I rolled my eyes. “You don’t trust anyone.”
“There’s something not right about him. He gets this look in his eye like he’s planning something. I’ve seen it in criminals.”
“He’s an inventor. He probably thinks a lot.”
She leveled me with a flat stare, and I sighed, leaning forward. “He’s in a difficult spot, Kiva. He’s in enemy territory, helping to facilitate an alliance against them. Give him a break.”
“I’ll give him more than a break if he screws us over,” she muttered.
Sixteen
Our carriage pulled along the circular drive of the castle, but when the door opened, it wasn’t the driver standing alongside it. It was Ericen. He stepped aside as we climbed out.
“Did you enjoy your trip to the city?” he asked. The wound on his face had scabbed over, the bruising on the edges starting to fade.
“It would have been a lot better if I didn’t feel like a prisoner,” I replied, glancing at the two Vykryn.
“More like an honored guest.”
“Who can’t leave.”
He smirked. “Right. Could I borrow you?”
Kiva interjected before I could reply. “I think the words you’re looking for are ‘I’m sorry I’m such an ass.’”
A muscle feathered in his jaw. “Yes. I was getting to that.”
She raised an expectant eyebrow, and Ericen sighed. “I’m sorry for the way I acted last night.”
“Close enough.” Kiva stepped toward the castle. “I’ll meet you inside.”
I nodded, trying to hide the smile threatening my lips. “I’m assuming you didn’t come down here just for that?”
“To be scolded like a child? Surprisingly, no.” He smiled. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”
He led me along a dirt path that curled around the castle. It sloped upward toward a large barn lined with wide square doors that split across the middle. Several were open, revealing the black heads of massive warhorses. At the main entrance, two wooden doors had been pinned open.
Horses stood secured to metal loops in the barn walls as stable hands brushed them or else swept the main walkway clear of hay and horsehair. Ericen traced a path through the horses, taking us much closer to their back hooves than I’d have liked, but he seemed as comfortable around them as I’d been with the crows.
We stopped outside one of the stalls, where a horse had her head poking out toward us. Beside her, a tiny foal trembled on uncertain legs, its coat black as night.
“My stallion’s the sire.” He nodded at another stall, the nameCallocarved into the wood.
I grinned. “It’s adorable.”
Ericen leaned against the stall door. “Wonderful, I’ll tell the stable master. I’m sure he’ll appreciate knowing his newest warhorse isadorable.” He ran his hand along the mother’s neck in an almost reverent touch.
I snorted. “Did you think a cute animal would make me forgive you?”
“Depends. Is it working?”
“A little bit.”
The foal wobbled toward us, and I reached out, but Ericen seized my hand. I started to snap at him but caught sight of the mare’s dark eyes watching me keenly.
“The mothers can be very…protective.” He released my hand.
I stepped back, then again as a stable hand with a bucket of feed moved toward us.
