Mars’s hand tightened on the knife hilt. “You’re a guest inmykingdom, savage. If you wish to still be welcome once I’m back on the throne, you’ll watch your words.”
Bryn could tell that a barbed response was posed on Rangar’s tongue, but she held out her hands as though separating feral dogs.
“Stop it, both of you. I won’t have you two fighting. For what it’s worth, Mars, I saved Rangar’s life, as well. Thefralenbond goes both ways now. If he ever owned my soul, then I own his now, too.”
This had the effect of quieting the two princes, though the tension was still palpable.
Illiana chuckled. “Lady Bryn is right. If the two of you must trade barbs, do so after we’ve retaken the throne, eh? Can we agree on a truce for now?”
Rangar wiped a cloth over his face, giving a tight nod.
Mars sighed. “Very well. But we shall discuss this further at a later date, savage.”
“After I help you retake your throne?” Rangar threw out. “You’d best not make threats when you’re too weak to fight. You couldn’t even see danger coming. You need this ‘savage’ to do the fighting for you—”
“Enough!” Bryn grabbed the cloth from Rangar, dipped it into a water bucket, and rang it out. “Rangar makes a good point, Mars. He, Val, and two dozen Baer fighters have traveled acrossthe Eyrie to help you retake the Mirien. The least you could do is show some manners.”
Mars grumbled but acquiesced. “I’ll admit that the savage has come up with a decent plan, at least.”
Bryn dabbed the damp cloth against Rangar’s face, washing off some of the dirt. “Tell me.”
In his hoarse voice, he explained, “As I understand it, Mir tradition allows for three engagement gifts. You used the first to slap me. The second you used to hang me—”
“But I—” Her jaw fell open, ready to protest, but he cocked a grin.
“I know, I know—you did what you had to. I don’t hold it against you, my love. In any case, you have one gift remaining.”
Her brow wrinkled. “That may be true, but I doubt Captain Carr will be inclined to honor any more gifts. When I touched your face at the hanging, he surmised that we’d been lovers. He’s suspicious of me now. He’s posted extra guards at my door.”
“He won’t refuse a third gift,” Rangar stated, pausing to clear his sore throat. “Not if you make the request publicly. Otherwise, he would have to explain why he refused, and he won’t be inclined to admit that his fiancé had an affair with a rival prince.”
She raised an eyebrow. “So what do I ask for?”
“To visit Saint Serrel’s water shrine with him before the wedding.” Rangar motioned toward Mars. “Your brother says it’s a common place lovers go before their union to drink from the sacred waters and receive a blessing. Make it sound like you’re trying to get back in Captain Carr’s good graces. To prove you’re sincere about the wedding, and that I was only a passing affair. His ego will force him to believe it. He thinks I’d dead, anyway. Hardly a rival for your hand now.”
Saint Serrel’s shrine in Saint’s Forest was the place Bryn had snuck off to ten years ago to see the rumored black fawn whosepresence predicted war throughout the Eyrie. She touched her ribcage, thinking of the scars there and the matching ones that marred Rangar’s face.
When she met his gaze, she knew he was recalling the same night.
“And assuming he agrees?” she asked.
“Then Valenden and our Baer soldiers will be lying in wait to attack.”
“And Christof and the rebels will be with them,” Illiana added.
A chill seemed to grow in the air. Bryn could already foresee the battle that would most likely happen at the water shrine: blood mixing in the sacred water, arrows piercing the aspens. It was a risky plan. Captain Carr wouldn’t go anywhere without a fleet of well-trained, well-armed soldiers. Would the rebels and a few Baer fighters be enough to defeat them?
“All we need is to dispatch Carr,” Mars explained. “Once word gets out that he’s dead, I’ll storm the throne room with the rebels. The kingdom’s advisors will have no choice but to accept my claim as legitimate king.”
Bryn hugged her arms, staying quiet as she thought through the plan. Rangar brushed his thumb over her cheek. His dark eyes searched hers, asking a question.
Quietly, she confessed, “I almost lost you today. We didn’t survive the wolf attack at the water shrine all those years ago just to go back there and have it beourcarcasses staining the water this time.”
Rangar stroked her long hair. “We’ve defied death before. We will again.”
Bryn leaned into his palm, letting her eyes sink closed.
Illiana cleared her throat. “Mars, I think we should leave these two to reconnect. I need to get back to the kitchen before the night cook notices I’m gone, anyway. Come with me. I canhide you in the pantry. This late, there’s only a few nearsighted old maids awake. It’ll be good for you to get some fresh air outside of these passages.”
