Lina took the bottle from Bri again and drained the last drops, setting it on the ground beside her with a clink. She leaned back against the beam, watching Bri, waiting for her to speak. The longer the silence stretched on, the more Bri felt compelled to do so, knowing Lina would wait all night to hear her story if she asked.

“We were in the Battle of Falhampton with the rest of Hale’s army,” Bri said, shaking her head. “I begged him to include her. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her behind in the capital. It was purely selfish. She would have been safer guarding the castle with the other highborn soldiers, not mucking through the border towns fighting a pointless battle with the King’s illegitimate son.”

Lina blinked slowly, her cheeks dimpling. “I bet she was more than eager to join you.”

“Yes.” Bri grinned. “She was glorious, fearless, headstrong. . . . We both were. We’d sneak off into the forests at night to be together. Our relationship was the worst kept secret in Falhampton.”

Lina chuckled. “First love.”

Bri’s countenance darkened. “One night we snuck off west of the camp. We fell asleep under the stars. . . .” Her voice thickened. “We were ambushed in the night and I was knocked out.” She parted her auburn hair, revealing a thin scar that ran from her hairline down to her ear. “When I came to . . .” She clenched and unclenched her fists, unable to steady herself. “Her throat was slit.”

Bri looked up to find a tear trailing down Lina’s cheek as if she already knew what Bri was about to say. Lina absorbed the story, pulling the poison from Bri’s soul.

“I never knew for certain why they didn’t kill me too,” Bri whispered. “Though I suspect they recognized me. I was still a powerful player in their prophecies. Perhaps Norwood and Vostemur ordered their soldiers not to kill me, in case I became their future ally.”

“That’s awful,” Lina breathed.

“I kept her amber dagger and buried her there, under that tree.” Bri took a long breath. “Hale reported her death as part of the casualties in the melee. Her family never knew it was because we’d left the camp in the middle of the night. They never knew she was special to me at all.” She rubbed her hand down the side of her face. “Nights have been hard ever since.”

“I can see why that dagger was so important to you,” Lina said. “I’m sorry it’s gone.”

“I thought losing that dagger would break me.” Bri struggled to control her voice. “I thought letting go of her would shatter me into a million pieces.”

Lina cocked her head. “Why are you mad?”

“Because I didn’t feel it.” Bri clenched her jaw. “It was the last part of her and I let it go and it didn’t hurt.”