Ever the Brave (A Clash of Kingdoms Novel)(93)

I think Omar’s waiting for the king to pass judgment for aligning with an underground ring of Channelers. I know he expects punishment because, if their roles were reversed, Omar would punish.

Aodren glances up at Katallia, who’s popped her head through the doorway. He nods gravely. “An alliance has been needed for quite some time. Thank you for taking the lead on that, Omar.”

The captain stares at Aodren while the king concludes the meeting. Lirra is the first to exit the room. I assume she’s going to speak with Cohen.

I pretend as though I’m not watching her retreat, wondering what she’ll say to him.



In the morning, we dress and ready ourselves for travel. I could use a few more days of rest, but as Aodren pointed out last night, time is essential. Dagger in my boot and sword at my side, I still feel naked without a bow.

I follow Lirra to the main room, where we wait for the men to finish gearing up.

Seeva, the tall woman with skin the color of rich earth, stands just inside the door. Lirra introduced her last night. She seemed marginally pleasant then. Now she radiates tension that has me taking a step back, bumping into Cohen, who I didn’t realize was behind me. His hands touch my shoulders and then leap off.

I fight to keep my expression neutral. Pretend I’m not saddened.

“You brought them here . . .” The woman’s voice quakes. Her hands flick at her sides, and I swear flames leap between her fingertips. I glance around in confusion. The room fills with the rest of the men and Lirra’s aunt.

The woman growls, “You brought the king’s guard to our doorstep.”

My confusion multiplies as Lirra curses and rushes for the window. She spins around so fast, her dark brown braid smacks her face. “Jamis and half a dozen men have spread out around the cottage. We’re under attack.”

I dart to the opposite side of the window, keeping cover to view the field beyond the cottage. Six guards, bows drawn, stand at the tree line one hundred paces away. Jamis holds position on a small rise of hill to the left of the men, his gaunt equine features ghoulish in the early morning haze. Beyond him, movement breaks the shadows.

“There’s more than six.” I lean against the plaster, dread weighing me down. “They have more men in the woods.”





Chapter

45


Aodren


HOW DID THEY FIND US?

The snowstorm had to have covered most of our tracks.

As I stand there, baffled, Captain Omar hobbles toward the window. He’s in the poorest physical condition I’ve ever seen, and yet he straightens in preparation to fight. At least he’s a league better than he was last night.

“You must’ve led them here,” the woman named Seeva practically spits at me.

“He cannot have tracked us. There was too much snowfall,” I say, though it’s clear by the angry set of her jaw she’s not listening. I grip the hilt of my sword. I don’t know what’s facing us outside, so I cannot say we’ll make it through this alive. But I’ll die trying. “I gave you my word last night that you are under my protection. For as long as I live, I’ll keep my word.”

She scoffs and throws an arm out toward the window. “Protection? Is that what you call this? This is your fight, King Aodren.”

Agreed. Jamis is my fight.

Omar keeps one eye out the window, and one on those of us gathered in the room. Cohen moves to the opposite side of the window where Omar stands.

“What weapons are in this house?” Britta crosses to where Katallia stands tucked against the wall out of the window’s view.

“Can you shoot a bow?” The woman studies the bandage around Britta’s arm.

Confidence brightens in Britta’s eyes at the mention of her weapon of choice. She moves her arm in a demonstrative circle as if to say, Look, I’m healed. “I drank some Beannach water last night. My arm is much better than before.”

“Injury or no, the bounty hunter’s daughter can handle a bow better than probably any man in this room,” Cohen says.

“Even one that’s nearly her same size?” Lirra gestures to my height.

Cohen shrugs. “Aye. Seen it before.”

Katallia hurries from the room and returns momentarily with a longbow.

Britta takes the weapon without argument, her fingers pulling at the bowstring to test the tension. “This’ll do.” With the window in her focus, she adds, “Maybe it’ll give me some more distance.”

“Jamis won’t hesitate to bring the fight to us,” I tell Britta, knowing the man’s ruthless rules of war. Strike first. Destroy your opponent before they have a chance to weaken you, he once told me. “If you can take a clear shot, do it. Are you sure you’re up to the challenge? Your arm—”

“My arm is fine.” She turns to Cohen. “How many men have you spotted in the trees?”

“Six so far,” he responds. “All appear to be archers.”

“Six in the trees and six on the field?” She worries her lip.

Leif hurries into the room, with a smaller bow in hand. It’s a closer-range weapon, but Britta takes it. “It may be more manageable, but I can try to use both. If I had my recurve bow—”

Glass breaks. I run toward the commotion with Britta on my heels. We stumble into the next room, finding a burning arrow on the ground. Flames have spread to the curtains.