Page 42 of The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy

“One Warden almost did, but was healed—we are Haelan, after all.”

Osric shook off his astonishment. “She’ll make short work of an escape. No one can hold Tristane.”

“She won’t,” said Fairhrim. With disturbing serenity she added, “She’s got no seith.”

“No seith? What do you mean? What did they do to her?”

“Nothing horrid. Just a little procedure I conducted, for the safety of everyone at Tintagel Castle.”

Osric had never felt a conversation skid so quickly out of control in his life. “Alittle procedure? Tintagel Castle?”

Fairhrim packed away the hlutoform. “Yes. The Wardens are transferring Tristane to their headquarters, to await judgement at the Stánrocc.”

“Transferring her? When?”

“As we speak,” said Fairhrim. “What are you doing?”

Osric dressed. “I’m going to intercept them while she’s in transit. When she’s at Tintagel Castle there’ll be no chance of getting her out. That place is impenetrable.”

Fairhrim was finally beginning to realise that Osric did not share her elation. “You—you want to rescue Tristane?”

“Obviously, I want to rescue Tristane.”

“But I thought you were helping me. We caught her on the basis of your instructions.”

Osric pulled on his coat. “No. I told you how to deter her; she would never have attempted to bypass those hellish wards if she’d seen them. But she wouldn’t have expected a ward at the foot of a waystone. You didn’t even give her the chance to make a decision.”

“She made a decision when she used the waystone to come to Swanstone,” said Fairhrim.

Which was annoyingly correct, which was why Osric ignored her.

“Why do you care?” asked Fairhrim. “It’s Tristane.”

“Exactly. It’s Tristane. My warchief. She plucked me off the streets and made me who I am. I don’t want her to kill you, but I don’t want herto die, either. Did you say the Stánrocc? They’re going to have her executed for attacking another Order.”

Osric went to the door. He would gather together a dozen Fyren. They ought to be able to take on the Wardens transferring Tristane to their castle. They would need to move fast to intercept them, however. What was the nearest waystone to Tintagel Castle?

Osric clasped at his pockets for his waystone map. When he looked up, Fairhrim was blocking the door. Her arms were crossed. She was steely-eyed.

“You promised to keep this to yourself,” said Fairhrim.

“Promises were made to be broken,” said Osric. “You already know this.”

“Do you really think I’m going to let you hare off and free Tristane? So—so what, she can try again later, and actually kill someone at Swanstone next time?”

“She’ll be sentenced to death at the Stánrocc,” said Osric.

“She should’ve thought of that before attacking Swanstone,” said Fairhrim. “She knows the Peace Accords. Don’t go. Otherwise—”

“Otherwise?”

“Otherwise,” repeated Fairhrim, and the word held a threat.

“I’m going.”

Fairhrim reached for Osric with her right hand. Her tacn gleamed white.

Osric danced away from her. “I don’t think so.”