Ssssss…why are we outssside?Barb hisses in a grumpy tone as she burrows deeper beneath my collar.
Because we’re going on a trip, I reply, tightening the saddle bags around my horse.
Why?...It’sss niccce and warm inssside.
You’ll be fine in there,I say, tapping my shoulder where her head is resting.I’m the one who’s braving the elements.
“You’re really trying to sneak away tonight?”
The shadows part beside me, and Corrin appears. I manage not to jump, congratulating myself on getting used to his sudden appearances. I notice he’s dressed in a traveling cloak. For some reason, that detail sends a strange spark of hope through me.
“I’m notsneaking,” I say, circling my horse to check the saddle. “The captain gave me a mission. I’m following through. You’d know that if you’d ever done an honest day’s work in your life.”
Corrin crosses his arms. “Didn’t you hear Sandale when he said it would take a few days to even get in touch with his contact? It could be a week before they make any progress.”
“There are other ways to get a message to Sophos—ones that don’t involve some poor rebel in Qimorna putting themselves at risk. But I need to go to Godom to do it.”
“Alright then,” Corrin disappears into shadow again for a moment. I blink and he’s back, this time holding a pack in his hand.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask. My heart stutters a little, no doubt because his vanishing and reappearing act is making me jumpy.
“I’m coming with you, of course. His Highness might want most of his soldiers around to protect the princess, but I’m a free agent.”
“What makes you think you’d be of any use to me?” I say, internally wincing at the harshness of my voice. That’s new. Normally, I don’t give a shit whoI offend.
“Oh, I could beveryuseful to you, Damia. You just have to let me,” Corrin says, smiling wickedly in the dim lamplight. “Besides,” his smile drops, “I need to return to Hallowbane. Last I heard, the cleavers were gone, but they left a few clerics behind, and I need to work out how much damage they did to my city.”
My stomach twists. “There it is,” I say as I mount my horse. “I knew there’d be some ulterior motive. It didn’t take long, did it? Now you’re back to worrying about yourself, when the rest of us are trying to prevent a war.”
His face hardens, though he still looks up at me with bright eyes.
“One of these days, my dear Damia, I’m going to start taking it personally how little faith you have in me.”
I freeze under his gaze, unable to look away. Words tumble from my mouth before I recognize them.
“The question is, why haven’t you already?”
He swallows and my eyes are drawn to the muscles moving in his throat.
“You know why,” he says, his voice rough as gravel.
I finally look away, out into the night, wanting to say a dozen things but finding I can’t get my mouth to move.
“Hallowbane isn’t just some shithole city,” Corrin says, his voice deliberately casual. “It’s the biggest port and urban hub in the south that isn’t totally controlled by the Temple. That makes it strategically important. If war is coming, the princess will want someoneotherthan Caledon’s lackeys in charge there. That’s where I come in.”
It’s not bad logic. And he wouldn’t be a terrible traveling companion, even if he has his infuriating moments. I wanted this mission—the chance to cut the knees out from under the Temple or just execute one of their best soldiers if it turns out he’s lying. But I wasn’t looking forward to doing it alone. Places like Godom remind me too much of other things…things I like to think I’ve left behind.
My horse stamps at the ground, eager to get moving—and at the same time a little hiss sounds beneath my ear.
Yesss…let the human come…he’sss nicccce.
I knew I shouldn’t have let Corrin feed Barb earlier.
“I suppose you aren’t completely useless in a fight,” I sigh, tilting my head at Corrin. He grins.
“Such high praise. Does that mean I can accompany you?”
“Go fetch your horse,” I say, fighting my smile. “And no more jumping out of shadows. It creeps me out.”
