sweetness of her soft touch, her warmth upon him, was the most beautiful thing he had ever experienced.

She pulled away.

“Nicholas?”

“Yes?”

“How will we be together?”

Looking at her, he smiled. “We are here for parley.”

“Yes, but Florencia and Lucia have been at war since long before we were born,” she said, her eyes misting. “Do you really think things can change?”

“We can hope,” he said softly.

“If they don’t… will you run away with me?”

Looking at her for a long time, he finally said, “Yes. I will run away with you, Sicca Glass.”

“To where?”

“Surely we can charter a ship to some other lands. Lord Blackwater was just talking about lands he’s been fighting in—lands no one here in the royal court have ever heard of.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

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“Lord Blackwater…”

“What of him?”

She pulled away from him, their moment of sweetness gone, evaporated like the morning dew.

“He’s so evil.”

Nicholas looked at her, blinked. He didn’t know what to say. Was Lord Blackwater evil? Perhaps that was how the Florencians thought of him.

“We will run away if the parley does not go well,” he repeated. “I swear it. Do you believe me?”

She nodded.

“Hold me.”

He held her.

And then the door opened and they both jumped, glancing up at the intruder. It was that red haired maid, Emily.

“Oh,” she said, “I apologize. I’ve brought the towels as you’ve requested my lord. The door was ajar. I didn’t—“

“It’s quite all right,” Nicholas said, still feeling like an animal caught in a hunter’s sights. “Please, just put them there and—“

“Wait a minute,” the maid said. She narrowed her eyes as she scrutinized Sicca Glass. Then her eyes widened. “You’re Florencian!”

“Oh no,” Sicca cried. “You don’t understand.”

“Silence!” Emily hissed, and grasped her sword hilt.

“Wait!” Nicholas said. He raised a warding hand as he held Sicca close to his body. He would fight this maid if he had to.

The maid paused.

“Please,” Nicholas continued. “Just wait.”

“Explain yourself,” Emily said. She looked to Nicholas like she was about to pounce.

Nicholas extricated himself from Sicca and stood in front of her—to protect her. He didn’t know what this Lucian maid would do, thinking that it wouldn’t surprise him if she rushed up to Sicca and slit her throat while he watched.

“We’re in love!” Sicca said from behind.

Nicholas glanced at her, saw the determined look on her face as she balled her fists.

The maid, Emily, looked at them curiously. “Is this true?” she asked.

Pausing for a moment, Nicholas’ heart about to break through his chest out of pure startlement and fear for what might happen to them both, he finally said, “Yes. It’s true.”

“How is this possible? She’s Florencian.”

“I don’t know,” Nicholas said. And truly, he didn’t. The gods only knew, he should have attacked Sicca the first time he laid eyes on her, but he hadn’t.

At first she was an intense curiosity for him, and then he started to see her differently when it was revealed to him that she wasn’t so bad.

“Please,” Nicholas said. “Do not say a word. She can return to the Florencian side and no one will be the wiser.”

Emily narrowed in on Sicca. “Are you a spy?”

“A spy? Of course not!”

Shaking his head, he said, “I know nothing of import.” His pleading tone—pathetic—was audible even to himself. “If she was a spy—she would be wasting her time on me.”

Backing away, Emily closed the door. “What are you doing? You could both be executed for this!”

Nicholas glanced at Sicca, who stood up beside him.

“We don’t care!” Sicca said. “If this parley does not go well, Nicholas and I have decided to leave the empires and go to some other kingdom where we can live and love without this godsforsaken rivalry between our empires.”

“You little fools,” Emily said, and put a hand on her chest.

The impression that Emily thought they were sweet, came to him. “Will you please say nothing?” he asked.

Emily looked at them for a long while.

“Please,” Sicca said.

“Fine,” Emily said. “But you”—she pointed an aggressive finger at Sicca—“should leave at once. It is my duty to take care of any Florencians come this side of the Lucian chambers—do you know that?!”

“I’m… Yes, and I’m sorry.”

“Go on,” Emily said, nodding toward the door.

Sicca glanced back at Nicholas, then slipped through the door and was gone, no doubt using her magic to slip through the Lucian chambers unknown until she got back to the Florencian side of the House of Gates.

“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but—“

“We didn’t mean for anything to happen,” Nicholas interrupted. “We met during a raid and we became friends. And then…”

Emily breathed in deeply. “I was going to say you have heart. If Empress Caelestinius thinks Lucia and Florencia can end this conflict, then we will need more young lords and ladies like you, and…”

“My name is Sicca.”

Emily nodded. “Like you and Sicca, to change things. To end the animosities between our empires.”

“Thank you.”

“Just be careful,” Emily said with a heavy sigh. “If you were to get caught—it would all be over. I don’t want that for you.” She indicated Sicca. “Not even for her.”

Nicholas nodded. “You’re a good person, Emily.”

She looked at him. “Don’t thank me. I’m doing this for Lucia—not for you.” She turned around and left him there.

His heart beat so hard his chest hurt.

That was too close.

With a heavy sigh, he sat back down on the cushioned bench and let out a long, slow sigh, then he wiped his brow.

Emily closed the doors behind her and put her back to the wall in the main corridor. As she lifted her hands, she realized she was shaking like a leaf.

And smiling like an idiot.

She glanced back at the huge wooden door as she scurried back down the corridor toward her other endless duties.

Good luck, you little fools.