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“Yes, I suppose I have It’s an honor to serve the king”
“And not just because you’re in love with him?”
“WHAT?” Karigan rocked backward as if struck
“As I thought,” Estral murmured
Karigan placed her hand on a shelf to steady herself “Five hells! How can you—”
“Soes when he is mentioned, and your reaction confiroes beyond duty and respect for your monarch”
Karigan sagged “Do you have some time?”
“I’ve no classes today,” Estral said, “and we’d better sit I’ this lamp”
They returned to the chamber with the alcove and sat on stools at the worktable “This is not song fodder for your an said “It is between you and me”
“You have my promise I’ll keep it to myself,” Estral replied
Karigan let flow all the feelings she had kept inside, her blosso; his expression of love for her one night on the castle rooftop She told Estral how he had atteift even as his signature was drying on the ainst the divisions between nobility and common blood
“I’m so stupid,” she said “To even think—to even hope”
Estral, who re, said, “Love is not stupid It’s just difficult when it happens this way I think you’re doing the right thing, trying to get on with life and beyond so that can’t happen I’ve no wisdom to offer, I’m afraid, just sympathy for my dear friend It is hard that the matter of birth to one bloodline or another determines our path in society, but we have no say in to e are born, just as we have no say in who our distant ancestors are”
Estral may claim to lack wisdoan Estral was right: one did not have control over the ry and frustrated about it was futile It would change nothing Maybe if she werea Green Rider, it would ease her heart
Telling someone about it all also relieved her She had not realized the weight she had carried by keeping it all inside her, howZachary hadanother Rider friend could not The Riders were bound to the king’s service, too close to hi
“Well, Old Mother,” Karigan said, her spirits lighter, “it’s chilly down here Shouldn’t we go into town for some tea and sweets?”
Estral slowly sood idea”
And laughing, they left behind the darkness of the archives