Blackmane took the two horses down to the paddock and removed their tack, then headed back to Isabel.

Gwenore squeezed her daughter’s hand, then rose. ‘Stay here and catch your breath,’ she said. ‘I will see you inside when you are ready.’ Then she walked off towards the house.

Isabel drew her legs up and dropped her forehead to her knees. Blackmane sat beside her, saying nothing. After a few minutes, she turned her head and looked at him.

‘Are you going to get in trouble?’ she asked.

‘For what?’

‘For killing him.’

He shook his head. ‘I handed in my uniform before I came. Bad timing for him.’

She exhaled. ‘I am sorry.’

‘What for?’

‘That there was not another way.’

He pulled her closer to him.

She kissed his cheek before resting her head on his shoulder. ‘I do not know what I did to deserve you, Ryder Blackmane, but I love you. I understand that the timing of this confession is far from ideal, but I am worried if I do not tell you now, then something else will happen, and I might not get the chance.’

They sat in silence for a minute.

‘Have I made you uncomfortable?’ she asked quietly.

He pressed his lips to her smoky hair. ‘Not at all. I was just trying to remember when I fell in love with you. It was fast, I know that much. Maybe too fast.’

‘Try to remember when,’ she murmured.

He thought for a moment. ‘It might have been the day we arrived and you were atop the wall. You looked straight at me, and something broken in you clicked with something broken in me. I didn’t really understand it at the time.’ He rubbed his cheek against her hair, eyes closing. ‘I should have killed him in the forest the first time he grabbed you. I’m sorry I didn’t.’

‘You are not allowed to look back on that time with anything other than pride.’ She reached for his hand. ‘You are one of the most honourable men I have ever met. That was my mess to clean up, and I am filled with shame at my failure to do it sooner.’

‘Don’t.’ Blackmane’s arm tightened around her. ‘Don’t pretend like you had choices back then. You needed help.’

‘And along you came. My weapon of choice.’ She coughed into her hand, then settled against him again. ‘Ita has been teaching me to use a bow and arrow.’

‘And how’s it going?’

‘She says I have the worst aim she has ever seen.’

Blackmane chuckled. ‘Then you’ll be most improved by the time I’m done with you.’

She looked up at him. ‘I hope you brought your patience with you to Llanelieu. She is not exaggerating.’