But this man was no lord. He lied with every second breath.
And I suspected he had no intention of passing Siotha on peacefully.
Biting my tongue, I ground my jaw, forcing myself to keep silent.
"Well then," Quinn said with a smile. "Where shall be your new prison?"
Chapter 19
Mare
Igalloped through Gwynford, glancing back at the wall of shadow where I'd glimpsed the dragon.
The tide of darkness could descend at any moment.
Minutes after I arrived—just like in Galasvar.
It was a coincidence. It had to be.
If it wasn't . . . If the monsters had followed me . . .
Illumined by dim torchlight, several guards stood outside a short wooden building with a sizable training yard. They stood on their toes, peering toward the wall, talking amongst themselves.
Pulling my elk to a stop, I waved frantically at them.
"The attack is coming!" I shouted. "Spread word through the city, sound the alarms."
The men fell silent and stared at me.
"What are you standing around for?" I seethed, twisting to display Cierthine on my hip. "This town must have an alarm bell—sound it. If not, shout."
They regarded me with varying expressions. The older man wearing a dented helm looked like he might laugh, and a younger man with long, dark hair curled his lips into a sneer.
In Muirashi, women remained silent and indoors. And here I was, trying to command men. Soldiers.
"Saints!" I breathed. "Get your heads out of your ass. You're all going to die if you don't move."
The older man spoke in a condescending voice. "Did you come in with the Paragon? Why don't you go and fetch him?"
The younger one gazed at Cierthine. "It's a crime to carry weapons, woman."
King Ailithir had warned me that the other countries would be worse. Even if Aenir's men would have rolled their eyes at me, they would have at least heeded my words.
A third guard, a young man wearing an old, oversized helm, smacked his buddy's arm. "Fuck off. Didn't you hear what happened at Galasvar?" Clearing his throat, he looked up at me.
His helm's broad brim fell over his eyes, and he pushed it up. Saints. He looked so young. Seventeen, eighteen?
"We have no alarm bells here, my lady," he said. "But we can yell. What would you have me say?"
Steadying my breath, I glanced back at the walls.
This place would fall. Inevitable death waited beyond the shadows.
"Get everyone out. Tell them to run," I ordered. "Take only what they need—time is against us."
Fear flickered in his soft eyes, but he nodded. "It will be done."
A flash of golden light brightened the dark street. Reese turned down the road, rapier gleaming at his hip, white mare bright against the night.
