“I know I can. I’ll choose them myself.”

“You mean riders from Fort Crag?” Talin asked. “That’s too risky. You’re Galeth’s first line of defense. Surely one of the other forts can spare them.”

“Perhaps. But I wouldn’t trust riders I haven’t trained.”

My mouth fell open in shock. “What are you saying?”

He grinned. “You didn’t think I was going to let you have all the fun without me, did you?”

18

“We should come with you,” I argued as Roan started to close the door behind him. He had escorted us outsiders to a sitting room so he could explain what he’d learned to the rest of the councilmembers.

“What, so you can get in another fight with Yana?” He clucked his tongue. “I’d sooner put two dominant mares in the same pasture.”

I wrinkled my nose at the analogy just as he slammed the door in my face.

He returned an hour or so later, face beaming in triumph even as Yana followed him through the door.

“What are you thinking?” she demanded. “Sacrificing Galethians for this spoiled princeling and his girlfriend? Or were you perhaps hoping this would impress her enough to pick you instead?”

I rose from my chair, indignant, but Roan cut me off with a sharp glance.

“Do you really think I’d endanger my own men and women for a girl? Be reasonable, Yana. If you still can.”

Her face had turned nearly the same shade of red as her hair. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what it means. We’ve given you the benefit of the doubt because we know how difficult it was when Landrey left, but we voted on this. One soldier from each fort will replace my men and women at Fort Crag. Twelve including me. The decision is made.”

For the first time since I’d met her, Yana appeared at a loss for words. I watched as the color leeched from her face, and she sank into a chair, suddenly looking exhausted.

There was a long, heavy silence, and then she tilted her face up to Roan. “You think this is because of Landrey?” Her usually powerful voice was raw with emotion, and just like with Mother, I found it difficult to witness. There was something about seeing the cracks in a seemingly impenetrable veneer that cut straight to my heart.

Roan placed a hand on her hunched shoulder. I expected her to recoil at his touch, but she remained slumped in defeat. “Of course it is,” he soothed with surprising gentleness. “She’s your sister. I know how hard it was for you to see her banished.”

I covered my mouth with my palm to stifle a gasp.

“You have no idea how hard it is,” she whispered, but there was no anger in her voice. Whatever fight she’d put up in the meeting room had finally left her. “And to see that child riding Titania is even worse.” Her eyes traveled to me as she said it, but she seemed resigned rather than bitter.

“Titania chose Nor,” Roan said. “Believe me, I was as shocked as you were. But that horse doesn’t make false moves. And I believe Landrey would be glad to know Titania’s with a rider she chose.”

Yana made a small noise in her throat. The rest of us looked at each other, having no idea what would happen next.

After a few moments of silence, she sat up straighter and placed her hands on her knees. “Right. Well, you can’t all ride straight for New Castle. Ceren will see you coming and crush the lot of you.” She stood up and began to pace the room. “It seems to me that if it’s Nor he wants, she should travel directly south with you and your soldiers.”

Roan’s eyebrows twitched. “Then you and Nor are in agreement. She was already planning to split up with the others.” He lowered his voice and leaned in closer. “You’d know that if you hadn’t stormed out of the meeting.”

Yana looked sheepish for a split second before her eyes darted to me. “Talin and his men should go east and cut south along the shore. They can take the old road to New Castle,” she continued.

Roan tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Not a bad idea.”

“Nor,” Talin said, placing his hand on my arm. “I don’t like this. If anything happens and I’m not there to protect you...”

I pursed my lips. “I thought we agreed I don’t need protecting.”

“That was before I knew my brother wanted more of your blood.”

Roan rolled his eyes at the two of us. “We’ll ride slowly as a large group. You’ll make far better time without us. And the sooner you reach New Castle, the better the odds you’ll be able to infiltrate it while Ceren is away.”

“It’s a risky plan,” Yana said. She glanced at me, one eyebrow raised. “The best plans usually are.”

I smiled at the unexpected approval. “Thank you.”

Roan looked to Talin and his men. “You should leave right away. We’ll hang back a day to give you a head start.”

Osius and Grig nodded, but Talin turned to me. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Of course.” I followed him into the hallway, where we had more privacy. “What’s wrong?”

“I hate the idea of separating from you. I know you don’t need my protection, but I want to be sure that you’re safe.”

I cupped his face with my palm. “I don’t like it, either. But there was no way we were ever going to stop Ceren without putting ourselves at risk. Danger was always going to be inherent to the plan.”

“I hate the plan,” he murmured into my hair. “Just promise me one thing.”

“What?”

He sighed, a soft puff of air against my skin. “That when you’re in a position to do something bold and reckless and Nor-ish, you remember how much I love you.”

It was the first time he’d said it out loud, and the words spread warmth throughout my chest. “Fine,” I said, smiling. “But you have to promise me something, too.”

He nodded.

“That when you decide to do something heroic and brash and Talin-ish, that you remember that I love you, too.”

He leaned back to look me in the eye, and there was so much hope and fear there that my heart swelled with tenderness. His voice was almost too quiet to hear when he asked, “Are you sure?”

I rolled my eyes. “Honestly, Talin, the nonsense that comes out of your mouth.”

His lips twitched in a grin. “Do you remember what happened the last time you said that to me?”

“I do indeed. So what are you waiting for this time?”