Silene moves on to watch Fionn and Thorne open their gifts from her. An extremely well-made dagger for Fionn with thayars carved into the hilt, and a pair of silk lounge pants for Thorne. I catch myself analyzing her gift for Thorne, wondering if it’s the gift of a lover or just a friend, before I scold myself for caring. It doesn’t matter what his betrothed got him. Focus on helping your people.

I don’t get to watch Silene open her gift from Thorne, because Fionn hands me a small package. I’m surprised. I assumed only Silene would give me a gift. The box reveals a set of small and very sharp metal pins.

“These are popular in Velmara with female metal channelers, and I found a blacksmith here who would make them for me. You pin them into your sleeve, so that you always have a weapon on you. With enough force, these sharp little things can do serious damage to an enemy. You need that protection on you at all times, queenie.” His smile is mischievous, revealing a side to him I’ve never seen. And the nickname—it hints at an acceptance of me by the warrior that I didn’t know I desired.

Overwhelmed by a second thoughtful gift, I stifle the emotion surging through me. “That’s so kind, Fionn. I’ll wear them every day,” I promise, and he beams.

All three of them have considered me in every aspect of their plans for this day. It makes me uncomfortable while also lighting up something inside of me I thought I buried long ago. The more time we spend together, the more open I am with them, and that’s dangerous, for them and for me. Despite the casual way Thorne invited me here today, I sense the significance of spending this day together. If I let it, today will solidify our alliance—our budding friendship. Is that what I want? Do I actually care for these Velmarans, or am I simply feeling vulnerable without Nemesia? Before I can even consider the question fully, I know the answer, and that scares me.

Determined to ignore these feelings, I reach for my bag, pulling out the lump of ore I’d nabbed for Fionn before leaving my room, and hand the hunk of metal to him. He looks at it a few moments, brows furrowed, before thanking me politely. I laugh.

“You don’t even know what it is.”

“It’s, uh, a rock. It’s a great gift,” he says sheepishly, and I burst out laughing.