“What?”
“Ignorance and apathy?”
“What in Perpetuum’s name gives you that idea?”
Leal shrugged. “Don’t know and don’t care.”
Not far enough to keep from overhearing, I felt Nori roll her eyes.
“Stop fucking around, Leal, and pay attention,” Kye snapped. “We’re almost to the ridge where we want Rivea to be. Leihani’s group is going to split and nestle in tight up there, there, and there. We want Rivea to think we’re going around the long way to flank them from behind so that they’ll meet us in the middle. If they’re smart, they’ll have seen us break from the ranks and head this way, and they’ll send scouts to see what we’re up to. We have to kill the scouts to provide cover for Nori and the others on their way up. Calder is on our heels making it look as though we’re moving position. Stop fucking around and you can be back to eating peanuts tonight.”
“Where do you want us?” Dimas asked. Behind him, Leal and Aren covertly aimed their middle fingers at each other.
Kye glared across the mountain. “Over the canyon on their side. Leave your horses here and hide in the trees. Take out anyone you find.”
With a quiet grunt, Dimas dismounted, sweeping through the ash wood on foot like a shadow. Aren and Leal followed, Fox trotting behind them, and Kye watched them vanish through snow and branch, trepidation in his eyes.
Where are you going to be?I asked him.
Up the mountain with you. It’s a long hike, we should get moving. And probably should leave Kolibri here.
I coasted out of my own saddle, unbuckling Kolibri’s bridle to offer her mouth some relief and replacing it with her lead. She tossed her head at the sight of it, knowing it meant I planned to leave her for a while. “I’ll be back,” I said, smoothing the velvet fur of her cheek. “Don’t let anyone come near you. And if they do, bite them.”
She blew a raspberry.
In the branches of the nearest tree, a raven landed, aiming a beady eye at me. I paused, the hairs at the back of my neck raising.
Might be a flower, might be a flame.
Would Thaan trigger myspeculaewhen not in his usual form? He'd never done so when he'd posed as Cain, but he'd always worn spectacles.
The raven stared, unmoving. My teeth clenched. I turned away, ignoring it.
Selena and I took the lead up the mountainside. Wind howled in my ears, almost too loud for me to stand. We didn’t have a lot of time to play it safe, but we couldn’t afford mistakes either, and though my experience in handling snow remained minimal, it was still more than any of the other Naiads, most of whom had never before left Leihaniian waters.
Where did everyone find their boots?I asked Nori. She’d stayed behind with Kye, ensuring the Naiads all made their way up safely.They look like sailor’s boots.
They are,she said back.We have a graveyard of sailor’s things. Boots, clothes, weapons, ships.
I sidestepped around a hidden patch of ice I sensed under the drift, knowing it would take more time than I could spare to melt it.No one here will attack any of these men.
Noritskedin my head.No, My Queen. Not here.
Sunlight peered through the clouds above, and a drop of sweat slithered from my hairline and into my brow. The heavy furs and leather Kye had strapped to me weighed me down, slowing the speed of my scale, and I had half a mind to strip them off.
Thank you for being here,Kye said. Halfway up, I turned to look back at him and realized he hadn’t spoken to me. He stood beside Nori, watching our ascent with one long leg propped onto a fallen log, arms crossed, the hilt of his sword just visible over his shoulder.
Nori shifted slightly away from him, raising her chin, mouth moving as she answered,We did not come for you.
I know. But I’m grateful either way.
Turning back around, I focused on melting just enough to allow the Naiads passage up the slope without dissolving so much that our trail took shape under the scrutiny of distant eyes. But I listened intently in my head, the wind howling outside my thoughts, unsure if either of them realized that through the bond I shared with them both, I could hear their conversation.
I raised her on the island,Nori said.She’s as good as my child. I would never have allowed her to come endanger herself without our protection. Especially not for you.
Kye exhaled.We have something in common, then. I didn’t want her here either.
And yet, here she is. Driven away from her home and role as queen by some young, feckless man.
