I Returned Wearing His Ring

The queen accepted my offer before the day was out.

I would return to the capital for a public reconciliation and a discussion of the border. In exchange, she would restore supplies to the settlements and permit wardkeepers to attend the spring council.

Her reply contained three references to forgiveness and none to the marriage she had tried to use to kill me.

"She wants an audience," I said, laying it before Ronan. "If she brings me back quietly, people ask why I left. If I kneel in front of the court, she controls the story."

"You are making yourself bait."

"I am making use of something she already wants."

He stood by the window in his study, arms folded. We had returned from the boundary house that afternoon, and he had hardly let me out of his sight since.

"Those distinctions may interest the arrow that finds you," he said.

"Then help me plan for it."

He turned. "Do you think I can watch you walk back into that palace and remain reasonable?"

"I think you can be frightened and still listen to me. I have had practice doing that for you."

His expression tightened. For a moment, I thought he would leave.

Instead, he pulled out a chair.

We spent the evening with maps. Isolde intended to greet me in the palace, then appear beside me at the spring muster in the cathedral square. The old conduit connecting her crown to the cathedral's binding circle ran beneath that square.

I knew its surface anchor: the gold ceremonial ribbon carried between the throne and the altar during royal rites. At court, I had spent years checking its stitched inscriptions for wear. I had thought it decoration until I saw the same lettering on Ronan's chains.

"Severing the ribbon will not free the fire," he said. "It will interrupt the working. Perhaps for a breath."

"What can you do with a breath?"

"If I am close enough, call it home."

He would wait beyond the city walls with Mara and a small escort. I would examine the arrangements and signal when the crown was linked to the square. If the queen changed the ceremony or separated me from the public gathering, I would leave.

"And if she refuses to let you leave?" he asked.

"Then you come for me. We abandon the crown and try again another day."

He stared down at the map.

"I need you to agree to that as well," I said. "If I tell you to retreat, you must consider it. I cannot have you die because you think protecting me means ignoring every word I say."

His gaze lifted slowly.

"I will consider it," he said. "I will not promise to leave you behind."

It was the most honest agreement he could give me. I accepted it.

Before we left, Mara put a short blade in my hand.

"For ribbons?" I asked.

"Among other things. Try to bring this one back."

Ronan waited until we were alone to give me the ring.

It was narrow black gold set with a small amber stone. Inside the band, three tiny scales had been engraved beneath my name.

"Press the stone once, and I will know where you are. Twice, and I will know you need me. Turn it inward, and the connection closes."

"You made an off switch."

"You were likely to demand one."

I slipped it onto my finger. "Does it work both ways?"

He held up his own hand. A matching stone shone in a plain band.

"Yes."

He touched the amber on my finger. "Strong feeling can travel through the connection too. Close it if you need to. You will still be wearing my ring."

I pressed mine once.

He drew in a breath. Under my fingertip, the amber warmed.

"What does it feel like?" I asked.

He took my hand and placed it over his heart.

I kissed him until Mara banged on the door and informed us that the horses had not volunteered to wait all winter.

We traveled south for two days, keeping pace with the queen's returning messenger. At the last wooded rise before the city, Ronan dismounted beside my carriage.

I had changed into a blue gown from the keep. Nell had braided my hair with a dark ribbon. I looked at my reflection in the window and saw someone familiar enough to be frightened for her.

Ronan opened the door.

"There is still time to choose another plan."

"I know."

He touched the side of my neck, just below the faded necklace mark.

"I would have liked to meet you somewhere else."

"You would have been insufferable at a ball."

"I am excellent at balls. I leave early."

I laughed, then caught his face between my hands.

"When this is over, take me to one. We can leave together."

He kissed my forehead. "That is a promise I would enjoy keeping."

I went through the city gates wearing his ring.

At the palace, the same woman who had dressed me for my wedding reached for my traveling cloak. She looked at my hand and hesitated.

"Her Majesty has chosen suitable jewels."

"I have suitable jewels."

"The ring may cause comment."

"It should. I am married."

I took off the cloak myself.

The queen received me in her private sitting room. Orange peel scented the fire. For one disorienting moment, I was nine again, waiting to be told whether I had behaved well enough to stay.

"My dear child."

She opened her arms.

I curtsied instead.

Her hands lowered.

"You look tired."

"Travel will do that."

"And that creature has left his mark."

Her eyes went to the ring.

"His name is Ronan."

"You may remove it. No one will judge you for what you did while frightened."

"I wasn't asking to be forgiven for my marriage."

She sat. "We will discuss your state of mind tomorrow. For tonight, you will rest."

"The border supplies?"

"Already dispatched."

"I would like to see the orders."

Her expression cooled. "You have acquired demanding habits."

"I have acquired questions."

She handed me the orders as if indulging a difficult guest. They bore the correct seals. I examined the routes before returning them.

Cedric waited outside my old room.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"You came back," he said.

"For the border talks."

His gaze dropped to my ring. He looked older than he had in the hall.

"Do you love him?"

"Yes."

He flinched, and I discovered I did not enjoy causing him pain as much as I had expected.

"Elara, if you will speak to the queen kindly tomorrow, I can arrange—"

"Stop arranging things for me. If you want to help, make sure the supply wagons reach the towns."

He looked at my face, then nodded once.

"I can do that."

It was the first useful thing he had offered me.

I closed my door and pressed the amber once. Warmth answered.

Ronan was still there.

At dawn, servants came before I rang. The muster had been moved forward. The queen wished to appear with me immediately.

No breakfast. No discussion of the border. No time to examine the square.

I reached for my cloak.

The door closed behind the servants. A guard turned the key from outside.

I pressed the amber twice.

For one heartbeat, Ronan's answer flooded the ring with heat.

Then it became so hot I cried out.

Through the window, I saw the queen's crown flare on the balcony above the square. Far beyond the walls, a column of birds exploded from the woods.

My knees struck the floor.

The ring was carrying something back to me.

Pain.