“While I’m here, I also need to gather some more information on Haldron and his plans—what we’re facing. I’m certain he’s planning to march on Lirien soon.” Come to think about it, it made sense that Seren’s tribe had suddenly been called to the training fields.
The tribe had been preparing for war.
Thorne straightened to attention. “What are my orders?”
A deep ache went through me. Dalric, Thorne, and I used to tease each other about who would end up commanding the others. Now Dalric was gone, and Thorne was ready to take orders without question.
“If you can get out again, send a raven to Warlord Ellison in Cairn Hold … if you can. Or go there yourself. He needs to know about Haldron and the threat he’s posing.”
“I’m not leaving this time, Rykr. What’s this about a deadly trial?”
“The Skorn—a battle to the death with their best warriors. Tomorrow night.”
Thorne’s eyes gleamed with confidence. “A battle with Viori? You should be fine. And I’ll be here to help you escape as soon as it’s over.”
“Maybe. Seren says there will be other obstacles. And it’s not just me who has to fight. She does, too.”
Thorne grunted. “You’re right, that bond is a liability. A serious one.” He nodded slowly. “Like I said, I’m staying. You may not think you need me here, but I think you do. But you should know, someone helped me find my way into Emberstone. A man I met in the forest.”
What? A chill went through me. “And you trusted him? Who is he?”
“I didn’t have much of a choice. But he’s no friend of the Viori, that much is certain. And, like your woman, he didn’t kill me either.”
“A Lirien?” I searched Thorne’s face. He wasn’t gullible or easily trusting, but after the last few weeks, I had the right to be cautious.
“More of an outlaw. He thinks his daughter is here in Emberstone and he’s come to rescue her. An ally, for now … but you’re not going to like it when I tell you his name?—”
My breath hitched. Without a shadow of doubt, I knew who Thorne had met in the forest.
“—Brogan Ragnall.”
Chapter 31
Seren
A minute before the door to the room opened and Rykr strode through, Ciaran at his heels, I’d felt the bond between us hum, alerting me to his proximity.
I stared at him in his Vangar leathers, my heart lurching at the confirmation that it had been him I’d felt—and the fact that the sight of him was doing unacceptable things to my imagination.
“Nice of you to join us,” Amahle said from her spot over on the bed. I tore my focus away from Rykr, my cheeks warming.
Amahle’s gaze drifted to Ciaran. She sat straighter, more alert. “What’s wrong?”
I frowned and peered at Ciaran as he closed the door. He was pale, but the blotchiness on his neck betrayed a recent surge of anger. “Did something happen?”
Rykr crossed his arms. “A solider, friend of mine, from the Regulation followed me here to Emberstone—long story short—and Ciaran isn’t pleased to have been made an unwitting traitor.”
I looked from Rykr to Ciaran, my mouth growing dry.
Another Lirien?
“Oh gods,” Amahle muttered.
My own anger sparked as I stared at Rykr’s unaffected gaze. “Don’t just stand there with that smirk, Rykr. What the hell is one of your friends doing here? And how did he find you?” My glare intensified. “Have you been sending messages to Lirien? Spying on us?”
“Has it occurred to you, thistling, that if I were a spy and Ciaran had caught me, the easiest way to keep him silent—and myself safe—would have been to kill him?” He raised a brow. “So, either I’m a terrible spy, or just incredibly foolish to let him live.”
Dammit, his logic made sense.
