“It is,” Trynne answered. “It’s a beautiful city.”
“It smells like dead fish,” he bantered.
“So does Edonburick, I hear.”
“Only down on the docks, not up in the cliffs. I miss our chatter, Trynne. So you are training to be a Wizr yourself? Do you know how to whisk yourself away now like your mother does, or did she bring you?”
Trynne felt a little offended. “I came on my own.”
He held up his hand repentantly. “Good, that’s good. So why haven’t you come to Dundrennan to see me? Now that I know you can, I’ll be expecting it.”
“I can’t really just . . . go wherever I want,” Trynne said, glancing over at Captain Staeli.
“Why not?”
“Because my parents trust me, Fallon. My father may not be the head of the Espion anymore, but he may as well be for all they tell him.”
He waved his hand. “That’s an excuse. You don’t because you are afraid.” He pitched his voice lower. “You’ve had that bodyguard with you ever since you were attacked.”
Trynne’s heart was starting to burn with discomfort. She wished Morwenna were not witnessing the conversation.
Leaning forward, his elbow planted on the table, Fallon tapped his lips on his clenched fist. “I’m sure your mother is worried sick about you right now. That’s what parents do. She probably gave you a very short leash for this visit, but you’re nearly a grown woman now, Trynne. Time to leave the nest.” He reached out and snatched her hand. “We are going to sneak away and steal a boat. Right now. Morwenna, would you distract the captain for a few moments?”
Trynne jerked her hand away, her cheeks flushing. “I will not do that, Fallon Llewellyn.”
“Why not?” he challenged. “Because you’re afraid. No one is going to recognize us. No one is going to hurt you. I’d love to show you some of the sights. We’ll be back, get a scolding, and then you can watch me win the Gauntlet before you leave. Morwenna? Help me persuade her.”
Trynne was tempted. The thought of riding in a gondola with Fallon, just the two of them, was enticing. The truth of the matter was that she wasn’t afraid of being away from Captain Staeli. She was afraid of breaking her parents’ trust in her, the oath she’d made never to go anywhere without a guard. What was more, she could almost hear Myrddin’s voice in her head—never swear an oath falsely. Yes, this was about more than a simple afternoon.
“I don’t think she wants to be persuaded,” Morwenna said, reaching out and touching Trynne’s arm. “You’re very impulsive, Fallon. She is not.”
“So you are both against me?” he said defensively, leaning back in his chair. He looked at Trynne with obvious disappointment. “Someday you will need to make your own decisions. You’ll need to stop trying to please everyone.”
Trynne’s cheeks flushed. Fallon didn’t know the conflict that raged in her heart. He was judging her unfairly.
“I think it’s time for me to go,” Trynne said, pushing away from the table.
Fallon shrugged. “If you must.” His eyes burned with repressed anger.
Trynne stood, wanting to shove him backward in his chair and knock him on the floor. He had no idea what she was capable of. He believed that in teaching her to rebel against her parents, he would be helping her gain some freedom. She would have thrilled to spend time with him alone. But it felt wrong.
“I wish you luck in the Gauntlet, Fallon,” she told him, trying to hide the quaver in her voice.
“If you think I need it,” he countered. His brow furrowed with displeasure.
Trynne swallowed and stepped away from the table, her insides writhing with disappointment. It was not how she had hoped things would go between them.
As she walked away, she heard him sigh with anger. Morwenna murmured something back to him. A jolt of jealousy went through Trynne’s heart, but she stifled it. She should not be jealous of the beautiful poisoner. Yes, she was graced with beauty and certain freedoms and gifts. But Trynne would not have wished for her familial disadvantages for all the world. The poisoner had grown up in the shadow of her father at Glosstyr. Her mother spent half of the year at Kingfountain, sometimes more. There was sadness that was a part of Morwenna’s life that Trynne didn’t understand.
“Shall we go, lass?” Captain Staeli asked in a low voice. He glanced over her shoulder at Fallon, his eyes narrowing.
“Yes,” she answered solemnly.