He blinks and looks at me like I apologized for there being air to breathe. “You didn’t make me leave them. Thorin needed to rest. I offered to relieve him twice, and he refused both times.”
I frown. “I didn’t know it was twice.”
Saeth nods. “He’s so angry that they’ve turned on us.” His voice takes on an edge. “I want to hear what Sommer says, too.”
“I hope he actually has information.” A short distance away, a man stops splitting wood to watch us pass, and I scowl. I lower my voice and glance at Saeth. “Everyone keeps staring and whispering. I’m worried news of the bounty has spread and they’re readying to turn us in. Or perhaps they’re looking to retaliate after our failures.” I glance around again, thinking of those men who showed up on the porch with Francis, armed with farm tools. “Should we prepare to move? Advise.”
His eyebrows go up. “No, Your Majesty. That’s not what they’re whispering about.”
“Then . . . why?”
“Because that ambush killed off most of our traveling party, and you retaliated. That boy Nook has been telling everyone that you called a guard off him so he could escape. You stood with the people in the Wilds against men who were once loyal to you.” Hisvoice turns solemn. “Everyone who was there saw how much it cost you.”
I stare at him. I want to say that it’s not at all what happened—but itis.
He hesitates, then runs a hand over the back of his neck. “At the risk of being too bold—”
“Trust me, Saeth, I’m growing immune to boldness.”
“Well, you even tugged at Leah’s heartstrings, because the whole walk through the rain she kept telling me she was going to shoot you herself when we met up with the wagon—and then the first thing she said when we were alone was that she understood why I stayed.”
I swallow and run a hand across my jaw. That’s very different from the woman who just sat in front of me and challenged me at every turn—but I believe him.
Saeth nods at my reaction. “Nook knocked on my door at daybreak to ask if Thorin and I would be training today.” He scoffs. “Leah lovedthat, let me tell you.”
That makes my chest clench. “No matter how much training you give them, they’re not an army, Saeth. A few guards almost killed them all.”
“I know.”
“Then why on earth don’t you sound more bleak about all this?”
“Because you’ve won them over.” He nods at the man splitting wood, and the man looks startled at the acknowledgment, then nods back. “None of these people are turning us innow. We’re safer than we ever were. I wouldn’t leave Leah and the kids alone if I were worried.”
As if to prove his words, the man sets down his ax, then drops to one knee and puts a hand over his heart.
It’s the first time anyone has donethatin the Wilds, and I almost stop short.
“It’s not just that,” Saeth is saying.
“What else?” I say, because I’m not sure my heart can take much more.
“If you threw yourself in front of a guard to protect a boy—as the story goes—then no one here is ever going to be convinced you were poisoning the people. No matter what the consuls say, you’ve won over the Wilds.”
I’ve won over the Wilds. My heart pounds.
Now I just need to win over the sectors.
By the time we find Francis, Quint has joined us. They did keep Sommer locked in the cellar, and when Saeth tells some of the men to bring him out, they all but throw him at my feet. He’s more crouching than kneeling, and he looks like a gust of wind might knock him over. The cloak is gone, but he’s still in the sodden, mud-soaked clothes he was wearing last night, and his hands are bound with twine behind his back. It’s a warm morning, but it must have been cold in the cellar, because he’s shivering, blinking in the sunlight. He’s pale, with blood crusted in his blond hair and down the side of his face, along with impressive bruising that would rival Thorin’s.
He definitely didn’t have that last night.
I look at Francis sharply. “What happened? Did he give you trouble?”
Sommer looks up at that, and he shakes his head violently. “No. No, Your Majesty.”
Another man coughs. “We might have had a little fun before we put him down there.”
There are a few low snickers from the others. I notice Nook is among them, and he looks a little uncertain, but one of the men claps him on the shoulder, and he smiles. I wonder if they let him “help” with whatever fun they were having.
