A few of the soldiers winced, as if they’d experienced the alluded-to punishment before and weren’t eager to try it again.

“We will be walking and trotting for most of the journey. We’re not going for speed. This is about safety, first and foremost. I know, I know,” he said to the grumbling riders. “Not the most exciting. But we don’t know what to expect, what Ceren has planned, or even what the terrain will be like. Our mission is to see our guests safely through to the woman king’s camp, not to have an adventure.” He paused and grinned. “All right, I’m hoping for a little adventure along the way, too.”

The soldiers whooped and cheered. It was clear they both respected and liked their leader, similar to the way Talin’s men regarded him. There were five female soldiers in the group and seven men including Roan. There didn’t seem to be any hierarchy among them. They trained, ate, and slept together. Most of the women had shaved heads or close-cropped hair, like the men. To avoid the spread of lice, Adriel told me. But it also made them look fierce; Varenian standards of beauty—grace, delicacy, softness—had no place here. These women were tanned and muscular, unadorned and rough around the edges. But the way they moved with their horses, as if they were one with the animal, was far more graceful than any curtsy I’d ever seen.

One rider, a tall woman with short blond hair that matched her palomino’s mane almost perfectly, had found her way over to where Adriel and I stood.

“You should take a saddle pad from the supply room before we go,” she said quietly to Adriel. “Your mare needs a riser to counterbalance her flat withers.”

Adriel arched a dark eyebrow. “You think I don’t know what my mare needs?”

“I can tell you’ve never ridden her for more than a few hours at a time,” the woman said, but there was nothing accusatory about her tone. She was merely stating the facts. “And I can tell you care for her and wouldn’t want her to suffer on our journey.”

Adriel nodded. “Would you show me which one would work best?”

The woman escorted Adriel to the tack room while the others made their final preparations.

I mounted Titania, checking her girth one final time.

“Are you nervous?” Roan asked, his gelding earning a skeptical eye from Titania.

I cut him a similar glance. “About what?”

“Getting back on the road. You have no idea what you’re facing.”

“No,” I retorted. “But then, neither do you. Isn’t this your first time leaving Galeth?”

We started filing down the mountain from the fortress to the pass that would lead us back into Ilara. According to the scouts, they hadn’t seen any of Ceren’s guards since the first night, but the archers would keep watch from the fortress until we were out of range. Then we were on our own.

“I haven’t,” he admitted. “But there isn’t a man alive who can outride me.”

“Ah, but what about a woman? I believe you said Yana was the best rider in Galeth.”

He flashed one of his wry grins. “I haven’t challenged her in a while.”

“Why did you really agree to come on this mission?” I asked. The border pass was just up ahead. Soon we would need to ride single file.

“What if I said it was because I wanted to spend time alone with you?”

I rolled my eyes. “I would say you are a flirt and a liar.”

He chuckled. “Fine. I volunteered because I don’t believe that Galeth should continue to cut itself off from the rest of the world the way it has. We would benefit from a safe continent with more open borders between countries.”

“How?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. “It seems to me that most Galethians are very happy.”

“We’re people just like you, Nor. Some are happy, some aren’t. And our strict borders don’t just keep foreigners out. They keep us in. I would like my children to see the rest of the continent someday, if they so choose.” He paused as if waiting for me to challenge him.

“I agree with all of that. And I’m glad you’re joining us.”

“Why?” he asked as his horse pulled ahead to lead the way. “Afraid you’d miss me?”

“Hardly,” I said, driving Titania forward at the last second to cut him off before we entered the pass.

“Thanks,” he called from behind me. “The view is much better from back here.”

* * *

We crossed the border without incident and soon found ourselves back on the road. The forest was dense on either side of the road, and Roan’s soldiers were extremely vigilant, surrounding us civilians to ensure we were in the middle of the herd. Zadie and I were pressed close together, which Titania wasn’t particularly fond of. Sami and Adriel, who both had slower-moving horses, had naturally fallen in line with each other and were talking behind us, too quiet to hear. I could see Roan’s dun up ahead. He was riding with the tall blonde, Shiloh, who appeared to be the second-in-command since Kester had remained behind at Fort Crag.

We had gotten a late start, and the sun was already dipping below the trees. “When do you think we’ll make camp?” Zadie asked me. She was back in her riding clothes, her gowns and petticoats left behind.

“Soon, I hope. We’re not in a hurry. I think Roan just wants to get beyond these trees.”

Just as I finished speaking, I heard the sound of rushing air, followed by a startled grunt.

Titania and Zadie’s mare were instantly on high alert, as were the rest of the horses. The riders pressed in closer around us, turning their backs to us and drawing their weapons. Some had swords, others crossbows.

I glanced around, wondering if Sami and Adriel were all right, and saw an arrow sticking out of the thigh of one of the men closest to me. Beyond the grunt, he hadn’t made a noise.

Zadie and I shared a horrified glance just as another arrow came flying through the air, landing at the feet of one of the other horses. It didn’t flinch, and neither did the rider.

“There,” someone called, pointing to the woods. Just as the riders had turned their attention to that place, a third arrow flew toward us, followed swiftly by a fourth and fifth.

We were being ambushed. Roan whistled between his teeth, one long note followed by a short one, and the horses turned as if one animal and began galloping south. It happened so quickly I barely had time to gather my reins before we were flying down the road, more arrows than I could count whizzing overhead.

“I thought they wanted you alive!” Zadie screamed. “What are they doing?”

“I have no idea,” I shouted, stealing furtive glances behind me. Despite their laziness earlier, Adriel’s and Sami’s horses were having no problem keeping up with the herd. I saw an arrow pierce the flank of one of the horses, but it didn’t falter, even as blood began to seep from the wound.