In the kingdom of Aeziris, a rebellion is rising, but its reins are not in the hands of its citizens. With a fine string entwining her heart with that of its chieftain, Esméralda must walk a knife-edge while navigating her way through a palace of ma...
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E s m é r a l d a A l b y
Cold breeze swayed my auburn hair to a dance of its own, twisting and flying to a melody created by the ripples in the lake and the hum of the leaves. Like a pioneer artist, water painted the setting sun upon itself, capturing every stroke crimson and purple the sky had to offer. It looked as though if one sun lowered below the horizon, the other would rise to kiss its creator until a blanket of stars would hide the two lovers in the cocoon of its darkness.
"Isn't it beautiful?" I breathed with a slight hitch, circling my uninjured leg in the cold water.
"It makes me think how can one carry such beauty," Eirik tamed a strand of my hair behind my ear, causing me to blush.
"You aren't even looking at the sunset."
"That's the whole point, my Esmé."
If my cheeks weren't already competing the blushing sky, they held a clear win now.
He had a way with his words like he had with his dagger. He had a way with daggers unlike anyone I'd ever seen, unlike common people like us do.
"Eirik?"
"Mhm?"
"How are you so skillful with daggers?" I questioned what was on my mind since the market incident.
"Daggers are just my thing," he shrugged. Before I could blink, I had a ringed hilt of a shiny dagger pressed against my nose. I choked on my words as he enjoyed at my cost. "Especially ring daggers."
I hit his bicep, grimacing as my own palm stung. "You... caveman! Do you always carry a dagger with you?"
"No," he laughed like a melody, touching my nose with his finger. I almost sighed until he spoke again. "I always carry three."
"Why in the holy hell would you—?"
"I must be equipped enough to protect myself."
"Yeah, you've a thing about scaring guards. Gotta be ready for attacks." Both of us chuckled at my joke, dabbling our feet in the cool water.
"Arrows are my thing," I admitted excitedly. "I think I'm even good at it. I shoot within a two-inch diameter of my aim from about thirty to forty yards. Isn't that cool?"
I prided myself on my archery as it was something I'd taught myself and it was something that differed me from the other women.
"I'm quite surprised, if I'm to be honest," Eirik looked the part. "Women that have been around me pretend to be too delicate to even think about holding a weapon, if I'm to leave Genevieve."
"You'll be surprised even then when I'd leave you in my dust with my skills." I joked, dramatically throwing my braid over my shoulder.
