“Right, we’re rested and ready. Let’s go.”
Vorn caught my arm and pulled me back slightly, not caring about how I tensed.
“Amarya.”
“Vorn?” I looked up at him. “Is there a problem?”
“One night’s rest, and you don’t come back this way.”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
He held my gaze, then nodded. “You can let go of your sword,Nicco. Your woman is fine.”
I wrenched my arm free from Vorn’s hold. “Stillnothis woman.”
We left their camp mostly in silence. I guided them back along the path we had taken. Snow had fallen overnight, covering the tracks from the day before, and I was eager to spot any of their hiding places as we moved. Hardly anyone spoke, and I wondered whether they had slept well. A night of shelter should have left them more refreshed than this.
When we were far enough away, I turned to look for the captain. He saw me looking for him and hurried to catch up.
“Are you okay?” he asked immediately. “We were worried about you. You weren’t… compromised?”
Compromised?Oh.
“I was fine. He left me alone most of the night, and only came back to sleep.”
Captain Marson looked relieved and deflated at once. “You were… fine?”
I nodded. “Yes.” I noticed his frown. “That upsets you?” I looked behind me one more time. “Why do you all look worse than yesterday?”
He gave a weak smile. “Nicco insisted we all still do a watch rotation.”
This time, the look over my shoulder was a glare for one man only. He either didn’t see me or ignored me.
“Well, that was a waste of time,” I snapped. “None of you are rested?”
“It was a better night than some we’ve had.” The captain gave me a quick smile. “I am glad you were not harmed.”
No one was coming to my rescue if I had been, though, were they? The thought put me in a bad mood. The captain dropped back, and as we trudged onward, we fell into a pattern we were used to.
Eventually, a mercenary was beside me. Not the one I would have picked. I looked over my shoulder and saw we were some distance from the others, not too far in front but enough.
When I looked back, he was watching me. He looked as pissed off as I felt. “You slept well?”
“You made them take watch?”
“Enemy territory.” Nicco practically rolled his eyes at me like I was an idiot for thinking theywouldn’ttake watch.
“We had theirprotection.”
“No, we had a stranger’s word that he would be a host on the basis of having you in his tent.”
I stopped walking. “What are you implying?”
Nicco didn’t stop. “I’m sure with howsoundlyyou slept, I don’t need to draw a picture.”
I marched forward and grabbed his arm.
“Did you just call me a whore?”
