The young woman shook her dark head.‘We need her, Torgrin,’ she said through clenched teeth.
I lifted my hand behind Torgrin’s back, and Braya flew backwards.Shadows struck her firmly in the chest.The small blades dropped harmlessly at Torgrin’s feet.The young woman recovered quickly and charged at us.Raising my hands, I struck her again with shadows, and she flew backwards, hitting a nearby tree with a thud that made me wince.
‘Do you think she’s hurt?’I made to move towards the woman now slumped against the tree before Torgrin stopped me.
‘She’s just stunned.Leave her.’He was right.She was already looking around groggily.
A rider came and stopped beside the woman.It was Torgrin’s father.There was an arrow in his shoulder and blood on his face.His gold earring gleamed as he dismounted and tossed Braya onto the saddle.The arrow sticking out of his shoulder didn’t seem to slow him at all.
His eyes fixed on Torgrin.‘Son, your woman will be safer in Ephemeros if King Goa wants her.’
King Goa?The hostility between the men kept me quiet.This was not the time to ask questions.
‘King Hared or his heretics will kill her if they know what she is.’He seemed to care more about my safety than his own son.‘I have seen the executions in Capita with my own eyes,’ he added.
I felt Torgrin’s body stiffen beside me.‘She’s safe with me,’ Torgrin growled, reaching for my hand again.
Torgrin’s father’s frown deepened at our joined hands.As if accepting the situation, he growled, ‘If things get bad in Capita, send a message to the inn, and I’ll come.’
He mounted his horse behind a still-stunned Braya, and rode off into the darkness.
The fighting was over thanks to Torgrin’s quick thinking and his archers’ deadly aim.My injured kidnappers followed their leader out of the camp, leaving their dead behind.
CHAPTER 24
Tomas emerged from the trees holding his bow, with an almost-empty quiver slung over his shoulder.
‘They have all gone,’ Tomas reported to Torgrin.
‘Bury the dead and set up a perimeter.We will stay here for what’s left of the night, and head back to the others at daybreak.’
Tomas nodded and left to carry out Torgrin’s commands.
‘Nice work getting out of those ropes.’Torgrin almost smiled at me.
‘My dagger!’I had dropped my father’s dagger during the confrontation.I darted around, searching the camp in a panic.Suddenly, I froze.Recalling how I’d originally gotten the dagger back, I turned to look at Torgrin.
Torgrin was bending down to pick up something in the middle of the camp.Gnawing on my bottom lip, I came to stand beside him.
He stared at the dagger in his hand.‘Did you read it?’Torgrin’s tone was calm.
‘Yes,’ I whispered.
He turned the dagger around and held it out to me, hilt first.
‘It belonged to my father.’I took it from him and slipped it back into the hidden sheath in my boot.‘Thank you for keeping it safeall these years.’The desire to ask him why was strong, but I decided against it.‘I have the journal with me if you want it back.’I touched his forearm gently.
He looked down at my hand, pale against his tanned arm.‘Keep it,’ he said.Then he turned abruptly and walked away, leaving my hand to fall back to my side.
I walked over to the horses to check on Nightmare, who seemed fine despite our ordeal.To my relief, both of my swords were found abandoned nearby.I wrapped one sword, placed it in my saddle, and took the sword Iain made with me.
Torgrin’s soldiers began clearing the camp.There were many bodies to bury, but nobody wanted my help.They were afraid of me.The only one who didn’t seem wary of my presence was Tomas.He came to where I stood alone, digging the toe of my boot into the dry dirt.
‘Water?’Tomas handed me his flask.
‘Thank you.’I took a long drink.‘Are Cillian and Bethel okay?’
‘Bethel is – well, you know – Bethel.’Tomas shrugged.‘But Cillian was very distraught about leaving you.’
