A Guardian's Fate (Book #2)

Chapter Fifty-Eight

"Somethin' is different 'bout you," said Leanne, gaining Eldon's attention. "And I don't just mean that haircut that gave you."

He'd been lost in his thoughts. It was so easy to when they were just riding along the town wall on their horses.

Snow snorted, and Eldon smiled down at her. He ruffled his hair with his hand, grateful Aaron hadn't gone too short. Just trimmed enough to not get into his eyes so easily.

"Whataya mean?" he then asked Leanne.

"I dunno. Ever since you all got back, there's been a shift. I'm not sayin' it's bad, though. You just..." Leanne hummed and tapped her chin with her finger. "Happier. Yeah, that's it." Then a funny smile formed. "You sure nothin' else happened over there?"

"I did tell ya 'bout the dragon, didn't I? That's an experience that'll change ya."

She laughed and shook her head. "Whatever you say. I do wonder where that thing went. Y'all never saw it after that, huh?"

"No." Eldon faced forward.

"Um, there's a reason I asked to come out here this morning."

"Hmm?" he looked at her again. If it hadn't been for her smile, he would've worried.

"I'm plannin' to visit everyone back home. Not exactly sure when yet. I've already written my pa and I also told Ivy. She wants me to promise to be 'round for her birthday. Maybe I'll wait 'til after. I guess I'm just lettin' you know in case you wanna go with me." She chuckled, though. "Yer gonna be busy, after all. So, it's just a heads up."

Eldon relaxed his shoulders. Part of him felt ashamed to admit that he hadn't been thinking much about Ilsen lately. With so many preparations for his ceremony, he'd been distracted. And the captain needed everything to be perfect. At first, Eldon didn't understand why since he was the who would be knighted. Then he thought harder about it and realized the reason. The Captain of the Guard was the face of the royal army. The leader. Every soldier not only represented Aristol and him. But mostly, he was just a perfectionist.

"It's a'right if you don't wanna," Leanne spoke again. "I won't take offense."

"No," said Eldon. "I'll go, 'cause of course I wanna go." As weird as it still was to say Starset felt like home to him now, he couldn't forget where he came from. And he really wanted to see how much Olivia had grown since he left. Then he felt a prick beneath his skin, and he stopped Snow entirely.

Leanne followed suit with Buttercup.

He rubbed his neck, turning his head. "Does anyone ask 'bout me?"

"My pa's always askin' so he can pass it on to Mary," she explained. "I'm sure Davidson also wants to know. He pretends to be such a hard ass, though."

"He does that when he's hurtin' the most."

Leanne nodded. "You weren't their son by blood, but you were their first kid. Yer still family. Always. And if yer worried that they'll be thinkin' differently 'bout you now, don't. I'm sure they'll be treatin' you just the same."

Eldon almost smiled. She had read his mind. It amazed him how she did that sometimes.

"Time to head back in?" she then asked.

He took a deep breath. "I do gotta get ready soon."

"Let's get goin' then." Leanne turned Buttercup around and took the lead, humming to herself.

Eldon eyed her over his shoulder for a moment. Then he really smiled. He wasn't the only one who'd changed. Leanne seemed a lot less stiff here, free of worries, and free to explore herself as a person. She fit right in with the other squires and trainees, specifically Annaliese and Booker. Eldon saw the three of them always training together and exchanging advice.