Bend Her novel · Chapter 24 of 24

Chapter 24: Bend Her

"Get up," I said.

"No."

"Ansel, the whole garrison is watching."

"Let them."

He lifted his head, and his amber eyes were wet, and he did not look away from me.

"For twelve years I have taken orders from a king, a chancellor and a seal," he said.

"I know."

"I was told whom to teach and whom to touch. I would like to choose one thing for myself."

"Choose it."

"You. If you will have a man with horns and a bad temper."

"And an early bedtime," said Bess, behind me, loudly.

I laughed so hard that I had to hold the parapet.

"Yes," I said. "Get up. Yes."

He rose, and the garrison cheered.

He kissed me in front of all of them, with the snow still blowing off the rooftops.

We were married at Midwinter, in the Hollow.

The gate stood open.

The bridge was swept clean, and Bess had hung it with red ribbon from end to end.

She walked me across it herself.

"Don't cry," she said, in a very wobbly voice.

"You're crying."

"I'm allowed. I've worked for your family eleven years, and nobody has ever once given me a day off."

"Bess."

"I'm having a cake at this wedding, and a seat," she said. "Both."

"You'll have both."

At the far end of the bridge, a man waited on foot.

He had no crown, no cloak and no guard.

My brother.

He wore a plain brown coat, and he had walked all the way from Highcastle.

"Lin," he said.

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