overwhelm them as well. They would not be safe, either. Surely, they know this.”
“Maybe they are going to strike a deal,” Brom retorted. “Maybe they will let the Empire in, in return for their attacking us only, so that the McClouds can control the Ring.”
MacGil shook his head.
“The McClouds are too smart for that. They are crafty. They know that the Empire cannot be trusted.”
His general shrugged.
“Maybe they want control of the Ring so badly, they are willing to take that chance. Especially now that they have your daughter as their queen.”
MacGil thought about this. His head was pounding. He did not want to deal with this now. Not so early in the morning.
“So then what do you propose?” he asked, short with him, tired of all the speculation.
“We could preempt this, sire, and attack the McClouds. The time is now.”
MacGil could hardly believe it.
“Right after I gave my daughter to them in a wedding? I don’t think so.”
“If we don’t,” Brom countered, “we allow them to dig our grave. Surely they will attack us. If not now, then later. And if they join with the empire, we would be finished.”
“They cannot cross the Highlands so easily. We control all the choke points. It would be a slaughter. Even with the empire in tow.”
“The empire have millions of men to spare,” Kolk responded. “They can afford to be slaughtered.”
“Even with the shield down,” MacGil said, “it would not be so easy to just march millions of soldiers across the Canyon-or across the Highlands, or to approach by ship. We would spot such mobilization far in advance. We would have warning.”
MacGil thought.
“No, we will not attack. But for now, we can take a prudent step: double our patrols at the Highlands. Strengthen our fortifications. And double our spies. That will be all.”
“Yes, my liege,” Brom said, turning, with his lieutenants and hurrying from the room.
MacGil turned back to the window, his head pounding. He sensed war on the horizon, coming at him with the inevitability of a winter storm. He sensed, further, that there was nothing he could do about it. He looked all around him, at his castle, at the stone, at the pristine royal court spread out beneath him, and he could not help but wonder how long all of this would last.
What he would give now for another drink.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Thor felt a foot nudging him in his ribs, and he slowly peeled opened his eyes. He lay face down, on a mound of straw, and for a moment had no idea where he was. His head felt like it weighed a million pounds, his throat was drier than it had ever been, and his eyes and head were killing him. He felt as if he’d fallen off a horse.
He was nudged again, and he sat up, the room spinning violently. He leaned over and threw up, gagging again and again.
A chorus of laughter erupted all around him, and he looked up to see Reece, O’Connor, Elden and the twins hovering close by, looking down.
“Finally, sleeping beauty wakes!” Reece called out, smiling.
“We didn’t think you’d ever rise,” O’Connor said.
“Are you okay?” Elden asked.
Thor sat up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, trying to process it all. As he did, Krohn, lying a few feet away, whimpered and ran over to him, jumping into his arms and burying his head in his shirt. Thor was relieved to see him, and happy to have him at his side. He tried to remember.
“Where am I?” Thor asked. “What happened last night?”
The three of them laughed.
“I’m afraid you had one drink too many, my friend. Someone can’t hold his ale. Don’t you remember? The alehouse?”
Thor closed his eyes, rubbing his temples, and tried to bring it all back. It came in flashes. He remembered the hunt…entering the alehouse…the drinks. He remembered being led upstairs…the brothel. After that, it was all black.
His heart quickened, as he thought of Gwendolyn. Had he done anything stupid with that girl? Had he ruined his chances with Gwen?
“What happened?” he pressed Reece, serious, as he clasped his wrist. “Please, tell me. Tell me I didn’t do anything with that woman.”
The others laughed, but Reece stared back at his friend earnestly, realizing how upset he was.
“Don’t worry, friend,” he answered. “You did nothing at all. Except for throw up and collapse on her floor!”
The others laughed again.
“So much for your first time,” Elden said.
But Thor felt deeply relieved. He had not alienated Gwen.
“Last time I buy you a woman!” said Colven.
“Perfectly good waste of money,” said Caven. “She wouldn’t even return it!”
The boys laughed again. Thor was humiliated, but so relieved he had not ruined anything.
He took Reece’s arm and pulled him aside.
“Your sister,” he whispered, urgently. “She doesn’t know about any of this, does she?”
Reece broke into a slow smile, as he put an arm around his shoulder.
“Your secret is safe with me, even though you didn’t do anything. She doesn’t know. And I can see how deeply you care for her, and I appreciate that,” he said, his face morphing into a serious expression. “I can see now that you really do care for her. If you had gone whoring, that would not be the kind of brother-in-law I would want. In fact, I have been asked to deliver you this message.”
Reece shoved a small scroll into Thor’s palm, and Thor looked down, confused. He saw the royal stamp on it, the pink paper, and he knew. His heart quickened.
“From my sister,” Reece added.
“Whoa!” came a chorus of voices.
“Someone’s got a love letter!” O’Connor said.
“Read it to us!” Elden yelled.
The others chimed in with laughter.
But Thor, wanting privacy, hurried off to the side of the barracks, away from the others. His head was splitting, and the room still spun-but he didn’t care anymore. He unrolled the delicate parchment and read the note with trembling hands.
“Meet me at Forest Ridge at midday. Don’t be late. And don’t call attention to yourself.”
Thor stuffed the note into his pocket.
“What does it say, lover boy?” Calven called out.
Thor hurried over to Reece, knowing he could trust him.
“The Legion has no exercises today, right?” Thor asked.
Reece shook his head. “Of course not. It’s a holiday.”
“Where is Forest Ridge?” Thor asked.
Reece smiled. “Ah, Gwen’s favorite place,” he said. “Take the eastern road out of the court and stay right. Climb the hill, and it begins after the second knoll.”
Thor looked at Reece.
“Please, I don’t want anyone to know.”
Reece smiled.
“I’m sure she does not either. If my mother found out, she would kill you both. She would lock my sister in
