Croak scoffed. He lengthened his stride to keep up with her. She may be shorter, but her steps were much more purposeful than Croak’s ever were.
When they exited the castle, Terena turned toward the stables. The small boy, Arthur, was running a brush over the only part of Cerberus he could reach. Croak’s lips widened in a slow smile.
He shot Terena a look. “Did you learn anything from the fabulous Commander Antonius?”
Terena slowed as she neared Nyx. She tossed a couple of coins at the older boy that brought her mare forth. She grabbed the reins and whispered something to her horse.
Croak planted his hands on his hips. “You ignoring me, now? Is that what you’re doing? Fine.”
“What?”
Croak crossed his arms. “What.”
She blinked at him.
He sighed. “Commander Daris Antonius? That tall drink of water you were going to spy on while I made a fool of myself? Not to mention my soiled clothes. The only clean ones left after Agraboda. Or was my performance for naught?”
Terena inhaled, her head rising in understanding. “Oh. Not much. Just… strange.”
“Explain.”
She put her face close to Nyx and nuzzled her nose. Croak rolled his eyes and waited.
“Ren.”
She looked at him over her shoulder. “He knew me,” she said, more to herself than to him. “He said it was because of my reputation. I don’t know if I believe that. And get this: he didn’t introduce himself. At all.”
“Well,” he scoffed and lifted a hand at her, “heisDaris Antonius.You’d be hard pressed to find anyone on the continent that wouldn’t know him. Except you, apparently.”
She turned to Croak fully, her brow furrowed. “When I asked him what they were doing meeting with the duke, he shut me down. Quickly.”
“Interesting.”
Terena shrugged and moved to mount Nyx, but then turned, leaning forward.
“Hey,” she said, her voice low. Croak sauntered closer.
“Have you heard anyone mention anything about a war?”
Croak’s brow shot up. “A war? No.”
Terena frowned. “I overheard something about a war. Antonius was saying something about not being able to come back to Heylisia until after the war.”
Croak made an obvious show of looking around at the peaceful castle yard. “I mean, Solon is always provoking Lakonia, but even he wouldn’t go against Altos andthatguy. Did he say anything about who was at war?”
“No. I only heard bits and pieces. Obviously, none of it made sense.”
“And my performance?”
“Your finest yet,” she assured him with a quick grin.
Croak tried not to look as pleased as he felt. They made their way through the yard and out of the gate into the city.
An hour later, they were outside the city’s eastern gate and Croak pulled up alongside Nyx.
“What were you pretending about, by the way? What was I supposed to go along with?”
Terena flashed him a wolfish smile. “You didn’t notice the shroud?”
