Page 80 of Hollow Court
“Where are they going?” she asked, her tone wavering between concern and curiosity.
“They aren’t running away from you, if that’s what you’re wondering. On market days, they play games,” I said. “You’ll see them again, either playing knucklebones or horseshoes in that field over there.”
I pointed to where they were doing exactly that, and her posture eased ever so slightly. Almost like she had enjoyed the interaction with them. I wasn’t sure why I had taken note of that specifically, but I cataloged it all the same.
A few more children came, and Galina looked visibly relieved at the decided lack of further inappropriate questions. Or at least, overt ones.
She relaxed with each child, going so far as to smooth the hair from the forehead of the last girl who came. Which didn’t give me any feelings of any kind.
Once we were done doling out chocolate, we made our way through the other stalls. Though there was still some suspicion, most of the villagers seemed to have thawed after watching Galina interact with the children.
Perhaps that’s why I was foolish enough to let my guard down.
Or perhaps it was Galina, her calm presence, and the sheer amusement factor of watching her navigate the chaos she was so unaccustomed to.
Either way, my smile was coming a little more naturally by the time the sun began to set on the horizon.
And that’s when the first explosion went off.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Galina
Boom.
I had the irrational thought that the smell reminded me of home, the way it had always accompanied the obsidian plumes that rose up into the sky from the mines in the mountains of Ram.
It was so familiar, in fact, that for a moment, I forgot to be afraid.
Then the screaming started.
Boom.
Davin’s body covered mine, the hard muscles of his chest pressing me into the ground while his solid arms wrapped around me.
Boom.
Closer, this time. My ears rang, drowning out the frantic pounding of my heart, the cries around us…drowning out everything but the pervasive odor of black powder and smoke.
Boom.
The ground trembled, and Davin tightened his grip around me.
Somewhere beyond the smoke, beyond the chaos, I registered his scent of parchment and cloves and spiced bergamot.
I closed my eyes, wondering if that was the last thing I would ever smell.
Then finally, the world was still.
“Lina.” Davin’s voice was frantic in my ear, his fingers prodding along my sides and my head. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” My voice sounded far away to my own ears. “Are you?”
He shook his head, getting to his feet and holding out a hand for me. Black ash rained down around us, but the screams had abated. Davin looked around until his eyes landed on Gallagher and Gwyn.
“Are you—” he began.
“We’re fine,” Gallagher answered, a very anxious Lady Fenella and one of the village children tucked in next to him.