“Will you two stop? My gods, you argue like siblings.” Seren crossed her arms, stepping between us. “Since we’re starting training today, and I’m still in pain from the skinwraith’s attack, I was thinking it might be better for you”—she gestured at Tara—“to work with Rykr, while I do some reading on the Skorn. And I need to learn how to better control this bond with Rykr. It might be to our benefit to go to Emberstone a day or two early. The most powerful sorcerers and priests in our territory are there, so we may as well take advantage of it.”
“What exactly is Emberstone?” I asked. My lack of knowledge about the Viori territory frustrated me. That they’d managed to keep their secrets so well was a serious flaw in Lirien military intelligence.
“The seat of our government in the Viori territory, where our leader lives. A city, but it’s built into a mountain and warded.” Seren didn’t bother looking at me as she spoke.
Tara huffed. “You can’t go poking around Emberstone asking about how to break the bond that’s keeping you both alive at this point. Rykr could be killed, and then where would we be?”
“All I’ll ask about is how to control it.”
Tara crossed her arms, disbelief on her face. “Your best bet to surviving is staying here and training as much as you can. Most people have much longer to prepare, and they still die. The Skorn will test you to your limits, Seren. You’ll need to play to your strengths, including any the bond has given you. Instead of seeing it as a weakness, you need to start figuring out how to use it.”
Seren scowled. “Right now, it’s a liability, Tara.”
Tara smirked, shaking her head. “Of course you see it that way. You’ve always been shortsighted, little sister. Mother says you can use it for mind speak, is that true?”
Seren’s face reddened. “Well, yes, but?—”
“That’s a huge advantage right there. Two people able to communicate like that? That’s an enormous gift while fighting elite warriors.”
I didn’t want to say it aloud, but Tara had a point. She clearly had a sharp mind for strategy.
Though a hint of sympathy softened her hardened features, Tara’s lips pursed. A few seconds of tense silence passed between the sisters. “We train today, Seren. Physical skills and with your books, even if you’re in pain. The Skorn won’t take it easy on you and neither will I. My squadron will help.” She smiled. “Mostly because they don’t get a choice. And I can probably get Madoc’s squadron to help too, since they’ve been running drills with me while he’s gone.”
There was that name again.
“Madoc?” I raised a brow.
“Madoc is our brother,” Tara said flatly.
“The twin?” I met Tara’s eyes over the top of Seren’s head. “Would that be the evil one or the good one? Right now, my money is on you for the former.”
Tara’s brown eyes grew frosty. “Thanks for telling him, Ser.”
“It’s not like it’s not common knowledge.” Worry flashed in her face. “Has Mother heard anything? I don’t understand what’s taking Madoc and Father so long. Something might have happened.”
“She hasn’t heard anything, but she’s worried, too—hasn’t been sleeping. She left a few hours ago, probably to see what magic she can use to track them.” Tara glanced at me. From the change in her demeanor, she didn’t want to talk about this in front of me.
The conversation raised questions, though. Just where is Brogan Ragnall and his son? And why hadn’t Seren mentioned them much? Now that I thought about it, it was as though she was avoiding the topic.
Tara’s expression closed off. “I’m going to order my squadron to ride to the training field. Grab some extra supplies and bedrolls—we might camp out there the next few nights, rather than coming back here. And your husband needs some clothes that fit him. Get him outfitted in Vangar leathers for training. That’s an order.”
Seren’s shoulders slumped. She might be formidable on her own, but in her family, she was lowest in the pecking order. “Can Ciaran and Amahle come with us? I asked them last night if they’d help, and they were going to meet me at the stables.”
“If they’re not on duty, they’re welcome to join us.”
“And what about the skinwraith and Giulia’s murder? We’re just not going to tell anyone what happened?”
Tara bent to gather her pack. “In the absence of another attack and any other evidence, the Vangar will investigate it as a murder. I’ll do my best to make sure no one is falsely accused. Is there anything else that’s helpful that I should tell them?”
“Should I mention the glowing eyes of the skinwraith and the vuk?” Seren’s voice came through my head.
“Do that and she’ll think I’m to blame for certain,” I answered.
Seren shook her head. “Not that I can think of.”
“Hopefully, it’s just a horrific accident. Giulia liked to wander in places she ought not to have. If there’s another incident, we’ll have to reassess.” Tara threw her pack over her shoulder, then jerked her chin at me. “Put your damn irons back on. We don’t know if they’ll let you out of them for the Skorn, so you’ll need to learn to fight with them. And don’t let her allow you out of them again.”
I scowled at Tara. “Do you know how to successfully control what she does?”
