“Thank you,” he answered. He flashed a smile at Vera. “Remind me to tell Wilf about this. He thinks it’s ridiculous for a guard to have long hair.”
Sarah pulled some of the strands apart in her fingers, not seeming to even hear Venn’s words, but Finn stiffened. “Guard?”
Vera’s stomach dropped, and Venn’s spine straightened. “Finn . . .”
The boy scrambled to draw his knife, and he aimed it at Venn with both hands. “Don’t move,” Finn snapped at Venn. “Sarah, come here.”
“No.” The little girl shot back, her fist knotted in Venn’s hair.
Finn growled. “Now, Sarah. Grab Rebecca.”
“No!” Sarah slammed her heel against the ground, still seated in Venn’s lap.
“Easy, Finn,” Venn said, his eyes only on the boy. “Let me explain—”
“Are you hunting my father?” he demanded, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “Is that why you’re helping us? Are you hoping we’ll lead you to him?”
“Finn,” Vera said gently, “I promise we mean you and your father no harm.” She took a placating step forward, and the boy swiveled, now pointing the knife at her.
“Stay back!” he barked.
Vera froze—not in fear for herself, but fear that Finn might hurt himself. The knife was shaking in his hands.
“Finn,” Venn said, his voice a shade harder than before. “Put that knife down before you hurt someone.”
Sarah finally seemed to sense the shift in mood. She let go of Venn’s hair, her eyes bouncing between them all as she sank into herself.
Finn flexed his hold on the blade. “Whoareyou? You’re not refugees like us. You’re a soldier.”
“I’m a bodyguard,” Venn said.
“A bodyguard?” Finn’s eyes narrowed. “For who?” He eyed Vera. “Who areyou?”
Vera shared a long look with Venn before she answered. “I’m a maid. I worked at the castle in Iden, with Venn.”
“We work with Princess Serene,” Venn added. “She’s here in Mortise. You know that, right?”
Finn’s guarded look didn’t falter, and he still gripped the knife defensively. “Yes. My father said that’s why we needed to come here—that she would still be our princess if we came to Mortise.” The boy’s jaw tightened. “If you work for her, then why aren’t you with her?”
“That’s a long story,” Venn said. “But we’re on our way back to her. I swear, that’s the truth. Now, can you please put down that knife?”
Finn hesitated.
Venn lowered his voice. “I think you’re scaring Sarah.”
The little girl was sucking her thumb, her shoulders curled inward as she watched them from her seat on Venn’s lap.
Slowly, Finn sheathed the blade at his belt.
Sarah instantly rushed to Vera, who lifted her up and held her close. She rubbed the girl’s back as she watched Venn uncurl from the ground and move toward Finn.
The boy tensed, but he didn’t run or draw his weapon. He just watched, feet braced as Venn crouched in front of him, putting their eyes almost level.
“I give you my vow as a royal bodyguard,” Venn said softly, his gaze firm. “You are safe with us, Finn. You’re all safe with us.”
The boy’s chin wavered, and then he swiped a hand over his cheek. “I—I told her I’d protect them . . .” His voice cracked, and his words trailed off.
“I know,” Venn whispered, setting a hand on Finn’s shoulder. “You’ve done an incredible job. And trust me, when it comes to sisters, you’ll be protecting them forever. But you don’t have to do it alone.” His expression softened. “You’re not alone anymore, Finn.”
