His men wanted to go home, and Finnvid wasn’t inclined to argue with them. He went to see each of the Torian leaders individually, assuring them that Elkat wished for peace with all, carefully committing to nothing. He told them he’d speak to his brother, and they’d send emissaries early in the spring. He told the warlord that of course the Elkati were interested in supporting their friends in Windthorn, and he told the Sacrati captain and the reeve that Elkat valued tradition but hoped there might be room for a few minor changes in order to make everyone happy.
He knew they all resented him for pushing his nose into their business, and he had to agree that none of it was his concern. But they’d approached him as factions, not as a united front, and they clearly wanted him to choose a side. He’d come to realize that the main benefit of an Elkat alliance was the supply of bribes; if the warlord could give gifts to his supporters, funded by Elkat coffers, he could buy loyalty. He wanted that, and the other two wanted to make sure it didn’t happen. So the captain and the reeve weren’t so much interested in an alliance for themselves as they were in making sure there was no alliance for the warlord.
It was exhausting. After each meeting, Gunnald stayed behind a little longer, tidying up whatever messes Finnvid had created, and Finnvid would find himself pacing around, running over the mental exercises Theos had taught him, the tools to focus his mind. He needed as much focus as he could find.
On the last night, he slept in his warm city room while his men camped on the hard floor of the barracks dining hall, complaining that they’d had better accommodations in the prisoner pens. Bright and early the next morning, Finnvid ate, dressed in layers of warm clothes, and said good-bye to the city of Windthorn.
But when he made his way to the barracks, he found more men waiting for him than he’d expected; all of them were dressed for a long winter expedition, all carrying packs of supplies. He saw Theos, off to one side, and Andros off on the other; it was the Sacrati who’d been made iyatis in Theos’s place who stepped forward to greet Finnvid. “Sir,” Ekakios said with an efficient salute. “Your escort is ready.”
“My escort?” He looked at his own men, then back at Ekakios. “I believe Ihavean escort.”
Another man joined the conversation, this one unfamiliar to Finnvid. “The warlord wishes to ensure your safety. After all, the last time you traveled unescorted on Torian lands, things did not go smoothly.” He nodded a more official greeting and said, “I am Zenain, leader of the Torian troops on this mission.”
Ekakios’s smile was tight. “And you know me, sir. I am the iyatis for this band of Sacrati.”
Jockeying for position already. The rivalry in the Torian valley was coming with them into the mountains. And more importantly, themenfrom the Torian valley were coming with them, meaning that Finnvid could not take the warmer, safer route without exposing a valuable secret. “That really isn’t necessary,” Finnvid said. Then, a little more strongly, he added, “I would prefer to travel alone.”
“Unadvisable, sir.” It was Gunnald joining in, and Finnvid wanted to strike him. This was the downside of looking for feedback from his men, he supposed; they would sometimes give it at inappropriate times. Gunnald continued, “We should accept the escort. They can carry more supplies, and they’re trained in winter survival.”
“Yes,” Finnvid said tightly. Then he scowled fiercely, trying to remind Gunnald of the secret route.
But he didn’t get the chance because that was when Theos stepped into their circle. He spoke only to Ekakios, as if the others were beneath his notice, and even to the iyatis his voice was bored and close to insolent. “The princeling doesn’t want us to discover one of his many secrets.”
Finnvid jerked in surprise, wondering how he’d given himself away, but Theos still wasn’t looking in his direction. Instead, the Sacrati gestured toward one of the other well-bundled men, and it was only when Finnvid turned his full attention toward the figure that he realized it wasn’t a man at all. “I was summoned to the city late last night, for less pleasant reasons than usual,” Theos drawled. “The reeve told me there’s a valley route to Elkat. This is Apala, who knows the way. The Elkati were trying to keep the path secret so they could use it for their spying.”
“This information should have come through the warlord,” Zenain blustered.
Theos barely shrugged. “Take it up with the reeve.”
“And is that whyyouwere chosen for this mission?” Zenain sneered. “To report back to your darling mother?”
“You’ll have to talk to Ekakios about why I’m along,” Theos said, picking casually at a seam on his heavy coat. “I certainly tried my best to get out of the job.”
Finnvid tried to regroup. “We had no intention of using the route for spying.” He wasn’t sure if anyone believed him or not. “But, yes, wedidprefer that it remain unknown. As it’s too late for that, though, yes, we know the route. We don’t require a guide, or an escort. And I don’t think it’s a good idea for a young lady to travel with . . . well, with a group of soldiers. I can’t guarantee that she won’t be—”
“Ican,” Theos growled. He turned to the Elkati men and raised his voice loud enough for them all to hear. “Apala is a Torian woman, under Torian protection. Anyone who lays a hand on her without her permission will lose his hand. Anyone who touches her with any other body part, without her permission, will lose that body part. She’s not here for your disgusting, immoral, unnatural ways.” He still didn’t look at Finnvid, even after echoing his words so accurately. He kept his gaze on the Elkati soldiers, fierce and proud and unyielding. “By the Sacrati sword,” he vowed, thumping a fist over his heart for emphasis.
And the Sacrati in the group, even Ekakios, thumped their own chests and declared, “By the sword.”
There was silence for a moment. Finnvid honestly couldn’t guess at the other men’s reactions, but he knew what he was feeling. Envy. To be part of a group like that. To live by a code of honor, even one enforced by threats and violence. To make an oath and know that there were men standing behind you, swearing their own oaths in your support. Theos was strong on his own, but with these men on his side, surely he was invincible. Finnvid tried to imagine standing in the Great Hall of the Elkat castle and making such a spectacle of himself, especially over the safety of a common-born woman. He’d be laughed out of the room.
But he was with Torians, and they did things differently. He cleared his throat and spoke into the silence. “So she’s safe.” He turned to Apala. “At least from the men. All the same, this will be a dangerous road, even through the southern valleys. It would be better for you to stay at home. It’s an unnecessary risk for you to accompany us.”
She didn’t look to Theos or anyone else for guidance, just gave her own laconic shrug. “I’d be more than happy to stay by the fire. But I’ve been shepherding in these mountains since I was old enough to walk out at lambing season. I know them as well as any and much better than most. You and your men may know the Elkat side of things, but I know the Torian side. I’m here to help you with that.”
“And the plan is to accompany us to the border?” Finnvid asked, turning his attention back to Zenain. He couldn’t really think of a way to absolutely refuse an escort while they were on Torian lands.
Zenain nodded. “As I said, the warlord wants to avoid any further incidents.”
“Well, then,” Finnvid said, trying to sound jovial, “let’s get started!”
They spread out along the wide, snow-packed road and started moving. Theos walked beside Apala; maybe he wasn’t sure his threat was quite enough to keep her safe, or maybe he was still angry at Andros. Theos and the woman didn’t seem to be talking much, but sometimes company could be good even without conversation.
And, Finnvid was reminded as he tried to listen to the inane pleasantries Zenain and Gunnald were exchanging, sometimes conversation could ruin company. He wished they would shut up. Theos had just bent down and said something to Apala, something that made her smile at him, and Finnvid hadn’t been able to hear what it was.
Not that he should care. Not that hedidcare. Damn it, he was acting like . . . well, he wasn’t sure what he was acting like. Certainly not like a prince, not like a man entrusted with conducting important foreign relations for his endangered valley.
So Finnvid ran the political situation over in his head a few more times. He didn’t come to any new conclusions, but he decided he was doing the right thing, getting back to Elkat to report on the new developments.
