Ormunder. The castle guard he had seen at the archery tournament.
The men moved past them, walked around the front garden, and made for a side entrance. The door opened before they reached it, as though someone inside had been watching forthem. Ian turned back to Robin, intending to ask her why a castle guard was visiting Peter Cabril.
But Erich and Aizel were walking toward them.
“Ian!” Erich called out, his voice low and easy, as though he had not just been kissing his wife goodbye in the dark.
“Hush,” Ian replied, looking toward the house to ensure that no one was within earshot.
“Oh, right,” Erich replied, his voice much quieter.
Aizel approached the waiting horse standing at Ian’s side, and Erich helped her to mount it. When she was safe in the saddle, Erich handed her the reins, then turned back to Ian.
“Keep my wife safe.” Erich’s usual grin was present, but Ian saw it waver.
“I will—” Ian started to answer, but Aizel cut him off.
“Your wife is going to keep herself safe, and in doing so she will be keeping you safe as well. And we all know that you are the one who really needs it.”
Erich’s eyes tightened in a way that looked dangerously close to a sob, despite the smile that still graced his mouth. “Do not let her out of your sight!” he said, pointing up at Ian.
“I will do my best,” Ian said to his younger brother.
Erich stepped away from the horses, his hand trailing along Aizel’s leg for as long as he could reach it.
Urging his horse forward, Ian nodded at Erich as he started the long ride back to Lockwood.
Robin hissed quietly when the horse started moving.
“How is your shoulder?” Ian whispered in her ear.
“Pained,” she replied. “This cold night air is not helping.”
“This is why you are supposed to be resting,” he whispered back, adjusting his arms around her to gently pull her back into his chest.
“I am resting,” she replied, leaning into him.
“Good.”’
Chapter 42
Ian watched as Robin unrolled a map on the wooden table in the front hall of Lockwood Manor. She had called for a meeting at first light, before the rest of the house was awake.
Ian doubted she had slept in the few hours since they had returned from the city. But she had seemed to doze off in his arms during the ride. He was glad he could offer her that, though she needed much more.
The rest of the band drew in around her. Ulli and Lane stood on either side of her. Sol and Aizel sat next to him on the bench across from her. Nele perched on the table itself. Jette leaned against the wall a few paces away, Rigelt and Liam standing beside her. Brother Fletcher had not arrived yet.
Robin placed a nearby ladle onto a corner of the map that kept curling open. “The ships will arrive tomorrow morning,” she said, tapping on an area of the map just offshore from the monastery. “Sol and Aizel will lead a small team to board the first ship under cover of darkness tonight,” Robin continued. “They will disarm the taskers and remove the muting gems that bind the Majis on board. Once enough of the Majis on the firstship are freed, they will move to the second and third ships and do the same.”
“And the armies on the shore?” Lane asked.
“The armies on the shore are a slaughter waiting to happen, and one we can no longer stop.” Robin kept her voice even. Her eyes flickered to Ian for a moment.
He kept his face passive. He wanted to protect his soldiers. He did not have a backup plan for that, but the beginning of an idea was taking place in his mind.
“Lane and Nele will join Aizel and Sol,” Robin continued. “Jette and Ulli will row them out.” She looked down at the map. “I will remain on shore.” Her words were barely audible.
“Yes, you will.” The loud voice of Brother Fletcher came from directly behind Ian.
