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“Light some candles,” I order, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, already searching for my pants in the dim light of the hearth embers.
She obeys for once, and we work at our respective tasks to the continued clanging of the bell. I get my boots on and notice Rina’s hands are trembling. “You’re safe here with me,” I remind her.
She swallows hard. “Is it the savages? Have they returned for me?”
Three loud thumps sound on our door. “We’re about to find out.”
“My deve!” Bron says through the door. “The Wolf cauldron has been lit.”
The knot in my chest eases by a fraction. The savages are not here, but in the Wolf Realm to the east. As I raise the bar, all the noise comes to an end and I exhale with relief. On the other side of the door, however, Bron is still a bit manic, reminding me that this is only his third go round as my aide in a high-pressure situation. My palm lands on the smaller man’s shoulder, steadying him. “Are preparations underway?”
“Yes, Deve.”
I nod. “Eldon has been sent for?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Have the kitchen prepare rations for three days as well as breakfast for . . .” I pause, glancing back at Rina who’s gotten her dress on. “Thirty men. Inform Noé, and send Ion up.”
“Okay. Uhhh, only thirty?”
“That’s what I said.” I shut the door in his face, the old self-doubt that used to plague me nothing but a flicker. I’m not leaving the stronghold with minimal defenses when this week saw savages on our doorstep. The Wolves will accept half of us or none at all.
“What’s the Wolf cauldron?” Rina asks, now slipping her boots on.
“An emergency beacon to the east. The Wolf Realm is asking for our help to repel the savages.”
That’s clearly not what she was expecting me to say. “Does that happen often?”
I move to the weapons chest and flip open the heavy lid. “Not usually this close to winter, but yes, a number of times a year.”
“And . . .” She hesitates as if choosing her words carefully. “And the deve answers this appeal for assistance himself?”
Rummaging through the contents, I grin to myself. “I do, yes.” I don’t mention how my father never rode or fought with his men, or how, even before I came to power, these forays into battle as Warrior Commander forged a bond between me and my warriors. It has proven an incredibly valuable means of breeding loyalty in the ranks. The dagger I’m seeking is at the bottom of the chest and I pluck it out. “Come here.” I pull the knife from its leather sheath and hold it out to her handle first.
“What’s this?”
“This was mine when I was a boy. Do you know how to use a dagger?”
“Not as well as a bow, no.”
“We’ll work on that when I return. But for now, I want you to keep it on you at all times.” While she turns the blade over in her hands, I loop the sheath’s belt around her waist, satisfied to see that it fits her nicely. “Do I need to tell you that this is for defense purposes only?” The wry tone of my voice brings a quirk to her lips. “I’m trusting you, Rina.”
“Thank you,” she says simply and I squeeze her shoulders before I make my way to my clothing cupboard. Digging out my warmest shirt, I’m grateful that she took a wash cloth to me earlier. Going into battle already covered in blood and grime isn’t appealing in the least.
“When will you return?” she asks.
“No idea. It may be a week, it may be three.” My thickest long-sleeve leather battle tunic goes on over the shirt. I have Rina adjust the laces until I’m satisfied with my range of movement. My vest also needs adjustment before I move on to arming myself. My battle sword has probably been cleaned and put with my things in Nightshade’s stall, but I strap my short sword to my thigh, my long dagger to the outside of my boot, and thread the handle of my axe through its loop on my belt. My regular dagger is already in place.
She watches me as I swing my fur traveling cloak over my shoulders. “Will you be warm enough?” she murmurs.
Her concern is like a shot of rot-gut, warm yet fierce. Besides my mother, no one’s ever worried for my well-being. It’s oddly settling, though the buzz of anticipation I always get before embarking on these missions isn’t dulled in any way. “Don’t fret. I’ll do everything in my power to come back to you in one piece.” I set my palm against her cheek. “And I expect you to obey Ion while I’m gone. Don’t leave the stronghold for any reason except to bathe.” She’s on the verge of arguing, but I cut her off. “I mean it. If I come back to a stolen or dead bride, I will be more than angry. Let’s keep things on an even keel while I’m gone, all right?”
Her lips purse but she nods.
I seal our agreement with a kiss as someone bangs on the door. “My deve?” Ion calls.
“Ready?” I ask Rina, taking her hand and heading for the door.
