Chapter Seven
Landyn whirled on Ravenand grabbed her arm in a firm grip as he spoke to the commander. “Please give us a moment.”
He guided her out of the room and glared at her. “You can’t go. You don’t know what you’re getting involved in.”
“If my father wanted me to have the key, then I’m already involved,” she responded, lifting her chin defiantly.
Landyn ground his teeth. She had clearly been listening in on the commander and his conversation. “It’s dangerous, Raven. Boucher is merciless. He has committed atrocities.”
“Like killing my father?”
“Worse. He is pure evil. He’s the only man I know of who has no morals.”
“Stop. You’re scaring me,” she said with thick sarcasm.
“I wish I were truly scaring you. There is no reason for you to do this. This is not what your father would have wanted for you. Go to Sybil’s farm. Find your sisters.”
Raven’s eyes narrowed; her blue eyes flashed. “Don’t tell me what my father wanted.”
Landyn’s stern glare softened. She was hurting, he knew. “He was my friend, Raven. I will miss him, too.”
Grief flashed in her eyes for a moment, like a fleeting raindrop. Then it was gone. “You won’t miss him as much as I will.” She spun and stepped into the room toward the commander.
Trouble, Landyn thought as he followed her. How could he keep his oath to take care of her if she insisted on risking her life?
The commander leaned back in his chair, surveying them with astute eyes.
“I will find him,” Raven announced.
There was only one way to keep her safe. If he agreed to locate Boucher and return with the key, then there would be no reason for her to go. “She doesn’t know how to get word back to you about her progress,” he said to the commander. “I’ll do it.”
Her mouth dropped, and her gaze swung to him in shocked anger. “The commander can tell me,” she argued.
“She isn’t as experienced as I am tracking.”
“How hard can it be to track a squadron?” she retorted.
“She is a woman,” Landyn said, staring at the commander. He would say anything to get him to dismiss her.
Raven’s eyes widened in outrage. “I can do anything he can do!”
“Except let this go,” Landyn quipped.
“Enough,” the commander said in a strict voice, silencing both of them. He leaned forward and clasped his hands on the desk. He looked at Raven. “I know of your reputation and skill with the sword.” His gaze swung back and forth between Landyn and Raven. “This is a dangerous job. Both of you are capable of doing it alone. But it would be safer if you didn’t.”
Landyn grinned internally, satisfied. The commander was not going to let her go after Boucher.
“You shall worktogetherto find Boucher and retrieve your father’s key,” the commander announced.
Raven’s teeth ground as she walked through the corridors of the chateau toward the inner ward. Work together, she thought with disgust.
Landyn followed her.
She didn’t look, but she could feel his obnoxious presence and hear his booted footfalls.
As they emerged into the inner ward, the stable boy rushed up to them. He spoke to Landyn. “Father Michel has organized the burial as ye requested.”
Landyn patted the boy on the head. “Thank you. Please prepare our horses.”
