if there was one lesson ridoc would take away from his time at bagsiath, it would be that falling for the rider you’ve known since the parapet was an utterly foolish idea.

he sat in class next to you, tapping his pen on the wooden desk as some professor droned on and on about geography and wind paths. if he hadn’t been seated next to the object of his interest, he would have died of boredom.

since the moment he had helped you up on the parapet after you had almost slipped and plummeted to your death, the two of you had been inseparable. whether it was lessons, practicing the gauntlet, or even the threshing, he had been by your side.

perhaps that was why he convinced himself it was normal to think of you even when you were gone. it’s what friends feel, he would justify every time his heart leapt at the touch of your hand. surely other friends are this close, he reasoned when he felt nearly giddy for making you laugh.

yeah. friends.

he glanced at you sidelong, studying your profile, his gaze lingering on your lips until you turned and shot him a look. he merely flashed you a teasing smile before he turned back ahead. just friends, he reminded himself.