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“You shouldn’t judge us, Lord Talisyn.”
“No? Not when it looks like you’re hiding?”
“We’re on a special mission,” one of them said. One of the others cut their eyes at him desperately, as if they were telling him to stop talking.
“And what is that?” I asked. I was very curious who had given that order.
“Lord Camet. He is preparing the counterattack against Kallus’s forces.”
That was good news. If Jaik and Caldren would indeed fall back to Rylow, we’d be able to counterattack from a place of power. Right now, all our forces were scattered; I hoped Honor’s magic would strengthen enough we’d be able to reach out to Jaik and Caldren and launch a joint attack. “And what does he want from you?”
“To bring Lady Honor back to Rylow so that she can assist with the fight,” one of the men asserted quickly, speaking over the first, who looked confused.
I had a feeling I knew exactly how they intended for her to help with the fight: by offering her up to Kallus.
“I see.”
One of them tilted his head at me. “It’s rare to see one of you Royals alone. You wouldn’t happen to know where she is, would you?”
I shook my head. “I seem to have lost all the other Royals. But I’m happy to go with you.”
“Glad to hear it,” one of them said. “Camet will be glad to have you.”
Camet was an idiot, and I hoped Jaik would reach Rylow before we did and take command from him. Otherwise, Rylow would be a dangerous place for Honor.
“I don’t mean any disrespect, Lord Talisyn. But I do have to wonder if you might have some idea where Honor is. We’d like to make sure she’s protected.”
“No idea. She does get lost sometimes.” I said, hoping that she would just stay in hiding. It wasn’t great if I had to go along with them, but hopefully I could divert them around our friends and get an insider’s perspective on what was happening in Rylow.
“Well, since you’re coming with us, Lord Talisyn, I’m sure she’ll show up eventually.” The threat was not particularly hidden.
And so it was no surprise really that Honor stepped out into the light. “You were looking for me?”
She sounded altogether too cheerful.
“They were,” I said through gritted teeth, “which was why you were supposed to stay put.”
The smile she flashed me was entirely unapologetic, but she said to the men, “As much as I would like to help Camet, I’m currently rather busy.”
“You need to come with us,” one of the men said.
“I need to do what I choose,” Honor said, with a high handedness that average men never appreciate in a woman, not even their queen.
I thought to Honor,“We might as well just get to the fighting now, since you refused to stay-”
“Hidden in the bushes? My feet were starting to fall asleep.”
“I bet you’ll find it lively now,”I said, before realizing that the men were confused. I’d spoken those words out loud, even though we had been silent before that. It was strange communicating with her without needing to speak out loud.
Sure enough, the men dashed forward then to seize us both.
“We need to take them alive,” the tall, bearded one said. “Especially the girl.”
A shorter man scoffed. “I understand the logic of bringing her back to Rylow, but I can’t say I’d be terribly upset to find her at the end of my sword.”
“Is that so?” Honor said merrily, tapping his sword with her own in a way that seemed both a test and a pitying playful gesture as if he were no true opponent.
The man’s eyes blazed with hatred, and fury washed over me. “You stole what we are. To save themonsters.”
