‘I had it under control,’ Arawn growled.
‘The body count begs otherwise,’ Kinlear said and lifted his chin. ‘At least I got to see one of my fledglings, all grown and in action.’
The War Eagles.
Ezer looked past him, searching the woods for a sign of the glorious beasts.
But it was too dark, the snow coming down thicker now.
They needed to leave, to find safety and warmth, and yet all these Sacred seemed perfectly at ease amidst the blood and gore and death.
Kinlear’s grey eyes slid to Ezer and brightened, curious as a bird’s. ‘And who do we have here?’
‘Our newest Ravenminder,’ Arawn said, and for some reason he took a step closer to her. Enough that the edge of his cloak brushed up against Ezer’s arm. ‘Brought in from Rendegard.’
‘Ah, aRavenminder. How very …’ Kinlear looked her up and down, as if cataloguing her every detail, ‘… charming.’
A spike of heat went through her.
Being an asshole must run in the family.
‘Spent a bit of time with the omens, have you?’ Kinlear asked.
‘If by omens, you mean ravens, then yes,’ Ezer said. ‘In some ways, the messenger birds are just as important as the War Eagles.’
Kinlear raised a dark brow. ‘A clever sentiment, albeit a false one.’
‘It’s true, I can assure you,’ she said.
His chiseled jaw twitched, as if he weren’t used to being challenged. ‘Is that so?’
She shook her head. ‘It’s called communication, Prince. I’m no soldier, but I’m well aware that this war would already be lost without the ability to communicate. You have the ravens to thank for that.’ She lifted her chin. ‘Andtheir Minders.’
Beside her, Arawn made a choking sound, as if he couldn’t believe the words she’d just spoken.
‘And quite a communicator you are,’ Kinlear said, crossing his long arms.
They stared at each other, one Minder sizing up another.
She waited for his gaze to slide to her scars, for him to curl his lip in disgust as so many did. As if they saw her scars instead of the person behind them. As if she were merely an afterthought to the wounds on her face.
But this prince never broke her gaze.
Instead, he smiled, a devilish thing, and he conceded by bowing his chin. ‘Welcome to the north, then. A size up from Rendegard, for certain.’ There was a hint of mischief as he added, ‘And of course, I’ve been so rude. Allow me to introduce myself to you as Kinlear Laroux, Sacred Eagleminder and most loyal servant of Lordach. Though most call me the Handsome Twin.’
Arawn grunted beside her.
‘Nothing against you, brother. I’m just relaying what the good people of Lordach say.’ A slight cough left Kinlear’s lips as he turned to his twin. Seeing them together … twoprinces,surrounded by carnage and crimson snow …
It was enough to make her dizzy, with how much had shifted since leaving her tower behind.
‘I’m due back in the Aviary,’ Kinlear said. ‘I’ll speak to you soon.Alone,Arawn.’
Then he looked to Ezer and winked. ‘Ravenminder.’
‘Eagleminder,’ she said back.
Arawn’s fists uncurled as his brotherturned away.
