Valenden dug through one of his rucksacks and took out a wool blanket that he wrapped around her shoulders. “I’m sorry this little voyage of ours had to be on such short notice. I spentall the coin I had on hand to bribe the guards, and Rangar didn’t want you to remain in that castle a day longer knowing an assassin might be after you.”
She hugged the blanket close. “What about your family? What will they think happened to you and me?”
“Rangar will tell them the truth in a few days once we’ve put some distance between ourselves and the castle. My family will understand. They’ve always known how dangerous it was to have you in our midst, especially since your brother died and you became the heir. You haven’t sat in on all our council meetings—it was always a possibility thrown around that one of us might need to be prepared to hide out with you for a while.” A shadow crossed his face. “Of course, we all assumed it would be Rangar.”
As Bryn finally caught her breath, her head felt a little clearer. “We’re going to the Wollin?”
Valenden nodded as he paced, glancing distractedly among the trees. “Yes, we think their royal family will be sympathetic.”
“How far of a journey is it?” She’d seen maps of the kingdoms of the Eyrie, but it was difficult to judge inches on a piece of paper against the reality of mountain ranges, vast forests, and winding paths. The Wollin was a long and narrow coastal kingdom bordered by the Baersladen to the north, the Mirien to the east, and Ruma to the south. She knew little else about the kingdom other than having met the Wollin queen a few times, a very elderly woman who didn’t always seem to be in control of her rational mind.
“About two weeks on foot.”
“Two weeks!” Bryn gaped. “How are we supposed to eat?”
“Iborroweda few valuables from the castle that I can barter when we need coins. The greater concern is keeping you hidden. There aren’t many fair-haired girls your age in this part of the Eyrie, and everyone will soon hear rumors that the Mir princess is on the run.”
“I can cover my hair with a scarf . . . ”
“I have something better. Roxin gave me this." He handed her a small jar. She untwisted the cap and sniffed it, recoiling.
“It smells rancid.”
“It’s charcoal mixed with flax seed and castor oil. Roxin prepared it for you at my request. She said to comb it through your hair and reapply every morning to give it a darker shade.”
Bryn made a face as she dipped her hand in the mixture and began to work it through her loose hair. Once it was coated, she wiped her hands on a rag.
He extended her his hand. “We need to keep moving. Once the spies discover you’ve left, they’ll be coming after us.”
They began hurrying through the dark forest again. Bryn wasn’t the same clumsy girl she’d been several months ago when she’d fled Castle Mir with the Barendur family. All her time hiking in the mountains to tend to the lambs had strengthened her legs and made her sure-footed on uneven ground, but she was still grateful for Valenden’s presence. She knew the forest was filled with bears and wolves, and she wouldn’t want to be out alone.
They hiked for several hours in what Bryn deduced was a southern direction, judging by the placement of the stars. It was comforting to focus on her steps over vines and roots since it kept her mind off the more troubling issues at hand. She was a princess with no kingdom. All her plans had been shattered when she’d discovered Trei murdered. Now, once word got out about his death, all the kingdoms of the Eyrie would be plunged into even more tension and suspicion than before.
Eventually, a small structure loomed in a clearing ahead. Valenden led her toward the sagging old place, which was a step above a shed but couldn’t quite be called a cabin. It had a roof and walls on three sides but was open on the other one.
He dropped his bags on the dirt floor, massaging his aching shoulder. “We’ll sleep here for a few hours until morning.”
“What is this place?” she asked.
“Deer hunters use it,” he explained. “A campsite. At least it’s a roof over our heads and a break from the wind. Go sit, I’ll fetch us some water. There’s a stream nearby.”
She curled up in the corner of the lean-to with her blanket wrapped tightly around her, listening to the forest sounds until he returned with a full flask. She drank down the water gratefully. He made a campfire, then began unpacking the bags. He pulled out an apple and a hunk of cheese wrapped in wax paper and divided the meager rations between them.
“Take off your ring,” he ordered.
She stared down at the ring that Trei had given her, which glittered with sapphires and diamonds. Valenden was right, of course. It was far too valuable to flash out in the open while she was on the run. She twisted it off her finger and strung it on the same chain around her neck that also held Rangar’s ring.
Valenden continued to unpack his rucksack. She was surprised to see him pull out several women’s gowns that looked like the practical work dresses the kitchen maids wore beneath their aprons.
Then, he opened a box and handed her a simple silver ring.
“Now, put that on,” he said, handing her the box.
It looked very much like the type of plain wedding bands that married villagers wore. “What’s this for?”
He gave her one of the usual wry Valenden smiles that said he was up to no good. “What, isn’t it as fine as the two rings my brothers gave you?”
She leveled him a hard look.
