"I prefer you, whatever type you are," he quickly said. "I genuinely do, Kestra. Now that we've met, I would have chosen you, even if you had not been chosen for me."
How nice for him.
"And that's also the reason why I cannot marry you." His tone changed. Nervously, he looked around and I realized he had deliberately chosen this quiet path. Perhaps he wasn't the cleverest person, but he wasn't stupid either. "More importantly, Kestra, you cannot marry me."
I leaned back, playing innocent yet again. "What are you talking about?"
"There are plans for you after we're married, dark plans of Lord Endrick's doing and even your father."
"He's not my father, not anymore."
"I understand, in ways I wish I didn't. I've come to beg you to leave Woodcourt tonight, in secret. Get as far from Antora as you can." He swallowed hard, forcing his words out. "As far away from me as you can. For your own safety, you must go. I'm so deeply sorry."
I studied his face, for the first time seeing him as an actual person. Simon had been right about him, but for the wrong reasons. There was more to Basil than a first meeting suggested. He had honor and a fair amount of courage.
I asked, "If I leave, what happens to you, to Reddengrad?"
His eyes darted away, which was probably my answer. "We have some time, I think. I will play the role of the abandoned groom, an innocent victim of your deception. Lord Endrick cannot punish me for that."
"You don't know Lord Endrick."
Basil shrugged. "I'll leave here immediately afterward, claiming a broken heart and embarrassment to my country. Then I'll hurry back home and warn my people of war. We'll prepare for it as best as we can until Lord Endrick invades."
"Why are you doing this for me?"
The corner of his mouth lifted. "Because there is a small chance of Reddengrad winning that war. If we do, I'm going to find you again, and ask you to consider marrying me out of choice, not because it's been forced upon you."
I shook my head. "You don't know me, Basil."
"I'll always hope for a day when I can know you better, and you can know me. But for now, I've left a horse in the copse of birch trees outside the gates of Woodcourt. Get to that horse tonight and leave as fast
as it will carry you away. Then one day, perhaps you'll consider a future with me. After what I've had to agree to, that's all I dare ask of you."
I smiled at him. "Thank you, Basil."
He lifted my hand in his, kissed my fingers, and then stepped away as if an invisible force had pushed him back.
"Let me take you back to your protector," he said. "Night is soon approaching. You have much to do before dawn."
Yes, I did. More than he could possibly know.
For most of the walk back to my room, Simon was so angry he was unable to speak. He did manage to spit out a few semi-coherent words about how he was my protector, but then I replied he was only pretending in that role until we escaped Woodcourt, and after that I was on my own. He didn't like that, but he had no response to it either.
Or, at least, not until we were on the landing of the stairs near my room. We stopped there, where he used his body to back me into the corner. "You really won't tell me what happened when you two were alone?"
"I don't see how it's your business. It has nothing to do with our agreement."
His eyes flashed, but his voice remained calm. "Are we friends, Kestra? Are we at least that much?"
"Are we?" I countered. "If it came down to saving me tonight, or finding the Olden Blade, which would you choose?"
"I could ask you a similar question. You need the Olden Blade to save Darrow. Would you sacrifice me to get it?"
"That's not the same thing!" I said. "You're asking me to choose between the lives of two people I care about!"
Despite the seriousness of our argument, a mischievous grin escaped him. "So you do care about me?"
"Stop it. This isn't a game."