“There’s something else that bothered me. When I was in Laegenshire today, I didn’t see Graely or Nordamen. And a number of other important council members and warriors were missing from town.”
“Perhaps they were simply at their homes or on a hunting trip. Or perhaps they have fallen sick from the plague.”
“But what if they’ve found Lena already and are hiding her somewhere?”
“I thought you said no one reacted strangely when you said the girl’s name. You would easily detect their alarm, even though you’re currently unable to access your gifts.”
“Yes, and I even questioned Raelene.” He spat out her name as if it had a bad taste. “She would certainly have reacted with distress when I said Lena’s name if she knew of the existence of her granddaughter.”
Jireo felt a trickle of sweat run down his forehead despite the chill air, but he held himself still and quiet in his hiding place.
“What will you do, Sire, if you ascertain there are others searching for Lena already?”
“I might simply follow them and let them do my work for me.” His lips spread in a vile grin. “But if the opportunity presents itself to kill Graely BarManasae, I will certainly take it.”
A gasp escaped Jireo’s lips. The two men turned their heads sharply to stare in his direction. He froze in the deep shadows behind the trees.
Murmuring softly to each other, the men stood slowly, moving with soft footfalls in Jireo’s direction. His heart pounded as he considered his options. He felt around for a large stone and, saying a silent prayer, threw it as hard as he could at an angle away from him.
As the stone tumbled though the underbrush, the men ran rapidly toward the crash. Jireo slipped away in the opposite direction on soundless feet. Veering a long way around the camp and back toward the road, he hoped the two men would assume they were chasing an animal and not check the road where Surefoot was tethered.
His luck held and Jireo mounted quickly, riding to relative safety away from the treacherous camp. His heart continued to pound at a furious pace until he was a league or more away. He cursed himself, as he hadn’t brought a larger supply of arrows, for he could now foresee needing them for more than hunting.
Stopping only to water his horse and stretch his legs for a moment, Jireo rode through the night and into the morning until exhaustion forced him to rest. Now fearing discovery, he moved well off the road and found a secluded place to rest near a small spring bubbling from beneath a rocky outcropping.
Feeling rested enough to continue, he forced his aching body onto the horse’s back. Not for the first time, he regretted riding alone rather than with Kaevin. The two had been inseparable friends, almost since birth. Playing together as children grew into hunting and working side by side as teens until the constant companions had developed an unbreakable bond. So familiar were they with each other’s actions that, when hunting in tandem, they coordinated without the need for speech. They had always shared everything. Until now.
Since Alora had entered their lives, everything had changed. Jireo could not help the bite of hurt and jealousy he felt over her interference. And with Kaevin convinced the two were soulmates, he felt he’d lost his friend forever.
Without his companion, the only thing left for Jireo was to prove himself of value to the clan. Perhaps he would be allowed to train early as a warrior rather than being forced to wait until he had the customary nineteen years. Without Kaevin by his side, he couldn’t continue as before. It would simply be too sad.
Abruptly, Jireo was aware of hoof beats thundering behind him. He hurried off the road to hide with Surefoot and see what rider or riders were advancing at such a pace. He saw a pure white horse fly past him with a small rider, wearing a green cloak, long blond hair flying behind.
“Arista? Arista! Stop!” he called, running out onto the road.
The rider slowed the horse and came to a halt, turning around to walk back to Jireo.
“What’s wrong? Why are you here?” he asked. “Has someone attacked Laegenshire?”
“No,” she said, panting to catch her breath, “I was trying to find you.”
“But why? What happened?”
“I didn’t want to be left out. You and Kaevin always do everything without me. You get to do all the exciting stuff, and I’m stuck cooking and gardening and washing clothes with Mother. I’m just as good a rider and even better than both of you with a bow and arrow.”
“You have only sixteen years—and you’re a girl.”
“We have plenty of female warriors.”
“Yes, but Mother doesn’t want you to be a warrior. And anyway, why would I want to hang around with my little sister? You’d only be in the way.”
“I wouldn’t be in the way, and you’re just being selfish.” She stuck out her tongue.
“Well, I can’t send you back by yourself now. It’s too dangerous. There’s an enemy party between us and Laegenshire.” He stomped back to retrieve his horse. “You’ve been nothing but trouble since you were born.”
“You were too young to remember when I was born,” she bit back, looking down her nose at him.
“Did you leave a message for Mother? If you make it back home alive, she’s going to kill you.” He swung his leg up to mount and gave Surefoot a gruff kick.