From Darkness Won Read Online Free PDF Page A

claim of Lady Averella’s beauty did not mollify Achan. Lady Jaira was beautiful. On the surface. “May I ask what happened between you?”
    “We… grew apart.”
    “We? Don’t you mean you ?” In all his time spent protecting Gren.
    “No, Your Majesty.” Bran met Achan’s eyes briefly. “It turns out, absence does not always make the heart grow fonder. Sometimes the opposite is true. Averella… She found someone else.”
    Wonderful. So Achan was now betrothed to a lady who loved another. “A lot of that going around.”
    “Yes,” Bran said. “I…”
    Achan waited, but Bran seemed reluctant to say what was on his mind. “You what?”
    Bran swallowed and shuffled his feet on the dirt path. “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I have no understanding with…” He glanced at Achan, then off into the vineyard, cheeks flushed worse than a scandalized maiden. “I made no promise to Madam Hoff. Though I may have unintentionally encouraged her affection, and for that I beg your forgiveness. It was never my motive to woo her.”
    Achan’s jaw stiffened. He glanced at Shung, who stared at the castle as if Achan and Bran didn’t exist. “And now?”
    Bran straightened, full of courage. “Only with your blessing, Your Highness.”
    Achan had not expected Bran to be so courteous. Yet as much as he once wanted to strike him for his carelessness toward Gren’s life and heart, his anger no longer burned. “I’ll give no such blessing until I speak with Gren.”
    Bran’s expression softened. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” They continued along the dirt path as it passed into a vineyard. “What of the lady who traveled with you? I heard she dressed as a man.”
    Achan’s eyes narrowed. “What business is that of yours?” Though even as he said it he saw Bran’s intention. Bran had as much claim to protect Lady Averella’s heart from Achan as Achan had claim to try and protect Gren’s.
    Bran shrugged. “I only point out that sometimes, when two people spend so much time together, it is difficult not to grow attached, despite how inappropriate the dynamics may be. I simply thought you might understand.”
    Achan smiled wryly. Bran was a clever one with his tongue. Achan might appoint him an ambassador to somewhere if he ever had peace in the land. “Point taken.”
    The path cut through the hedge wall that grew around the perimeter of the vineyard. It stretched across a grassy plain toward a group of cottages at the foot of a small hill. The sweet smell of grapes was replaced by that of grass and dust from the path. Asters sprinkled the green landscape in purple and yellow. More bees buzzed from blossom to blossom.
    “Duchess Amal assured me that Lady Averella had no attachments. But you suspect she has a suitor?” Achan had believed every word of Duchess Amal’s letter in which she had accepted Achan’s—or rather Sir Caleb’s—proposal. She had assured him her daughter’s heart was free. He did not relish the idea of marrying anyone who would be pining for another man. It was bad enough he still longed for Sparrow.
    His chest tightened at the thought. Sweet Vrell Sparrow. How he missed her.
    Bran stumbled over a pebble on the path and barely managed to catch his footing. “I-I spoke in haste, Your Majesty, and perhaps out of my own chagrin. I beg you forgive me. I’ve no proof Averella loves another. I suppose my pride clung to such a scenario in hopes that someone had wooed her from me, rather than her simply losing interest.”
    Achan could certainly relate to a woman’s rejection. “Peace, Master Rennan. If you still love the Lady Averella, I’ll reject the alliance this moment.”
    Bran flushed all the way down his neck. “’Tis valiant of you to offer, Your Majesty, but…” For several steps neither spoke. Finally, Bran shook his head. “I do not think I loved Averella as much as I loved the idea of her.” He took a deep breath. “I wish you both every happiness.”
    They had closed half