Adrian opened a drawer and took out an old nautical compass.
Its brass case was worn smooth with age, and my name was engraved on the back.
"Seven years ago, you left this with me and told me to follow the North Star back to Frost Ridge," he said. "Everyone else wanted something from me. My troops, my land, my secrets. You were the only person who gave me your last horse and every bit of medicine you had, then walked with the caravan for three days."
He ran his thumb over the engraving.
"After that, I came back to the capital every year just to see you. I watched you learn bookkeeping at the bank. I was there when you broke your wrist at the riding grounds. I watched you turn down three marriage proposals."
His voice softened. "Then you got engaged to Julian, and I thought I'd lost my
