She nods her thanks and sheathes the knife. “You don’t fight like a riverlander, prince. I’ve only seen skill like that with a blade once before.”
She looks different than she did in the throne room, although she’s wearing the same attire. The knives, of course. But her clothes, which looked like innocuous beige wrappings in the palace, are now fitted tightly to her muscular body, and her arms are bare. A length of blue cloth is tied around her left upper arm, its ends trailing to her elbow.
Her sharp, black-eyed gaze turns to me. “I am Chitai of the Desertof Sharnon. You have no need to apologize to me for using my weapon in your time of great need. The tribe that shares resources survives the boiling sands. This was your first kill?”
I take a shaky breath. “I … Yes. I want to say I hope it will be my only kill, but that seems dangerously naive, considering our mission.”
Writings about the peoples of the Desert of Sharnon are rare and offer little in the way of actual information. There’s a rumor that people who ask too many questions there don’t live long. After seeing Chitai fight, I’m not surprised. Maybe her great-grandparents were members of the Dawn—a now-extinct sect of desert warriors famed for their honor as much as their skill.
“Kaelen. Soli. For the duration of this quest, I pledge my water, knives, and life to yours,” she says so formally, I know it’s a serious vow. “Artemisen must be saved, and you, Soli, are the arrow we’ll shoot at the goddess Corvynne. Only a coward would abandon you.”
“For this quest, I pledge my water, blades, and life to yours,” Kaelen says. “You’re most welcome to our journey, Chitai of Sharnon.”
Chitai inclines her head to him and then looks at me.
I want to respond in kind, but my usual tendency to think—probably overmuch—before I act stops me. I concentrate for a moment, gazing at the empty street as we ride, before looking back at Chitai.
“Is it honorable if I make this pledge without fully understanding what it means? I’ve never in my life touched a blade other than a kitchen knife before tonight. Water has been one of the few resources I’ve not been short on. My life, though, is already sworn to this quest, even though I didn’t choose it.” I take a deep breath. “If you’re promising to be part of it, I appreciate you more than I can express. I absolutely pledge to do everything I can to keep you safe, although I realize it’s not much of a pledge for a servant to make to a warrior. But if you accept it, I’d be honored.”
Chitai rewards me with a solemn nod. “Your pledge is given in truth and humility, which makes it one of the most valuable I’ve heard. One tribe, Soli of Pyrrh, Kaelen of Valourian.”
“One tribe, Chitai of Sharnon,” Kaelen says.
Before I can speak again, she urges her horse into a canter andmoves up next to Sergeant Neville.
“That was very well done,” Kaelen murmurs, putting one muscled arm around my waist to pull me closer to him. “You’re a world of contradictions all wrapped up in a beautiful package, aren’t you?”
I don’t know how to answer that, so I say nothing, but heat floods my face again. This prince whose hard body is pressed against mine thinks I’m beautiful? But then I sigh.
His two personalities are what—meaningless flirt and deadly threat? Which do I like more?
Which do I hate less?
Me, beautiful.
I scoff at myself. He’s a courtier with years of practice at mindless, flirtatious banter. It means nothing. Still, just hearing the word directed atmeis so unexpected and fantastical that it’s almost enough to make me forget the Fell I killed, no matter how accidentally.
And the horse I’m riding.
And the city gate we’re rapidly approaching.
And my only friend, riding in the wagon behind.
Almost enough to make me forget the amulet around my neck.
Almost.
But not quite enough to make me forget that Kaelen saidprotect the amulet.
Not protectyou.
Neville has a quick word with the guards at the city gate, who evidently didn’t even know about the attack at the palace. They follow chain of command despite any questions they might have about our gore-spattered appearance and pull open the huge wooden doors to allow us to leave. On the other side, we see the golden-red shimmer of dawn outlining the horizon as the sun readies herself to rise and rule the day. I pull the cloak more tightly around me; the brisk chill of the autumn night settled in my bones on the half-hour journey from thepalace. When my teeth begin to chatter, Kaelen takes one hand from the reins and wraps that arm around me, settling us closer together. I didn’t realize I’d hunched farther and farther from him as we rode.
As we pass through the gate, I look around at a landscape I’ve never seen before. Despite everything that’s happened, I can’t help but be fascinated at my first glimpse of freedom.
“This is the first time I’ve been outside the city,” I whisper.
Kaelen bends his head to mine to hear. “In how long?”
