Out of the Shadow at Last novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: Until I've Won

They found Father's tracks at the ford by dark.

They went down into the Greywater and did not come out on the other side.

Ivar read the mud for an hour with Bram holding the lantern, and then he came back up the bank, shook his head, and said nothing.

Anders stood a long time at the water.

He didn't ask me to forgive anything, and I didn't offer.

I walked back to the east wing between Ivar and Posy, and I don't remember the stairs.

Posy kissed my cheek at the door of the room next to mine.

"I'll sit with Mother," she said. "She won't speak to anyone else."

"Be careful what she tells you."

"I know," said Posy, and for the first time in her life, I believed that she did.

Ivar shut the door behind me.

The hip bath in front of the hearth was full, and steaming.

He had arranged it before he went down to the ford.

I looked at it, and at him, and something in my chest turned over.

"You ran a bath," I said.

"You held a dome over my hold for an hour. It seemed the least I could do."

"Ivar."

"Get in. I'll leave."

"Don't you dare."

He stopped with his hand on the latch.

I stood in the middle of the floor and unfastened my dress, slowly, one tie at a time.

It was stiff with chalk and sweat and smoke.

I let it drop, and he watched.

"Nothing until I've won," I said.

His eyes closed.

"Linnet."

"That was your word. Your father's name. Sponsor only."

"You were the one who set those terms."

"I know. I'm reminding you."

He opened his eyes, and they were dark.

"You are going to make me say it."

"Say it."

"You won this afternoon," Ivar said. "You stood on my wall with the Court at the gate, and you won."

"The Fair isn't finished."

"I don't give a damn about the Fair."

He crossed the room in three steps and put his hands on my waist.

"I'm not waiting for a trophy to tell me what I already know," he said, low. "I want you. I wanted you in the stable on the first night. I'm done pretending I can sit across a table and not."

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