“Who were they?” I ask as I approach Kane, my voice barely rising above the whisper of the wind through the trees.
A twig snaps and the trees rustle. On edge, I spin around. The driver emerges from hiding, Shadow’s reins in hand. “That would be the newly appointedambassador from the Kingdom of Cups and his wife.” He clears his throat and lowers his head. “May they rest in peace.”
“They must have traveled for at least two days to get here,” Kane says. “Although I don’t know why an ambassador from Cups would want to make such a trip.”
“Trade.” The driver lifts a thin shoulder. “That’s what I overheard. Lord Ashwood was to arrange trade between the kingdoms. And now he’s dead…they’redead…murdered.”
“If handled poorly, this could start a war.” Kane’s expression hardens, and the sharp line of his jaw pulses with each clench of his teeth. “There is no one else in your party?”
The driver shakes his head, twisting Shadow’s reins around his fingers.
“What’s your name?” I ask, placing my hand on his.
“Briggs, miss.” He sweeps his copper curls from his forehead.
“It’s nice to meet you, Briggs.” I smile. “Although I wish it were under different circumstances.”
“Agreed, miss.” His warm brown eyes find mine, and he smiles the wobbly smile of a timid teen. “What’s to be done now? I can’t arrive at the palace alone. I can’t leave the horses… the carriage… And you said this could start a war between the kingdoms.” The color drains from his pale cheeks, and he takes a dazed and shaky step back.
Kane is there to take Shadow’s reins and steady Briggs before he falters. “We will deal with the issues one by one. First, we must right the carriage and get it hidden in the trees. We can’t run the risk of being seen. Not without the proper story.” He steps away fromthe young driver, his arm still extended to catch him if he falls. “Can I count on your help with whatever may come of this?”
Briggs nods. “Of course. If you hadn’t been here…” He rubs his still-trembling hands together, his gaze wandering to the bodies in the mud.
“We will make this right.” Kane claps him on the back.
I take Shadow’s reins before he moves to the vehicle, Briggs on his heels. The mare rambles up next to me. She nudges my shoulder and blows an exasperated sigh through my tangled hair.
“I know, Shadow,” I say and sweep the frizzy mass over my shoulder. “The past few days have beena lot.”
Mud splatters as Kane jumps into the ditch. “Control the horses. On my signal, have them pull the carriage forward,” he instructs, motioning up at Briggs while positioning himself at the rear of the carriage.
Briggs jogs to the horses. He smooths his hand along each of their sides and collects the reins. “Ready,” he calls once he’s in position.
Kane braces himself against the carriage. His sweat-dampened tunic clings to his body, outlining the swell of thick muscle beneath. I bite my lower lip as he pushes against the carriage and his muscles tense, flexing under the strain. Beads of sweat gloss down his face and arms, and he wipes his brow before adjusting his hold on the carriage.
Next to me, Shadow snorts, and I startle.
“What?” I clear my throat, getting control of my steadily increasing pulse. “Like I said, you won’t have to share him. It’s just hot out here.” I fan myself with myfree hand to keep up the lie.
Kane pushes against the carriage, a grunt of exertion rumbling through his bared teeth. Bit by bit, it begins to shift, creaking and groaning under its own weight.
“Move!” he shouts up to Briggs, who guides the horses forward.
With a final push from Kane and pull from the horses, the carriage emerges from the ditch and crashes back onto all four wheels.
Up close, it’s even more beautiful. Adorning its sides are chalices carved into the gleaming silver-painted wood. Splashes of glittering cerulean pour from each cup, encircling the door, and combining into a frothy white-tipped wave above it.
Shadow follows me as I move closer and run my fingers along the deep-blue sapphires and crystal clear diamonds inlaid within the carved waves. The carriage’s windows are framed with ornate turquoise trim, and the curtains snagged on shards of broken glass are the same shimmering silver as the exterior.
As I round the carriage and Kane climbs out of the ditch, making his way over to Shadow, my gaze is snared by a glint of glimmering slate a few yards away in the muddy trench, detached from the carriage during the attack.
I pass the reins to Kane, and he murmurs to the mare and rubs her soft nose. Hiking up the end of my dress, I walk to the ditch. The trunk’s silver handle catches the light, sparkling up from the mud. I squat near the edge of the ditch and reach for it. I strain as I grab the handle and pull. The trunk is heavier than it looks, and I struggle to keep my balance while trying not to muddy mydress any more than I already have.
“Allow me, miss.” Briggs rushes over and, with a polite nod, exchanges places with me.
“Hannah,” I offer as he drags the trunk up the embankment and onto the road. “Call me ‘Hannah.’”
His freckled cheeks pinken as he turns to face me, his gaze quickly dropping to his feet. “Anything else, miss?”
