He retreated to the wall and leaned against it, watching her with a serious expression. ‘You really shouldn’t have done that.’

It took her a moment to realise what he was referring to. ‘Stop the arrow?’

He nodded.

‘I told you I would.’

He held her gaze for a long time before finally looking away. A long silence followed. When her cup was empty once again, he stepped up to take it from her.

‘I have to return to Chadora,’ he said.

‘I know.’ She kept her eyes on Margery. ‘Will you be coming back?’

‘That depends on—’

‘Your orders,’ she finished. Her chest hurt, but she did not know if it was from the injury or the fact that he was leaving. ‘When?’

‘The horses are saddled. I wanted to make sure you were all right before we left.’

The pain in her chest worsened. ‘What if I go downhill again or the wound becomes infected or something?’ She was well aware of how ridiculous she sounded.

He cleared his throat. ‘The arrow missed all of your vital organs, and you’re in safe hands.’

Her eyes began to sting.

‘I don’t want this to be awkward,’ he said.

She finally looked up at him. ‘This is not awkward. This is heartbreaking.’

Nothing changed on his face. Perhaps his heart had finally calloused too.

‘It was always going to end with me leaving.’ His voice was so quiet.

She swallowed repeatedly. ‘I know. But do you have to make it look so easy?’

He rubbed his forehead. ‘You think some big emotional display will help us?’

It was his tone that she found most distressing. It was as though Blackmane had already departed and left a faceless defender in his place.

‘What about your brother?’ she asked, digging for an emotional response from him. ‘You will be leaving him behind also.’

‘Yes.’

She brushed a stray tear away, embarrassed that it had escaped. ‘You could take him with you. I am certain King Becket would not wish to separate you from the only family you have left.’

There was a flicker of some emotion on his face, but it was gone too fast for her to identify.

‘This is his home now. He’ll stay and protect it.’ He watched her a moment. ‘I can’t just bring him back to the barracks.’

She nodded. ‘You are right. He is needed here.’

A tense moment passed, made worse by the fact that Isabel could now hear horses out front. Their time was up.

Blackmane glanced out the window. ‘Keep an eye on that wound. Any odour or change in colour, let Genevieve know right away.’

Her throat burned. ‘Thank you.’

‘For what?’

‘For giving me my life back.’

He nodded once. ‘Take care of yourself.’ Then he was heading for the door.

‘Why did you not ask me to go with you?’ The words tumbled out of her, all choked up.