That’s a huge group for an expedition into the Dunnian Woods. Proof of just how dangerous dropbears can be. It’s also large because Mom agreed to let Rhydd join us. All Tamarel’s kings and queens must be fully trained monster hunters, so he argued that he should come along. He isn’t allowed to actually get near the cabin, though. This is why I happily gave up the ivory throne to wield the ebony sword: One of these things is a whole lot more exciting than the other.
We took the back roads through Tamarel. That’s a must if we want to get anywhere fast. We’re the country’s prince and princess riding with an entourage of monsters. For local villagers, it’s like the best parade ever. This trip isn’t about meeting our subjects, though. It isn’t even just about handling a cabin full of dropbears. It’s about figuring out why the dropbears are here—what’s bringing them and other monsters to our border.
Wilmot and Yvain mapped out a route to minimize our path through the woods. At the edge, we need to leave the horses and the equine monsters behind. The forest is too thick for them to pass through easily, and if we’re attacked by predators, it’s also too thick for them to defend themselves properly.
We overnight there, and then two of the hunters remain with our mounts while we head into the forest. One problem with that is that equine monsters aren’t horses, and we don’t treat them as such. Courtois wears a saddle but no bridle. I’ve been riding Doscach—the ceffyl-dwr—bareback. Monsters are never under our control, and they always stay with us by choice. Courtois has no interest in venturing into the woods and happily stays behind. The pegasus filly, Sunniva, takes off flying, doing as she pleases. Doscach, though, insists on following me, and I have to ask him, very politely, to stay behind. When that fails, Courtois keeps him out by herding him away.
Once inside the forest, we need to move quickly. It’s a long hike to Dropbear Cabin, and with the marsupials being nocturnal, it’ll be easier to deal with them during the day. We’re off at the crack of dawn, and we eat our midday meal as we walk, reaching our destination by mid-afternoon.
That’s where my adventure comes to a screeching halt.
“Rhydd?” Wilmot says as our hunters check their weapons. “You’ll be staying here with Kaylein.”
“What?” Rhydd and I say in unison.
“Your mother said you could come as long as you didn’t get within a hundred feet of the cabin.”
“A hundred feet?” I say. “I know he can’t go to the cabin, but he can’t even see it from here.” I sweep my hand across the view, which consists of trees, trees and more trees.
“Rhydd and Kaylein will stay here and watch for stragglers,” Wilmot says. “We’ll surround the cabin and then close in on it. A couple of dropbears may escape.”
“And run in this exact direction?”
Wilmot skewers me with a look, but I only shoot the same look back.
“Remember that time when we were little?” Rhydd says to me. “We wanted to help Jannah and Dad drive off a pack of wargs, and they left us in the next town, standing on the inn steps with our practice swords, in case a warg came our way…while they chased them in the other direction.” He lifts his gaze to Wilmot’s. “I have no idea why this plan would remind me of that, since I’m no longer a child. Coincidence, I presume.”
Wilmot grunts and says nothing.
“I will be thirteen next month,” Rhydd says, his voice even. “I am a young man and a future king, and I would like to be treated as both. That doesn’t mean I insist on being allowed to join the hunt. It means I insist on being told the truth.”
Yvain walks over. “Your mother doesn’t want you within a hundred feet of that cabin, your highness, because you are the future king, and because your leg still causes you trouble, and because dropbears are a match for a fully trained hunter, which you are not yet. She’s allowed you on this excursion but drawn the line at actually allowing you to deal with the dropbears. If you feel that treats you as a child, I won’t say I blame you. It’s something you need to discuss with her, though.”
I open my mouth to protest, but Rhydd cuts me off with, “Understood. Thank you for telling me the truth.” He shoots a quick glance at Wilmot.
Wilmot grunts again, but this time there’s apology in it. I still want to argue, which is why my brother is better suited for the throne. We shouldn’t argue with those who are simply carrying out the queen’s orders.
And this is where I need to make a difficult decision. Where I need to remember who I am and my own responsibilities.
If I were the full-fledged royal monster hunter, I’d be leading this expedition. But the reason Alianor, Dain and I trapped the dropbears was because we couldn’t deal with them in any other way.
I’m not fully trained. I haven’t passed my trials. While I’m a good fighter, Kaylein is better, and she shouldn’t be left behind.
“I will stay with Rhydd,” I say. “Kaylein should take my place in the attack.” I turn to Alianor and Dain. “Alianor? Would you stay with me? Dain—”
“No,” Dain says, crossing his arms. “Don’t ask, princess. I’m not staying behind.”
“If Rowan asks, you will stay,” Wilmot says. “As long as you’re training as a hunter, you are part of her troop.”
Dain’s scowl should be aimed at Wilmot. Of course, it isn’t. Wilmot is the foster father who rescued Dain from a life of servitude. The one who gets his scowls is me, as usual.
“I was
