Noble Falling by Sara Gaines Read Free Book Online Page A

laughed nervously.
    “You had a choice.” I watched the flames of our campfire devour the last bits of a branch. “Your whole life, it was something that could change depending on what you wanted.”
    “Milady, forgive me, but you are mistaken. There was little choice in my life. I was born a farmer, and would have gladly become that if I had been able. I am only a guard because it pays my family enough not to starve.”
    I felt the annoyance building within me. “And yet you have a woman waiting for you, a woman chosen by you to marry.”
    “Did you truly have no say in your marriage?” The guard at least had the grace to bow his head after his challenge.
    “Ori, I have known Tallak since I was young, which is more fortunate than many women in my position, but I was promised to him as soon as my father’s reputation elevated our family’s name high enough. Of course, when the final arrangements were already being planned, my father asked my opinion, but what choice did I really have? I had to agree, despite having no feelings for him. Despite the fact that—”
    I caught myself just before the words escaped. Faltering slightly, I finally continued.
    “My duty is to make sure my family’s line does not fade into obscurity, something only prevented by marrying Tallak. Had I said no, my family’s already depleting coffers would have most likely been left in the hands of some elderly widowed nobleman wanting my hand only so that he might pass my castle off to his already born son. Who would I be then?
    “What I envy, Ori, is that you will finish with your duty now and return to the woman you love, while I will only be at the start of what is required of me. I wish I could have chosen who I would share those splendors with. I wish I had the freedom found outside of nobility. When I was young, I would sit at my window and wonder what it would be like to ride my horse freely in the woods, without my guards by my side. I used to play pretend that I was a peasant, of all things. Free to do as I wished. Of course, the next day I would be back to playing queen.”
    I laughed, but even I heard the haunted inflection.
    When he looked at me, there was genuine concern in Ori’s gaze. “Do you hate the idea of marrying him so much?”
    “No, there’s a definite thrill to the realization that I will be a queen. Not wanting for anything, the best food in the kingdom, elegant dresses previously only existing in dreams….” I paused, smiling to myself. “Being a queen is something I have dreamed of for so long.”
    Ori smiled at me kindly. “There is always hope you will grow to love him.”
    I tried to return his smile, but knew I had only managed a sad grimace. How could I explain to him that I knew I could not love Tallak? There was something deep within whispering to me of my loneliness upon the throne. I had heard it from the moment I knew of my engagement. Instead of attempting an explanation, I stared at the stars brightening against the night’s sky.
     
     
    I WAS gently pulled from my troubled sleep when raindrops fell upon my face. Clouds blocked the early rays of the sun, almost disguising the fact that it was morning. The rain was not heavy, at least not yet, but the ominous clouds pointed to a storm later. Wrapping the blanket Muerra had given me around my shoulders, I made my way to where Ori was struggling to build our fire once more.
    “Good morning, Your Grace.”
    I said nothing to the guard. I eventually gave up trying to find a dry place to sit and dug into Ori’s bag. Seeing there was still plenty of food from Muerra remaining, I eyed the hard bread with distaste, pulling out a slightly spotted apple instead.
    “The rain may slow us down a little, but we should make it into town around midday.” The guard looked to the sky. “Hopefully before a storm hits.”
    I packed up our belongings, already feeling the rain seep through my clothes to kiss my flesh.
    “I am ready to go if you are. I’d