But she couldn’t. Which was partially why they were in this mess.
Renard’s aubergine-clad guards led the group toward the first of the camps so that there’d be no mistaking that they were friendly. Still, the leader—a general, based on the stars along his collar—met them at the camp’s edge, following the proper protocol.
“Prince Renard, Your Highness, I was unaware you were visiting the front line.”
“It was quite unplanned, General—”
“Tousette, sir.”
“Very good. General Tousette, myself and my men have beenon an excursion into the Torrent, rescuing Princess Amarande from the misguided attentions of a commoner in her employ.”
Amarande’s mouth opened to refute this, but Renard’s hand was heavy upon her shoulder, quick as a lightning strike. “The princess has had quite a shock and is extremely exhausted. We must forge back to the Bellringe in the morning, for we are to be married tomorrow night.” All the saliva left the princess’s mouth.Tomorrow?That couldn’t be. “We would greatly appreciate it if we could fold into your camp for the night, and rest our weary bones.”
“It would be an honor, Your Highness. Beds and supper shall be yours within the hour.”
“Good man, Tousette.”
And then the general was off, barking orders. His men whipped into action around him, restructuring their tent city to fit a prince.
Renard seemed to delight in so many men scurrying around at his direction. The soldiers moved like ghosts in the twilight, a blur of aubergine and white that faded to gray in the smudge of remaining sun. Amarande squeezed her reins, trying very hard not to punch him in the face.
The princess’s stomach growled, empty as the howling wind. If she was this hungry, Luca was likely the same, and he needed the rest—that snakebite would take more than the recovery they’d given it. He needed off that horse and a bellyful of good food and hydration.
“I demand full meals for both Luca and myself,” the princess said without preamble. “And water. As much as we like.”
“Of course, my love, you are not my prisoner. You are here on your own accord.”
Ha.“In that case, I request dinner in my tent.”
“A lovers’ meal. Just as delightful as our first, I hope.”
This boy was insufferable. “Mytent is notyourtent. Nor are you to be within fifty feet of my tent if you want to keep your blood on the inside.”
Taillefer snickered and Renard shot him a look before lifting his chin at Amarande. “Very well. But I won’t allow you to sleep within fifty feet of your stableboy either. And you cannot sleep unguarded.”
Amarande smirked. “Right, because I’m here on my own accord.” Caught, Renard sighed. The princess continued. “I see two women in your party, and I know one is quite handy with a sword. I sleep with them or I don’t sleep at all.”
Renard’s eyes slid to the female pirate and then to the other girl—definitely Osana. Her cowl was still up, but the princess was now sure that Egia was strapped to the girl’s back. A thread of disappointment wound through Amarande at this, but she knew it was likely the girl wanted a job more than a place. Or maybe everything she’d told the princess was a lie. It didn’t matter, but it did sting just a little.
Amarande wasn’t convinced Renard thought of women as his equals, only as something he needed to succeed—for his crown, for his heir—but if he respected anything about Amarande, it was her ability to fight, and these two women were cut from the same cloth in that regard. In fact, the princess thought, they would likely protect her better than any men in the party simply because they wouldn’t underestimate her ability while overestimating their own.
“Ula, Osana, set up for the night with the princess. Nikola and Tremaine, you take point outside the women’s tent. Taillefer, choose two men to watch the stableboy with you. Everyone else, you’re with me.”
That smirk nearly deepened into an amused smile—seven people to guard both herself and Luca, seven more plus an entire army camp to keep Renard safe from what he thought they might do to him.
Still, as they separated, the entire camp shifted, men moving things around to surround them in the center. As requested, shewouldn’t be within fifty feet of Renard, but she would have a fifty-man layer pressing in on her, as thick as the walls of the Itspi.
Amarande’s smile dropped.
If this were how her life was to be—fenced in on all sides by military power—she’d be suffocated by her own dreams, agency, ideas. It could hardly be called a life to live. As if Renard knew what she was thinking, he drove his knife in further, smiling brightly as his brother hauled Luca away.
“Sleep well, my princess. By tomorrow night, the two of us, and our kingdoms, shall be wed.”
CHAPTER
39
AMARANDEhated that she couldn’t easily see Luca from her tent. True to his word, Renard had placed him completely on the other side of the encampment. He’d set up his own tent beside his brother’s, his cushion of seven men filling in the easement between. Through the dark and the glare of dozens of fires, Luca was somewhere in the shadows.
