Bolt sighed. “I’m really not in the mood to kill anybody today. I hope they have sense enough to surrender.” He shot a look of disgust at me. “You didn’t think to mention that Gehata had put cosp here?”
I held up my hands. “I assumed you knew. He’s not exactly the sort of man to trust anyone he doesn’t have under his thumb.”
“Do they have bows with them?” Bolt asked Rory.
Our apprentice shook his head.
We let our horses approach at a walk. Rory’s hands looked as if they were simply resting on his saddle as he held the reins, but there was a dagger in each. If the guards attacked, they would be dead before they realized it. When we were twenty paces away, they snapped some order to the two girls they were guarding, and one of them came out to warn us off.
I told Mirren to fall in behind me. Bolt, Rory, and Gael fanned out, making no effort to conceal just how gifted they were. “Gehata is dead,” I said, “and cosp loyal to him are in prison. You can walk away, die, or join them. Don’t take too much time deciding.”
The guard who had approached us wore a scar that ran the length of his face, which I took to mean either he was experienced enough to see how high the stakes were or he was too stupid to appreciate them. At his signal, the guard behind him stepped behind the girls and pulled his dagger “What proof do you have to offer?” he asked.
I pointed at the two girls. Both dark, with light-colored eyes showing hints of blue and green, they stood frozen by the threat of violence. “They saw something that has to do with Queen Chora’s death. I need to talk to them about it.” I dipped my head. “That’s going to happen whether you allow it or not. So the only question is, will you still be breathing a few moments from now when I do?”
“Willet,” Bolt hissed, “I’m not quick enough to get to them.”
“There you see?” The man in front said with a smile. “I think you’re going to let us pass. Otherwise, the girls will die.”
A thought occurred to me, and I pointed to Rory. “If either of these men turn away from us without dropping their weapon, I want you to put your knives to use.”
“You think I’m afraid to die?” the man in front asked.
“Probably a little,” I said, “but maybe not enough to serve me.” I smiled. “That’s why I’m telling Rory to put those toys of his in your hamstrings.” I dismounted and took a step forward. “I’m not going to let you leave with them, and if you harm them in any way, I’m not going to let you die. I’m going to hurt you in ways you’ve barely glimpsed in your nightmares. Rory?”
For effect, Rory lifted his left hand and rolled a dagger back and forth across it fast enough to make the edge buzz in the air. “And I’m right-handed,” he said.
The guard in back straightened out of his stance and sheathed his sword, stepping to his right, away from the girls. A moment later the guard in front copied him. Bolt and Rory dismounted.
“If you really want to help Aille, go north,” Bolt said. “They need men at the forest. If I see you back in Cynestol, I’ll kill you.”
I took a step toward the girls, my heart pounding with relief and exultation. They backed up against the wall, their eyes wide with expectations of violence. Mirren tugged at my sleeve. “They might prefer a woman,” she said, but when she stepped forward they cringed.
“I think they’re afraid of everyone, and it’s hard to blame them.”
Gael dismounted and stepped in front of me. “Go easy, Willet,” she murmured. “They’re scared. You may be able to see into their minds, but you have no idea what they’ve been through yet.” She turned to the girls. “Let me introduce you to my friend.” She pointed to me. “His name is Willet. He’s not going to hurt you.”
I took a step forward and then another, but at the third they flinched and tried to press themselves into the stones of the wall, their faces turned away. I unbuckled my sword and sat on the ground. “What are your names?”
“Arriella,” said the shorter of the two. Her voice was reedy with fear, and the way she flinched when her back touched the stone explained some of it. “This is Oronelle.” She touched the other girl on the arm.
“I’d like to talk to you, if I may,” I said. “For just a little while, and then, if you like, we can take you back to Cynestol and your family.”
Oronelle dropped her head, and a tear caught the light as it fell to the ground. “We didn’t protect the queen,” she said. “They don’t want us anymore.”
“Who told you that?” I asked quietly.
Oronelle didn’t raise her head, but I heard her sniff. “The bishop.”
“Well, Oronelle, the bishop lied,” I said. “Your family loves you, and what happened to the queen wasn’t your fault.”
“How could you know that?” Arriella asked.
I nodded and patted the ground to either side of me. Hesitantly, like skittish colts, they came and sat. “I know what came after the queen,” I said. “Your job was to see them, yes?”
They nodded.
I reached out to Arriella, not taking her hand, simply offering mine. She’d taken the lead, speaking for them both, but her fingers trembled even so. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
“They told us to point at everyone. Everyone,” she said. She put her hand in mine.
I plunged through the blue-green of her eyes and into memories that rushed and ran, cascading with all the force
