Nikella didn’t acknowledge us as Kiera quickly wrote a letter with the quill and paper the officer gave her.
It reminded me of the days when it’d been just me and Nikella wandering the world. Occasionally, she’d have to pretend I wasn’t her ward, to stave off the inevitable questions.
At first, it’d bothered me. She’d made it clear since I was a child that she wasn’t my mother and never would be, but I cared for her like a son might.
Eventually, I realized her protection and guidance were her way of loving me, even if she never said the words aloud.
Sometimes I wondered if she was as scared to love as I was, given how cut off from it we’d been.
Kiera finished her letter and spoke quietly to the courier, likely telling him where to send it. She passed him a few more coppers than necessary. Probably for discretion. The young man nodded and took the letter and the coins.
We headed for the signpost, under which a very dirty and tired-looking Maz and Ruru waited for us. Their horses both wore faded bridles and saddles, with a few more clumped at their feet.
“No coins,” Maz said wearily, all lightness scrubbed from his tone. “Fed nearly a hundred livestock in exchange for gear.”
“Pretty sure I’ve swam in shit by now,” Ruru said glumly.
I tossed him a silver. “You and Maz go get yourself some food and drink at the tavern while we wait for Nikella. Are those for us?” I pointed at the extra saddles.
Maz nodded. “Two saddles, one bridle. We’ll have to buy the rest.”
We split off again. I bartered a fair price for another saddle and two more bridles while Kiera bought some food, a few water canteens and bedrolls, and bags to put everything in.
The journey would be lean, but we’d have to make do. Lingering any longer would put us behind schedule. Or allow Korvin to catch up. Foreboding clouded my thoughts.
Would he track us? Or the Dagriel group? I was surprised we hadn’t seen any sign of him all night. Surely he hadn’t given up. I hated an unpredictable enemy. He’d already sneaked up on me once. It couldn’t happen again.
The sun had slid west by the time we all met back under the signpost. Then we were off again. After we retrieved our weapons, I led us through the woods, riding toward the dying sun as I searched for a safe place to rest.
Eventually, I spotted a shallow cave, and we bedded down for a few hours, taking watches.
Then we continued to ride. And ride. Day and night. Stopping only to water and feed the horses, catch a few winks, and allow Kiera and Ruru to train with Nikella. Maz and I dueled off to the side like we were back at Yargoth.
To break the monotony of the ride, we discussed our plans for Calimber. What followed was essentially a four-day argument over each person’s role in our mission.
Kiera was right when she said the plan had to go perfectly. And it put the people I loved most in danger. No matter how many times I tried to take the most perilous tasks, they shouted me down. They wanted to share the risk equally, and I had to accept that.
If I could destroy the mine single-handedly, I would.
If I could sneak into Aquinon and slit Renwell’s throat while he slept, I would.
Instead, I was addingHenryto our plans. I’d told Nikella about the letter Kiera sent, and she immediately agreed it was a good idea.
Of course she did.
Kiera nudged her horse alongside Wicked as we rode together. “Brooding about the plan again, dear husband?”
Maz snorted behind us. Kiera had told everyone what’d happened atBeards & Barley,and Maz and Ruru seemed to think it was hilarious. I wasn’t sure Nikella had even been listening. She kept glancing at the woods to the east. Behind us.
But Kiera’s teasing title for me still made my stomach dip.
“No,” I said sharply. “I just wish you’d let me be the one to?—”
“Did you know my mother used to ask me to come with her to the Temple?” Kiera cut over my protest.
The unforeseen question made my mouth snap shut.What did this have to do with the mine?
I shook my head.
