* * *
Fleeing for their lives had one point in its favor: Thana didn’thave time to think about her spirits-cursed feelings.
She gripped the reins until her hands felt numb. With everyshuddering step, she felt as if she might be jolted from the saddle. Sylphpulled up beside her as if having no trouble keeping her seat, but as she’dsaid, nobles often hunted, so she was probably as accomplished at riding as shewas at many things that didn’t matter.
Until someone chased them through the woods.
Sylph glanced back, her hair streaming like a cape. Her eyes wentwide, and she looked to Thana as if for help. Thana thought that if she glancedback, she’d lose her grip for sure, or her horse would run into a tree.
As if she was steering now.
She risked a look and spied a halo of golden hair with a tinge ofred that framed a strong, handsome face. Only one person looked that good whileriding breakneck through a forest.
Gunnar.
Thana slowed her horse before realizing he might not have come asa friend. But even with all that had happened, she had to give him the benefitof the doubt.
“Thana?” He pulled up his own steed, and the Order of Vestrafollowed suit, including a face Thana hadn’t seen before, one that glowered ather. The stranger had a blond ponytail lying over one shoulder, wore a satchelaround her skinny frame—a pyradisté, then—and she seemed far from happy.
“What are you doing here?” Gunnar and Thana asked at the sametime. Both scowled before saying, “No, what are you doing here?”
On Gunnar’s left, Dina laughed. As muscled as someone from astrength chapterhouse, she wore the white of a love and beauty monk. With agrin on her exquisite face, she said, “Sounds like you two never parted.” WhenGunnar glared at her, Thana resisted the urge to do the same, not wanting toinvite further comparison.
“Did you come out here after me?” Thana asked. “I won’t help youor your mother lock pyradistés up or kill them.”
“You didn’t give me a chance to convince her to do otherwise.”
“Have you done so now?” He blinked before opening his mouth. Shewasn’t interested in hearing excuses. “Why did you cancel my pyramid?” sheasked.
“You canceled all of mine,” the pyradisté said with a snarl. “Howin the world did you do that?”
Gunnar held up a hand. “It’s gotten worse in Marienne, Than. Moreaccidents and some attacks that don’t seem like accidents at all. We’ve beenchasing a pack of rogue pyradistés and thought you might be them.”
“Before we realized it was you,” Dina said. “Because we wouldn’tattack you.” The mercenary twins, Ivar and Illis, nodded with her.
Thana felt tears prick her eyes. She hadn’t let herself think ofwhat the consequences of her actions might be as far as her comrades wereconcerned. They didn’t want to hurt her, and she almost couldn’t breathe forrelief and gratitude.
Gunnar seemed as if he might have more angry words, but after aglance at Sylph, he sighed and dismounted. “Let’s set up camp. Seems we have alot to talk about.”
Thana looked at Sylph, who had her placid noble mask firmly inplace. Thana wondered how much Gunnar would share with her and how Sylph wouldreact. Perhaps knowing her prince consorted with peasants and regularly foughtby their side would loosen her up a little.
There was one way to find out. She and Sylph dismounted, butGunnar nodded toward the trees, then headed that way as the Order began settingcamp.
Thana gave Sylph a small signal to stay put before followingGunnar. He stopped near an elm, and she said, “We haven’t seen any pyradistéstoday, but a group attacked us last night, claiming that the queen couldn’tprotect me anymore.”
His mouth closed, and he frowned hard. “I…wasn’t expecting tohear that.”
“I just wanted you to know that whoever is making the purposefulattacks you mentioned seems to be after me, too.” She sighed. “Unless we havetwo enemies.”
His smile was lopsided. “Ever the optimist. I never thought ofyou as my enemy, Than. I hope you know that.”
She felt those cursed tears again. “Not even when I abandoned youto help someone I’d just met?”
“Oh, for spirits’ sake.” He pulled her into a rough hug. “Yes, Iwas angry. I understood, but I was mad, just like you were. But now we’re bothhere. Let’s work together. And I promise not to kill your lady if you promisenot to overthrow my mother.”
She laughed into his shoulder. “Deal.”
“So have you kissed her, yet?”
“Spirits above,” she said as he pulled away. “Is your mind evertruly out of your trousers?”
“We’re talking about your trousers, not mine, and that blushtells me there are stories to be told.”
She rolled her eyes. “Can we talk about the kingdom’s problemsfirst?”
“I can wait,” he said, glancing at where Sylph stood. “Can you?”
She didn’t answer, knowing he could help with her Sylph problemsbut unwilling to bring them up when the kingdom might be at stake. “Later.”
“I will hold you to that, and I won’t even try to seduce her, onmy honor.”
She wanted to laugh in his face and tell him to try his luck, buteven the thought was too much, and when he grinned, she knew she was beingbaited. “Shut up, Gun.”
* * *
Sylph didn’t know where to look, let alone what to do. PrinceGunnar had arrived and didn’t seem to be acting like his normal, carefree self.He hadn’t attempted to flirt with her at all. Instead, he’d taken Thana asideto have a quiet conversation while his servants set up camp.
Except they didn’t act like servants. Retainers, perhaps, orbodyguards. But none bowed to her. They simply gave her curious looks. Perhapsthey didn’t recognize her.
Preposterous.
They were all armed, even the beauty monk, and all seemed asdisinclined to speak to her as she was to them. At least that was a positive.
But one of the dark-haired men stepped toward her, and sheresisted the urge to back away. Like the other man, he wore a leather coat sewnwith metal disks and had a general appearance of unkemptness. The
