Ciaran's POV:

I wake up with a throbbing headache and my shoulder is killing me. Moving slow, I drag my shirt off and look at my disgusting, bruised shoulder. The pain isn't the words I've experienced, but it still hurts so bad.

There is a knock at the door, and I bite my tongue to keep back my insults, because I have a feeling it is Rowan at the door. He has already knocked on the door a couple of times and I cursed him out, telling him to come back if he plans on executing me.

Huh, maybe he has decided to do so.

Maybe he spoke with Soto and the king decided to have me killed.

"Ciaran? Will you open the door?"

Wait, it actually is the king!

I rush to the door and pull it open, because even if I'm about to be killed, I will die being known as a decent and respectful person.

"Sorry, I thought you were Rowan," I say, moving aside so the king can enter the room. "Are you here to kill me? If you are, can we please get it over with before I change my mind and try to run?"

Soto seems shocked. "Gods, no! Why would I kill you?"

"Well, Rowan seems convinced I'm a traitor and that I want to infiltrate Arlian, so I'm having a few trusting issues when it comes to you and him at the moment."

"He told me what happened," Soto says, walking over to the desk. "May I sit?"

I give a small nod and sit down on the bed.

"Your arm needs to be seen by a doctor again for a healing salve," he tells me, looking at the horrible bruising.

My face heats up now that I realize that I am still very shirtless and all of the injuries from yesterday are very obvious. I give a small hum of agreement because I do not like him asking about my ugly injury.

"I will later," I promise him, because I know how much he cares about his son, and I feel like some of that care extends to me.

Soto hums. "Rowan has been trying to get me to convince you to let him in here."

I purse my lips, because I still do not want to see Rowan.

"Don't worry, I am not trying to push you to do that. He needs to earn forgiveness, and I believe you. I was shocked when Vayl attacked us, but no one had ever seen the king, queen, or prince before so we thought there was a sudden change in peace and we did not dwell, as our focus was to defeat our enemies. We did not know where the prince went, but my biggest fear was that he, well, you, were in your palace somewhere, biding your time until you could rekindle the war."

"Well, I am not. Rowan refused to listen to me. He kept yelling at me and demanding that I tell him about my plan to infiltrate Arlian, but I quite obviously have no intent of doing so."

Soto sighs. "I know, Ciaran. I cannot make excuses for him, because he never should have yelled at you like that. I am so angry with that boy right now," he says, and I can see how livid he is.

At least someone is on my side.

"Where is he now?" I ask, not because I wish to see him, but because I wish to avoid him when I go to see the doctor.

Soto notices this. "I shall escort you to the doctor so you do not have to interact with him."

I follow the king down the hall and toward the hospital wing, and we do not, to my pleasure, run into Rowan. That is, until we enter the doctor's healing room and find Rowan sitting down on the bench in the office.

"Leave, Rowan," Soto orders. "Unless you have an injury, you are not needed here."

Rowan looks pleadingly at me, but I break our eye contact and do not look at him.

The doctor who has treated me walks in, sighing as he sees my arm. "Still bothering you, I see," he says, having me sit down. "I'll put a salve on your arm and we will re-bandage your arm. Does that sound alright?"

"Yes." I sit down on the other bench in the room, away from Rowan, and while I don't look at him, I can feel his eyes on me. "Can he leave?"

"Rowan, leave," Soto says, and he approaches his son, but he doesn't lay a hand on him, and a few seconds later, Rowan leaves with a deep sigh.

My parents were good people, but their attitude was hit first, apologize later. It is refreshing to see that Soto is a great father and king, as he does not harm his son to get him to listen. Even if I am angry with Rowan, I would want to cry if I saw Soto hit him.

"How bad does it hurt?" the doctor asks, slowly moving my arm and making me wince.

"Bad," I gasp, because it hurts very bad. "The bruise hurts so bad."

The doctor hums as he rubs a thick paste on my arm. "There is a lot of bruising but it's not as swollen as it would be if there was a broken bone, so it is most likely only deep tissues bruising. It will take a while to heal, but the worst of it should be gone with it the next week," he explains, undoing the bandages where my sword nicked me. "This is healing very well. I will reapply another bandage after I've cleaned it."

Soto stays at the door, and I am sure he is just trying to be sure that Rowan doesn't shove his way in.

The doctor also checks the scabs on my legs and all over my body. "You are good to go, young man," he says, patting my uninjured shoulder and handing me a small bottle. "Use this if the pain gets unbearable, understood?"

"Thank you," I say, getting up and leaving the room.

Rowan is standing in the hall. "Ciaran-"

I turn away from him, not allowing him a chance to speak with me, and I catch the smile on Soto's face.

"Ciaran, the market is about a five minute walk, you have seen it I am sure as you've ridden the horses out to wherever you go. If you are feeling more comfortable around the people and would like to go into town, here is a bit of money," Soto says, tossing me a bag of coins. "Go clear your mind. I am sure you will enjoy yourself."

I thank him, taking a bit of time to dress myself before I walk down into town. Many times over the past few weeks, I have passed this beautiful little market with fruits and items in the little pop up tents. I have never been, because I am anxious around people I do not know, but I have relaxed a bit and I know no one here will harm me.

As I wrap my coat around me, I see little clouds of white puff out as I breathe in the cold air. It is going to snow soon, I know it. If not tonight, then tomorrow.

As I reach downtown, I find the little tents filled with people and even though it is terribly cold, everyone seems to be here, laughing and conversing.

I shiver as I walk around and try to find something to warm me up, but I am so nervous when it comes to speaking with people.

"Hello," someone says, and I turn to see a young man, not too much older than I, standing under one of the tents. "I was afraid that if I didn't get you to move you would turn into an icicle!"

I feel a smile pull at my lips as I take a step toward him. "It is not my fault that the gods decided to freeze the world over," I tell him, as I stand closer to the fire over a large pot of some kind of amber liquid.

"Would you like some cider?" the man asks me, already ladling me a glass. "To prevent the potential becoming an icicle?"

I accept it, reaching for the money that Soto gave me, but he shakes his head.

"Do not worry, it is free. I make it from the apples that I harvest as a treat for everyone who lives here, so do not worry about payment," he says with a smile, handing me the copper mug that he is allowing me to borrow. "I am Uriel. What is your name?"

"Ciaran," I introduce myself, shaking his hand with my unused hand.

Uriel looks me up and down. "You are new here, aren't you?" he asks. "I do not recognize you."

"Yes, Rowan brought me here," I tell him, taking a sip of the hot cider and sighing in relief when it warms my whole body.

"Ah, that is fantastic! He is a good person and will make a good king," Uriel says, and he is complete awe of Rowan. "Patrick and Jameson said that Rowan fancies the new person in the kingdom... is that you?"

I huff. "I do not care," I mutter. "He upset me and I do not wish to deal with speaking about him right now."

Uriel laughs at me, patting my shoulder and making me wince because it is of course the injured one.

"Ow," I mumble.

"Did I do something?" Uriel asks. "Are you alright?"

I nod, smiling at his concern. "I am going to be fine. I fell out of a tree running from a psychopath and injured my shoulder."

Uriel laughs until he realizes I am serious. "Oh, gods, that was not a joke?"

"No, unfortunately," I say, sipping more of the cider. "But do not worry about it. I am fine, everyone involved is fine, but I just needed to escape from Rowan for a while because he... was not pleased with me last night."

"Well, if you would like to talk about it, I will listen." Uriel pats my other shoulder as he serves someone else a glass of cider, and this person brought their own cup. I assume most people do, but Uriel recognized that I was not a person who has lived here for long and that must have been why he offered me one.

"I appreciate that," I say, and I accept when Uriel invites me to sit down and help pour cider as he tells me about his family and his jobs in town.

He is one of nine children, the fourth child in the lineup. All of his older siblings have moved away from Arlian, but he enjoys working in town and is a chef in the palace during the summer and spring, so he can spend the winter and autumn seasons traveling and visiting the villages where his siblings have moved.

As we converse, a familiar set of feet appear in front of us and I see Rowan, approaching with a mug.

"I think I will serve him," Uriel says when he sees the bitter expression on my face. "Or I fear you will poison him."

I scoff. "I am sure he agrees," I say, not meeting Rowan's eyes.

"That isn't true!" Rowan exclaims, and I finally make eye contact with him. "I do not think you will poison me?"

"Yes, I am rather kind for a traitor, aren't I?"

Rowan looks more hurt than I feel, which is humorous, considering the circumstances.

"I don't know how to apologize when you won't listen."

I raise my eyebrows. "Funny how that works, isn't it?"

"Ciaran, please tell me how to make it up to you," he begs, and he looks so sad that I feel sad, but I do not want to forgive him easily because he hurt me and was unwilling to listen to me.

If he wants my forgiveness, and if he really cares about me, he will work for it. Or, at least, I hope he will, because my heart still begs me to give myself to him.

"Ciaran, please," he pleads again, and Uriel nudges my side.

"I am single, but I can tell that this is a man infatuated. I know you may be upset, but he adores you," Uriel tells me, and I know he is right.

I take a deep breath and stand up. "Apologize then," I tell him, crossing my arms.

Rowan's eyes brighten. "Come with me. You deserve more than a simple apology."

Uriel nudges me again and whispers in my ear. "Go get your prince."