“No, but?—”
“Then how in the fuck do you expect me to?”
Tara shook her head. “You two fucking deserve each other.”
For the first time that morning, I smiled.
Chapter 19
Seren
Gods, Rykr was handsome.
Amazing what a pair of well-fitting leather trousers could do for shapely male legs. I’d outfitted him in black leather armor from chest to foot, with shoulder pads, a kilt that came to mid-thigh, and leather bracers covered his wrists and forearms. High boots came to his knees. Of course, I’d had to do it without the irons and now I faced a new dilemma as we approached the stables—explaining to Seth and Darya, who waited there, how I’d been able to dress Rykr while he was supposed to be chained.
Seth didn’t wait for us to reach him, striding forward with purpose, his face a hardened mask. An ugly bruise darkened the skin beneath his eye, thanks to the punch I’d landed a couple days ago.
“Why is he dressed in Vangar clothes?” Seth snapped.
“Tara’s orders.” I shrugged. “She’s sending us to the training field with her squadron today. Speaking of which, our progress to the field will be slower than we’d like because of the irons. I wanted to request they be removed while we ride. I had to take them off in order to dress him.” I didn’t bother tiptoeing around it. Seth knew I kept a pick in my braid—he’d taught me that trick and how to pick locks.
Seth’s lips pursed, but his voice was surprisingly gentle. “The irons are for the safety of our people, Seren. You may be proud of flouting the law, but many in the tribe aren’t impressed. You’d do yourself a favor by not challenging me in front of others.”
Seth turned toward Rykr. “Speaking of the laws of our territory, Prince Calix’s body was stolen last night. We found bear tracks. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
Maybe the suspicion wasn’t unduly justified, but bear tracks?
Rykr met his stare coolly. “It so happens I spotted a bear stalking me as I bathed in a stream last night. I stayed still for a while and moved away without it spotting me, but it must have been hungry. Probably smelled the body.”
The unspoken interrogation taking place between Seth and Rykr made my curiosity burn.
How much had Rykr done while I’d been at the feast?
A few beats passed. “We were supposed to turn the body over to Emberstone, but now we’ll have to beg for forgiveness while our scouts scour the forest looking for whatever’s left of it.” He stood straighter. “You won’t be training with Tara, Seren. Effective immediately, I’m calling all the Vangar squadrons to the training fields. There’s been a murder in our camp. And you’re in Darya’s squadron, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” My gaze flicked toward Darya, who’d stayed a few paces back. “A murder?” I asked as innocently as I could.
“Giulia Bernardi’s head was found in the forest. Her body is still missing,” Darya said.
My mouth went dry. “Maybe it was that bear Rykr mentioned?—”
“I found this in the forest,” Darya said, unwrapping a cloth in her hands. The remains of the ice blade I’d made. The cold must have preserved it. Unnaturally dark blood marked the surface of the blade—Giulia’s.
I restrained a shiver, feeling Rykr’s eyes on me. I hadn’t even thought about leaving the blade behind in the chaos of the attack … but how had Tara missed it? Damn.
“You know how to wield ice, don’t you, Seren? Any idea on how something like this could have been made?” Darya asked. Despite the neutrality of her tone, the implication was clear. Why come to me otherwise?
But she’s not wrong.
I raised my chin. “My skills have mostly been limited to frost and small icicles. That looks complex.”
“Hmm.” The corners of her mouth turned downward, and she covered the blade again. “Her mother is convinced she was murdered, but I’ll pass along the bear suggestion to the scouts. In the meantime, our squadron will be reinforcing the Vangar watchtowers today. Seth and I can escort you and your husband to the training field.”
Reinforcing the watchtowers? If I was going to prepare for the Skorn, that was a colossal waste of my time—we weren’t even allowed to read in the watchtowers, considering we had to stay alert.
“Will we be running drills on the field too?” I asked. “I just want to make sure I packed what I need.”
“Perhaps. There’s obviously been a breach of security, and we all need to be vigilant. We leave in five minutes.” Darya turned abruptly and strode toward the corral, where her horse awaited.
