“If it pleases you, allow me to introduce myself.” He bowed, holding out his hand in the manner of nobility. “I am Klyde of Old Tanzanite Keep.”
Dyna blinked in surprise.Old Tanzanite Keep?
Before she could introduce herself, the bell to the bakery jingled loudly when another man wearing the same coat and emblem came through the door. Dark brown curls framed his face, and he wore an eye patch, the surrounding skin scarred.
His one good eye landed on Dyna, then flitted to Klyde. “Captain, I found the location.”
Captain?Klyde bore no sign of his rank and his coat was a darker shade of blue than the Azure Guard uniform. Perhaps he was of a different division.
“Good,” Klyde replied. “I’ll join you momentarily, Lieutenant.”
But the man hesitated to leave.
“Eagon, it’s fine.” The captain frowned. “Wait for me outside.”
The one-eyed man nodded and strode away to where two horses idled beside the bakery windows.
The woman returned with a sack of rye bread. “Here’s your order, milord.”
“Thank you, madam.” Klyde took it and opened the door for Dyna. “Shall I escort you somewhere, lass?”
She hurried outside, bashful by his charming manner. “There is no need for it, sir. You have done enough for me today. I can find my way.”
“May I have the pleasure of knowing the name of such a lovely lady?” he asked, taking her hand. His blue eyes shone as his amiable smile widened, revealing two dimples on each cheek, making her small smile grow.
“My name is Dynalya,” she said, dipping in a curtsy.
“Ah, and a well-suited one it is.” The captain lifted her hand gently and kissed the back of it.
A hand jerked her free from Klyde’s fingers. Her skin vibrated under the steel hold, and she found Cassiel at her heels. His hard eyes fixed on the captain.
“I ask you kindly to mind yourself,” Cassiel said, not at all kindly.
Klyde chuckled and lifted his hands. He backed up a step towards the lieutenant, who watched indifferently from his horse. “Begging your pardon. I was merely introducing myself.”
“If your business is finished here, good day to you, then.”
“Aye, good day,” Klyde smirked, dropping his formal tone. He headed for his companion. The two short swords strapped to his back partially covered the garish embroidered symbol of a bird’s skull. He took the reins of an onyx thoroughbred with a glossy coat and mounted the saddle. “The city is no place for the lass to wander unescorted, mate,” he said. “Keep her close.”
There was a true warning in there, as much as his stern expression conveyed. Cassiel’s fingers tightened around her wrist, his unease flooding inside her. Klyde clicked his tongue, and the hooves of their horses beat on the cobblestone as they rode away.
“Who was that man? What did he say?” Cassiel asked her.
“This is the first we’ve met. He only told me his name and nothing else of consequence.”
“That man was a Skull…”
“A what?”
“Nothing.” Cassiel exhaled a forceful breath and rubbed his forehead. “Dyna, I understand you do not want to be afraid, but I am. Please be careful. If you were taken again, I … I may lose my mind.”
She couldn’t find the means to reply. From his eyes came a gentleness she hadn’t seen before.
“I will.”
They walked in silence through the active streets. The chilling breeze bit at Dyna’s warm cheeks. Her numb hands had grown stiff and ruddy with cold. She blew into them and rubbed them together.
“Here.” Cassiel peeled off his leather gloves.
