Celeste
Josh and I were sitting on the balcony. It had been five days since Darien left and the waiting had become a physical weight I wore on my chest.
We had spent the time the only way we knew how: badly. We played with the village children. We went cow tipping after dark and nearly got caught by a farmer with a lantern. We sparred every morning and I was getting measurably better. Josh was patient with me in a way that surprised us both.
“Riders approaching!” the lookout called.
We both jumped up.
Two horses. Coming fast across the field. I grabbed the balcony rail and squinted against the late sun.
Josh and I ran through the castle and out through the front gates to meet them.
Darien’s horse pulled up hard in the yard. He threw himself off the saddle and I dove into his arms.
