Did he now. Well, he wouldn’t be able to do that around her. She would follow him, every time. “And ye, Ashlynn? How fare ye?”
“I’ll survive. I’ve had worse days than this. Not by much, I grant you.” Ashlynn sank onto the edge of her bed, making the wooden frame squeak a bit. Arms braced against her knees, she looked Riana dead in the eyes. “Riana. Don’t discourage Ash, as building the wall will help him pass the time and keep him from worrying himself to death. But I don’t think he should go. Even if he completes the wall.”
“Oh? Why?”
“He’s too kind by nature,” Ashlynn admitted with a long sigh. “Ash has a gentle soul. He only hurts people when he’s truly angry, or when he knows that he has to do so to protect someone else. You should have seen him after the first battle. It…damaged his soul, I think. He handled the second one better, but I didn’t like to see him fight either time.”
Ah-ha. That was why Ashlynn had volunteered so quickly at the dinner table.
“I’m different,” Ashlynn admitted, sitting up properly. “I’m more hot blooded than he is. I have no problem hurting people. That’s why Edvard delegated the jobs to us that he did, even though our skill levels are very similar. He let Ash create, as that is where his heart is happiest. He let me beat up on evil criminals, as that’s what I find satisfaction in.”
“And that be why ye feel it best ye go.” Riana felt like a final piece of the puzzle had just slotted into place. “I ken.”
“Do you? Then watch over him. Let him work, distract him with other things to build and do to protect people, but try to avoid fighting. He’s good at it, but not suited to it.”
Riana had no doubt that Ashlynn spoke truth, but she also had a clear moment of insight. Ashlynn Fallbright was the type of woman to take all the burdens and place them onto her own shoulders rather than let a loved one suffer in any way. She recognized it easily, as her da was the same. Oh, a fine pair these two be. Kindred souls, in a way. No wonder they took to each other so readily.
Putting that aside for now, she promised, “I will do what I can.”
“Thank you.” Ashlynn ran a hand roughly through her hair, wincing when her fingers found a knot. “I sent the message a moment ago to our spies. With the mood Edvard’s in, if we don’t get an answer within a day, he’ll likely go out and search for answers himself. Regardless, I’ll spend tomorrow prepping for our departure.”
Riana snuggled back into her covers as Ashlynn prepared for bed. As she did, Riana sent a silent prayer to Regina, Macha, Lugh, and any other god listening that they be able to find the missing sisters and rescue them safely. She did not want these new, precious friends hurt and grieving from loss of family.
Chapter Sixteen
It took nearly four days for Edvard’s spies to report back to them.
During that time, Edvard, Ash, and Ashlynn nearly went out of their minds with worry. Little Gwen, innocent as she was, picked up on the adults’ mood and constantly clung to someone’s hand or leg for reassurance. Even Broden picked her up and held her a time or two. She reminded him so much of his own daughter at that age that he could not help but do so.
After two days, she did not even ask to be held. Gwen snuggled her arms around his neck, leaning into him, and just held on. She said nary a word, but her body language communicated her worries clear enough.
Broden rested in a chair in Edvard’s study, Gwen ensconced in his lap with a very worn out doll, when a red-faced messenger burst into the room. Edvard nearly leaped out of his chair, crossing to the man with a hand outstretched even as he demanded, “Did they find them?”
“Y-y—” the messenger coughed, drew in several deep, wheezing breaths before managing, “Yes, sire. We received word just now. Just one sentence: All three are in Lorand.”
Edvard froze stock-still. “Lorand. Lorand, Trenena?”
Broden felt the urge to swear and perhaps would have if he didn’t have a little girl in his lap. “Be Zelman such good friends with the king of Trenena, then, that he can ask such a favor? Hostages and blackmail be no trifling business.”
“Taranis, take it!” Edvard slammed a fist down on the table, making the wood crack half-through. “I didn’t think he was. But clearly I was wrong. You.” Edvard pointed a commanding finger at the messenger. “Go find my wizards and bring them here.”
“Ash be building on the southern wall,” Broden supplied helpfully. “Ashlynn be in the kitchen rustling up lunch.”
The messenger, a sandy haired boy that had not quite reached adulthood, bobbed a thankful nod at Broden before spinning on his heel and disappearing through the door in a flash.
Edvard stood staring blankly at the closed door, at a loss. “Broden. That’s a lot of country to cross to retrieve them.”
“Aye,” Broden agreed heavily.
“My half-brother is Duke of Dahl. He’ll grant you safe passage through his lands, so you’ll be safe enough there. But once through Dahl, you’ll enter the Trenena foothills and that’s…”
“Fair game,” Broden growled. “I be a-thinking that the border atween Trenena and Iysh be too thin for my peace of mind.”
Edvard sank into a chair, rubbing his face with an open hand. “Yes. Curse that dastard Zelman to Lugh’s dungeons and back!”
It had been a clever move of King Zelman’s. Broden could honestly admit that. By putting three political prisoners into another king’s land, one where Edvard’s influence had no sway, he kept them securely out of Edvard’s hands. And no one here had any real experience or knowledge of Trenena so it would be hard to retrieve anyone without tipping their hands. Worse, if they did go, then the border was likely being watched. If they took a straight path to Lorand, they’d be dancing along the Trenena-Iysh border the entire way. Zelman likely had Iysh soldiers lined up along the border roads, looking for them to come, and would try to either capture or kill them. In all, it was a clever plan.
Zelman might be an ailing king who did not properly take care of his kingdom, but he was no man’s fool.
Ashlynn hit the door so hard it bounced off the wall with a crash as she stumbled inside. “We found them?!” she demanded of Edvard.
“Lorand,” he replied curtly.
“LORAND?!” she repeated, flabbergasted. Her eyes went huge, mouth dropping open as she processed this. Broden could see the calculations flash across her face, realizing what it all meant, and then her eyes snapped with anger. “Taranis, take that man! Why can’t Zelman be a pompous fool in every aspect?”
“Because my life would be too simple that way.” Edvard blew out a breath like a man that had just tried to pick up the world to place it on his shoulders. “This won’t be easy, getting those three back safely.”
“I’ll go.”
Edvard’s head snapped around. “Ashlynn.”
“I’ll go,” Ashlynn repeated firmly. “I know that Ash only has another day or so before the wall is finished, but Edvard, we both know that I’m better suited for this.”
Edvard didn’t openly agree with her, but his expression said he knew she was right.
Seeing that he needed another excuse to choose between the twins, Broden cleared his throat and offered, “A trip to Lorand and back, how long do ye reckon it will take?”
“Eh,” Edvard paused and thought about it before offering, “Two weeks? Straight there and back.”
“Then ye can no’ afford to send Ash. The city be overrun with tents and new people coming in by the day. We be needing those new houses quick-like. In fact, I be a-thinking that half the problems we have in this city will be solved as soon as we get people sorted into their own homes. Another two week delay in building be inviting more trouble.” He sent a subtle wink at his wizard-partner before adding solemnly, “Best me and the lass go. We can be spared two weeks without much harm done.”
Edvard studied him through narrowed eyes. “Is that the only reason?”
“I be Trenian,” Broden tacked on calmly. “I know the customs an
d language.”
“Your ancestors were Trenenian and that was a good ten generations ago,” Edvard pointed out, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He knew good and well he was being fed rationalizations. “I think the culture has changed since then, my friend.”
“Well, as to that, there be truth in it.”
“But you don’t want your little girl out there fighting who knows how many soldiers.”
“What be ye on, man, to say the obvious?”
Edvard snorted, amused. “Fine. You two win. I think you’re the better pair to send anyway. Get ready to go. Ashlynn. Take at least ten men with you.”
“Five,” she immediately countered.
“FIVE?” he blustered, shocked. “Don’t you want more than that?”
She ticked off the points on her fingers. “You can’t spare more than five, a party of over ten—which is what we’ll have on the way back—is harder to move quickly through foreign soil, and the expertise I need to sneak in and out of a city can be found in just five men. Five.”
“I’d feel better if you had ten.”
“That’s nice. I’ll take five.” Ashlynn quirked an eyebrow at him, taunting him to challenge.
“Ashlynn, I don’t want to trade one of my sisters for the other three—” Edvard started to protest when Ash and Riana skidded into the room. It was clear from the heavy way that Ash was breathing that they’d sprinted the entire distance here. Riana looked only a bit short of breath, face flushed from the exertion, but she was used to running about more than her wizard.
“Where?” Ash panted out.
“Lorand,” his twin informed him succinctly.
Ash’s eyes crossed. “How are we supposed to get them back safely from there?”
“I’ll figure it out on the way.” Ashlynn motioned for Broden to get out of his chair. “Edvard, I leave within the hour. Bragdon is already aware of what to do while I’m gone.”
“Wait, I’m close to finishing the wall!” Ash protested.
She shook a finger at him, the gesture playful. “But it’s not done. You lose. I get to go. Bye!”
“Edvard!” Ash wailed in protest.
“Sorry.” Edvard spread his hands apologetically. “But she really is more free to move about at the moment than you are. Even if the wall was finished, I’d still hesitate, because we have such a housing problem at the moment. We really need those houses built before things get worse.”
Not gaining any sympathy or support from any side, Ash’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Riana put a hand on his shoulder, comforting, but it was clear from her face that she had not felt he should go either. Broden found that interesting. Now when had his daughter come to that conclusion?
He could not turn his attention to it now. Ashlynn was already at the door, waiting for him, her toe tapping an impatient rhythm on the carpet. Standing, he put Gwen on her own feet and promised her in a low tone, “It be off to fetch yer sisters back, I be. Keep watch for us, now. We will be back in a fortnight’s time.”
She looked up at him with solemn blue eyes. “Promise?”
Broden put a gentle hand on her head. “Aye, lass. I will bring the lot of them home, or I be the son of a goat.”
She giggled, as he wanted her to, and her face lit up in a brief smile. “Safe journey?”
“Ah, thank you, lass.” With a last pat on her curls, he turned to his own little girl and admonished, “No charming the lads while me back be turned.”
Riana mock-pouted at him. “Ye take all the joy out of life, Da.”
“It be me job to.” Winking at her, he followed Ashlynn out the door, mentally preparing a list of things to do, and planning the quickest way to go about it.
For he had no doubt that when Ashlynn said that they’d leave within an hour they would do just that.
Ashlynn gathered up the supplies and men she wanted with such efficiency that it would make any army commander groan with envy of her skills. Even Broden, who had helped her prep for this journey, marveled at the speed of which she moved. It did not take her an hour. It took half that.
The sky was clear, the wind still, so it promised to be a fair day for traveling, and he blessed the gods for that small favor. He sat on the back of a horse in the stable yard, looking about him at the small party that Ashlynn had gathered. He’d worked with almost every person here at least once, and knew them to be good people. Handpicked as they were, he had not expected anything different.
Amber Bragdon—sister to Captain Jim Bragdon—sat on the horse next to him with a tightness around her mouth that said she knew the journey ahead would not be an easy one. She looked like her brother, actually. Same thin, straight nose, dark eyes and hair, olive skin. Even her tall, lanky build was the same. Ashlynn had recruited her because of the lass’s ability with the quarterstaff. Apparently no swordsman in all of Estole could beat her.
Next to her, not yet mounted, stood Konrath. Sandy brown hair, hazel eyes, swarthy skin, he looked like a reformed bandit. In fact, he was an ex-soldier of Iysh, one that had defected when Edvard declared his independence. Ashlynn said he was in both battles against Iysh and was a solid fighter. But Broden had an inkling the lass wanted him because of his knowledge of Iysh’s tactics.
“Master Broden, is this the whole party?” Tant asked him, kneeing his horse around to sit side by side.
Tant had to be the youngest of the group by at least five years, making him barely old enough to hold position as guardsman. Broden did not count his youth against him, though. Tant had the build of a blacksmith, all stocky muscle packed into his short frame. He’d seen the lad stop two taller men in their tracks by clotheslining them earlier that week. This was one man he was glad to have at his back. So he smiled when he answered, “Aye, lad. Ashlynn claims a small party will make fast and snell a journey. Any larger, she be afraid it would slow us down and attract the wrong sort of attention.”
Tant frowned and looked them over. “Just us five?”
“No, lad. Marissa Allyn and Seth Robinson be joining us.” No sooner had the words left his mouth, they showed up, jogging toward their horses with saddlebags and weapons in hands. Seth he knew well, as he’d met him the first day on business. But Marissa Allyn he’d only heard tale of. He gave her an apprising eye as she moved.
Build of a dancer, that one. Not particularly tall or short, she was lean of limb and face, blonde hair drawn back tight into a high ponytail. Ashlynn said she wanted her as the girl could climb anything. But Broden had a notion or two that Marissa Allyn could make any man flinch if she had that short sword in hand.
Glancing over, he asked Tant in a low tone, “What think you, lad?”
Tant looked around for a full second before grudgingly admitting, “If we only had five people to choose, these would be some of the top people I’d want. Although, no offense to Amber, but I think I’d prefer her brother instead. I’ve worked with him before.”
“And Amber?”
“I only know of her,” Tant admitted, flipping up a hand in an open shrug. “I’ve never sparred with her or served right next to her. I don’t know how she fights. I’ve heard she’s wicked with that staff of hers, though.” Pausing, he eyed Broden sideways before admitting, “I know as much about you as I do about her.”
Well, now that put a man in his place. Broden gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. “We best learn about each other quick-like, then.”
Ashlynn pivoted about in her saddle, taking everyone in. Satisfied, she raised her voice and said, “Alright, does everyone have their vocal rods on?”
Broden tapped the rectangular necklace on his neck that was akin to the one Ashlynn wore. “Aye, lass, we all have them.”
“These are limited,” she admitted sourly. “Outside of a mile’s range, I won’t be able to hear you. They’ll also only last about a day at a time before I need to re-do the spell. So keep track of that. Now, here’s the plan. I don’t want to chance the foothills more than I have to, so we’ll go t
hrough Dahl and around the foothills until we connect to the Eastern Highway. Pray that we don’t run into Iysh soldiers as we ride. We have a very limited time frame to get my sisters out of there before Iysh figures out that we know where they are.”
Konrath cleared his throat. “Do we know where they are?”
“Lorand,” Broden supplied.
“Yes, but where in the city? That’s not a small place.”
Ashlynn’s mouth flattened into a humorless smile. “I know it. The spy that sent us the message could only afford to send a few words. I’m hoping that when we get down there, we can meet with him and he’ll tell us more. For now, we ride hard and get there as quickly as we can.” She stood in her stirrups to get a better view of all of them. “Are we all ready?”
A chorus of assents answered her.
“Good. Let’s ride.”
Chapter Seventeen
They did not stop riding until the sun was practically set. Ashlynn made up for the loss of light by throwing up several ‘mage lights,’ or so she called them. They were nothing more than glowing orbs that hung about in the air, like detached lanterns. It gave them plenty of light to see by as they set up a rough camp in a shallow depression off the road. Broden blessed the fact they were still in the warm season, as it would be a bitterly cold camp otherwise.
There was not much cover here. They had not yet reached the foothills, but the low rises could be seen easily in the distance. Right now, they were still in Dahl, getting close to the Trenena border. The land was all flat, grassland or farmland, and long stretches of empty highway. It was not a cold night, but the wind had nothing to stop it, so it cut right through to the bones and made a man glad he had a jacket.
Someone—likely Miss Hayley—had packed them some good travel food so they did not try to cook that night. They still got a fire going, though, for warmth and hot tea. Broden saw to his horse, rolled out his bedding, and then creaked into a comfortable seat near the fire. Lovenanty! Eight straight hours in a saddle took a toll on a man. But they had not left until mid-day, which meant that on the morrow, they would no doubt be riding twelve hours instead. If eight hours was making him creak about like an old man, then tomorrow would not be a bit pleasant.
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