I deserved that. Of course, a short affair with me wasn’t worth being torn away from the parents and sisters I knew he had in Aquinon. Still, I believed he was a decent man, especially if Henry deemed him honorable enough for this treasonous mission.
“How did you find us?” Aiden asked sharply.
“We passed through the fort,” Henry said. “I figured you hadn’t crossed the river, so I told them I would take a night patrol and came north.”
“Excellent,” Aiden said brusquely. “Follow me. We don’t have much time.”
Henry straightened. “I came to talk to Kiera. I still don’t know who you are.”
“Aiden,” he replied over his shoulder. “Aiden Falcryn.”
Three heads swiveled to me. I sheathed my sword.
Getting used to sharing his full name, was he?
“He’s been in hiding since his birth,” I said quietly, leading the soldiers after Aiden. “He’s fought for Rellmira longer than I have.”
“I’ve never heard of him,” Henry said in a clipped tone. “What fighting has he done?”
I shrugged, even though he probably couldn’t see it. “I’ll let him tell you that. But what we’re doing now—and what we need to do after—is why I sent you that note.”
We traipsed back to our little camp. Nikella, Maz, and Ruru looked up at our approach. Maz hefted the axe he was sharpening, rising to his feet.
I caught his eye and shook my head.
He winked at me. “Found your friends, did you, lovely?”
Henry pulled up short. “A Dag?” He glanced at Nikella and Ruru. “A Teacher and a boy? This is who you’re fighting with?”
“We’re who she’ll be winning with,” Maz said with a sinister smile.
Henry’s brow furrowed, but he made no comment.
I sat next to Ruru, gesturing for the three soldiers to sit as well. Aiden leaned against a tree a bit out of our circle around the fire.
We made more introductions. The third soldier’s name was Lionel, and he did little but grunt in anyone’s direction. Their clothes and armor were dirty, and their expressions were haggard in the firelight. As if they’d traveled without stopping.
A kernel of hope wedged into my chest. Henry wouldn’t have come all this way, risking his post and his men, if he weren’t serious about helping Delysia.
“You told me you have something planned,” Henry prompted, getting right to business. “What is it?”
I glanced at Aiden, his features shadowed. He nodded once.
“We’re going to destroy the Calimber mine,” I said.
Shayn’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s lunacy!”
Henry stroked his mustache, his brown eyes thoughtful. After a few moments, he said, “I can’t help you with that. All my men are deep in Pravara. It would take weeks to get them here. Even if I could—even if they didn’t desert at the suggestion—Dracles and his army would slaughter us before we reached the mine.”
I nodded, not surprised after Aiden had argued the same thing at the tavern. “We have the mine covered. Mostly.” I took a deep breath and looked at him with every bit of hope and solemnity I could muster. “We need you to march on Aquinon.”
This time, Shayn was speechless. Lionel grunted and shook his head.
Henry’s eyes softened. “To get Delysia? I would love nothing more than to rescue her from that... thatbastard.But we can’t just march on Aquinon. It would be war. Rellmirans fighting Rellmirans, which would be difficult for my men. Besides, Renwell would see us coming and summon Dracles’s army before we reached the city.”
“We’re taking care of him, too,” Maz said.
Henry’s eyes narrowed. “How?”
