Lia plucked up an oak twig and twirled it between her fingers. She did not want to hurt the Pry-rians, for they were her countrymen as well. How could they free the girls without bloodshed? She did not know, just as she did not know how she was going to free Colvin when Almaguer held him at the Pilgrim Inn. She only knew that she had to try. Her best hope, she felt, was in persuading Martin to release her willingly. To assure him that the Abbey had not fallen to the Queen Dowager or her minions.

Colvin’s voice whispered like a ghost behind her. “Is it my watch yet?”

She turned and looked down at him. Gently, she touched his shoulder. “Dieyre fell asleep. I only awoke myself a short while ago. I will wake you at dawn.”

Colvin snorted in the dark. “He slept?”

“He was probably more tired than he realized.”

“Do not defend him, Lia.”

She gave him a playful look. “I have no intention of doing that. He will get the last watch from now on. Go to sleep. I am sure you are still tired.”

He slowly sat up, twisting himself around to face her. “I feel much better. Besides, with him asleep, we can speak more freely. Do you know where we are?”

“I believe so. I think we are still in the Bearden Muir.” She said it with all seriousness.

“How can you joke,” he muttered darkly.

“Teasing is different than joking. We are threading the Bearden Muir towards Bridgestow.”

He brought up his knees and rested his arms on them, then lowered his chin on his arms. He sat very close so he could whisper. “Bridgestow has always been loyal to Demont. Years ago during the civil war, Sevrin Demont was in negotiations within Pry-Ree when the old king mustered an army to threaten him. He tried to cross back into the realm, but the bridges were all destroyed. Bridgestow sent ships to ferry him back, but they were caught and burned. Shortly after that, the battle of Maseve. I doubt the city leaders are part of this plot. I believe they are loyal to our side.”

Lia shifted into a more comfortable position. Their backs slightly touched. “Would they help us free her?”

“I think so.”

“That is good to know. We need allies.” She chose to be quiet, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts or annoy him with banter. She sat still, listening to the desperate frog croaking in the silence and said nothing.

His voice was even softer. “Why did you help me?”

She was expecting a question like that. She had puzzled over the possible question all day, turning it this way and that in her mind as if trying to determine the best way to free a nut from an unripe shell. She was not sure if she had a suitable answer. “Because you needed it,” she replied simply. She felt a smirk color her next words. “You require a good deal of looking after, my lord Earl of Forshee. Member of the Privy Council.” A gentle nudge to his shoulder.

“That is true,” he said, the hint of amusement in his voice. He cleared his throat carefully. “Have you thought of what you wanted from me? I did promise to reward you.”

She was quiet in response, deliberately so. She could not say what was brimming up inside her heart. Could not ask for what she wanted most to hear and knew he could never say. So she waited in silence, letting it stretch out. Sometimes silence was more meaningful than words.

Apparently, it was torturing him.

“Lia?”

“Yes?”

“Did you…did you hear my question?”

“Yes,” she replied simply. Did he remember that he had once accused her of being too talkative? “You owe me nothing. Not reading or engraving. Not a dance around the maypole. I release you from all obligations. I was childish when we first met. You were bloodstained and vomiting in the kitchen. I did not see you as a person, but as a means of getting what I wanted.” She sighed deeply. “What I came to realize is that what I wanted more than anything was just to be your friend. That was enough. I thought I lost that a few days ago. But when you came back and asked for my help, I realized that a true friend is not easily offended. If you could swallow your pride and ask for help, I could swallow mine and give it without bartering for something. You need me and I am fond of Marciana and Ellowyn. And besides, you are not nearly clever enough to outfox Martin. I know how he thinks. Maybe that will help. Maybe not.”

It was his turn to be silent. She let it flow past them, like a brook of sweet water.

Another voice broke the stillness. “Is it almost dawn?” Dieyre asked. “With all your whispering, we may as well saddle the mounts and ride. I swear, you two are the kingdom’s greatest fools.” He rolled over and glared at them, his eyes digging like knives. “How can anyone sleep with all that whispering?”