Chapter Forty-Nine
Annev wrestled with a storm of emotions as he walked through the Academy. He still felt the euphoria of being promoted to Master Avatar, but it was now tempered with the realities of his new mission. Aside from the forthcoming conversation with Sodar, Annev had to lead his two greatest rivals on a mission to Banok – a town he had never seen or visited – where they would kill two more men: one a stranger and the other a teacher.
When he reached Sraon’s smithy, Annev’s mood was shifting from sombre to brooding. That changed in an instant, though, when the blacksmith saw Annev.
‘Master Annev! Your timing couldn’t be better. I’ve just finished your ring.’
‘Finished it?’ Annev asked, incredulous. ‘I didn’t think you’d start it till tomorrow.’
‘Bah,’ Sraon said, adjusting his eyepatch. ‘Fewer folk bother me on Regaleus and they expect delays on the holidays, so I have some flexibility. Your project interested me, so I got started.’ He reached into his apron and held up the ring: a simple band of yellow with a wavy line tracing its circumference. The smith passed the ring to Annev and he saw that a tiny bird had been carved into the surface of the band.
‘It’s a phoenix,’ Sraon said, rubbing his chin. ‘Least, that’s what it’s supposed to be. I told you I don’t do detail work, and it shows.’
Annev smiled, his eyes tearing. ‘It’s perfect – more than perfect. I’m sure she’ll love it. Thank you, Sraon.’
The smith nodded, though his gaze seemed to pass over Annev’s shoulder. ‘If she doesn’t, you can always bring it back here. I had to guess at the size … but I think I got it about right.’ Sraon gestured with his chin and Annev turned to see Myjun behind him.
‘Oh,’ Annev said, fumbling to hide the ring. ‘Myjun!’
‘Annev.’
The young woman wore a black-trimmed dress of a red that matched Annev’s glove and Master Avatar robes. She smiled, her face flushed. ‘Can I talk to you?’
Before Annev could speak, Sraon clapped his gloves together and stepped out from under the awning of his open-air smithy. ‘I need to wash before evening services. You two are welcome to talk here.’ The smith slipped by Annev, winking at him with his one eye.
Annev’s mouth went dry. ‘Thank you, Sraon.’ And then, much quieter: ‘Thank you so much.’ Sraon nodded, inclined his head to Myjun and left.
Myjun took a deep breath, then slowly let it out while Annev watched her, the ring hidden in his hand. She looked at the ground.
‘I saw … I saw you earlier in your red robes, when you went to see my father with Master Carbad.’ She took another deep breath. ‘Annev … I heard everything.’
‘You did?’ Annev asked, wondering exactly how much Myjun knew.
The young woman looked up, her eyes sparkling. ‘I was listening at the door. Annev, I heard everything. I know you’re going to Banok to supervise Fyn and Kenton. I even heard what my father said after they left.’
‘You heard that?’ Annev blushed to think of Myjun hiding outside her father’s study, eavesdropping on their conversation. His hand clenched hard around the ring.
‘Myjun I … I never gave you your Regaleus gift.’ Annev felt his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth. He moved his hand towards his chest, thinking to swap the gold band in his hand for the promise ring in his pocket. At the last moment, he extended his fist and opened his palm.
‘Happy Regaleus.’
Myjun inhaled sharply, her slender hands covering her mouth. ‘Oh, Annev! This is …’ She paused, looking from him to the ring. ‘Master Annev, what do you mean by giving this to me?’
Damn, he thought. What do I mean? Am I promising or proposing?
‘It’s a promise ring,’ he said, his voice going soft.
Myjun stepped closer. ‘And what exactly is it promising?’
Annev hesitated, looked around at the empty shop and then at the streets: there was a lull in the foot traffic outside the smithy, and for this brief moment they were alone.
Impulsively, he took her hand and pulled her deep into the shadows of the smithy. There, by Sraon’s cooling forge, he knelt down and slipped the ring onto Myjun’s finger. She almost danced on her toes, eyes shining, though for a heart-stopping moment Annev thought the ring was too tight, that he would hurt her. Instead, the band slipped over her finger as if it had always belonged there. He exhaled, heart thudding in his chest and throat.
‘Myjun of Chaenbalu – daughter of Tosan, Eldest of Ancients – will you marry me?’
‘Yes!’ she choked, her voice tinkling with laughter even as her eyes filled with tears. ‘Yes, I will marry you, Master Ainnevog.’
She pulled him to his feet, her eyes locking with his – and then she kissed him. Their lips pressed together, tight at first, then softening with familiarity. He leaned in, holding her, as they felt their way through an intimate and instinctive language that neither fully spoke.
When at last they parted, it was with a mix of giddy joy and self-consciousness.
‘You smell like strawberries,’ he said, immediately regretting it.
‘You taste like sweet bread,’ she answered, laughing, and Annev laughed, too. She looked down at her ring, examining it more closely. ‘We should keep this secret for now,’ she said, turning the ring on her finger. ‘Pretend that we’re courting while we convince my father to give his permission.’
Annev smiled, relieved at the simplicity of her proposal. ‘That’s perfect – you are perfect.’ He cupped her chin in his hand, his bright blue eyes meeting her pale green ones, and they kissed again. This time when their lips parted, it was with self-denial and longing.
‘That was much better,’ she said, sighing.
‘I’ve never done this before,’ Annev apologised, his self-consciousness returning.
‘I can tell,’ she said, eyes bright, ‘but you’re a fast learner.’
‘Wait … have you done this before?’
Myjun tilted her head back and laughed. ‘Master Ainnevog,’ she said, chiding, ‘are you questioning my virtue?’
Annev shook his head, blushing furiously. ‘I only meant—’
Myjun’s laughter cut him off and she placed a single finger over his lips. ‘I’m teasing you, Annev. I’ve never kissed another – not like this.’
‘I have to go,’ he said reluctantly. ‘I’ve things to take care of before I leave for Banok.’
Myjun nodded, a silhouette against the setting sun. ‘Come back whole. I doubt I’ll sleep till I know you’ve returned.’ She leaned in and Annev expected another kiss, but instead she pecked him on the cheek. ‘Return to me, Master Ainnevog.’ She stepped away, leaving the shadows of Sraon’s smithy and melting into the throng of villagers that once again filled the plaza.