A tale of how the great Red Ravines were carved into the landfrom the giant paws of the beast clawing free of the Wanderer’s bone snare.
I walked on, hand on my blade, head turned inward, searching, and searching, and searching for a threat, the slightest taste of retaliation for the soul bones.
No one shared my discontent.
Damir was enraptured by a man from Myrda and a woman from one of the lower jarldoms. I expected him to take them both to his chambers soon enough. Ingir was engaged in chatter with the Myrdan queen, and Hundur could not get enough of his new bones.
I made it to the other side of the hall where Baldur stood, nursing a tall drinking horn.
“Ashwood.” He took a long drink. “Why so stiff? Double watch has been placed at the walls.”
I ignored him and looked to the empty upper eaves.
Baldur snorted and took another drink; the last of his ale drizzled down his chin. “By the gods, man. Go find a damn hole for your cock. Does wonders for tension.”
I dodged his hand when he tried to clap my shoulder, like we were true Stav brothers. We weren’t. Baldur let out a wet chuckle and staggered off.
Loathe him as I did, I still knew Baldur wasn’t entirely wrong. There was little to do in here when the trouble I kept seeking had yet to rear its head. I gave in to the pull.
One step at a time, I made my way over to the bench between Thane and Lyra. With my palm, I shoved at Thane, forcing him to scoot down to a new position as I took his place.
“By all means, Sentry Ashwood, please sit with us.” Thane lifted his plate and placed it in front of his new seat.
I ignored him and turned toward Lyra.Súlka Bien.
A bit of pink dusted Lyra’s cheeks. “Sentry Ashwood. Decided to join us after all your lurking?”
Noticed me, did you? You were the only one.
“I wouldn’t be so certain. I saw many gazes of curious ladies following you around the room. What brought you here now?”
“Perhaps he wanted to sit beside you, Ly,” Hilda murmured, low enough I didn’t think anyone but us heard. Lyra tilted her head, eyes wide, as though silently communicating something hidden to the woman.
I tapped the table, drawing her attention back to my hand.Perhaps I did.
Thane leaned in, his mouth too close to my ear, exactly how I hated it. And he knew it. “You can do better than that, you ass. I’m embarrassed for you.”
I shoved him back with an elbow to the chest. The prince coughed and laughed, rubbing the ache off his stitched doublet.
The corners of her lips curled. Lyra made quick work of gathering a silver plate and topping it with strips of roasted pheasant, boiled spiced roots, and a pudding made of star plums. When it was positioned in front of me, she handed me a horn and tipped the ewer. “Tell me when to stop, Sentry.”
I would never.
Thane groaned. “Gods, I should not have helped you find your words, they’re mortifying.”
Lyra topped off the drinking horn, then slid close enough our legs brushed. “You say that often, Prince. What do you mean you helped him find words?”
“Has he not told you? I’m appalled. It is one of my grandest achievements.”
I shook my head. This was the prince’s favorite boast.
“Roark’s injury robbed him of his voice, but we startedcommunicating with a few gestures. It inspired pages and pages of signals and words we memorized together those first seasons. We’d add or adjust if we pleased.”
“Thane,” Yrsa said with a small grin. “You told me you had tomes from the healers on hand speak and you took it from there.”
He likes to pretend he invented a new language, I added.
“Begging all of your wretched pardons”—Thane feigned disgust—“those previous writings were mere inspiration to my brilliance. It was meant to be made of secret signals for myself and Roark to cause a great deal of angst in these walls. For the most part, we’ve succeeded, but you, Lyra Bien, have picked up on it rather quickly. I’m curious how. Most Stav Guard take months and still aren’t as fluent as you.”
