Page 119 of Shadows of Winter

“Indeed.”

“That is not what motivates my actions,” Vlerion said coolly.

“What other explanation could there be?” Petalira asked. “This newcomer from a land scarcely within our borders has only recently arrived and isn’t properly respectful.”

Damn it, Kaylina had said all the Your Majesties. How hadn’t she been respectful?

“There is no reason a noble and a ranger would defend her so assiduously,” Petalira added.

“I told you the reason, Your Majesty,” Vlerion said.

“Your mount likes her?”

“All of the taybarri like her. Targon believes she’s an anrokk and wants to train her to serve as a ranger.”

Jana didn’t hide her scoff.

“I am merely obeying his orders when it comes to her,” Vlerion said.

Petalira considered Kaylina a little more thoughtfully, but she didn’t look like she would relent about anything. “If she is loyal and wasn’t the one to send the mead, then Captain Targon may keep her and train her.”

Jana’s eyes closed to slits, but she didn’t object.

“Find the messenger, Lord Vlerion,” Petalira said. “Ideally, before nightfall. I understand the city may be in for some excitement, during which all the rangers could be pressed into service.”

“I am aware.” Vlerion held the queen’s gaze, and Kaylina thought he might ask for her word that no accidents would befall Kaylina on the way to the dungeon, but maybe one wasn’t supposed to extract promises from royalty. “I will do as you say.” His bow was stiff, but he removed his hand from the hilt of his sword and nodded to the guards. “I will leave as soon as I see her safely escorted to a cell.”

“That’s not necessary, my lord,” one of the guards said—he hadn’t sheathed his sword yet. “There aren’t any vats of molten lava or pits of spikes along the way that she might fall into.”

“I understand those were removed from the castle centuries ago,” Petalira murmured.

“Nonetheless, I will accompany her,” Vlerion said.

“It’s your time.”

The guards shrugged and led the way out. Six more armed men stood in the hallway outside. Had they been called up in case Vlerion started something?

Kaylina didn’t feel reassured about her situation, but she was glad he hadn’t been forced to choose between defending her and attacking his own people.

Jana wore a dour expression as Kaylina and Vlerion walked away surrounded by guards. A dour look but not a worried or defeated one.

Something told Kaylina that Vlerion wouldn’t find that messenger. What would happen to her then?

30

Just as not all triumphs are earned, not all defeats are deserved. In the face of either, we must endure.

~ Ranger Sergeant Myorkdar the Grim

The guards led Kaylina and Vlerion down numerous levels of wide stairs and ramps that wound deep into the cliff under the castle to a cave that appeared half natural and half hollowed out by tools. The guards walked about, lighting lanterns dangling from rusty hooks embedded in the stone walls. Along one side of the cave, stalagmites rose around a pool with stalactites hanging above it.

Kaylina thought of the fur shark. No rivers flowed into or out of this pool, so she hoped that meant nothing lived in the dark waters.

Alcoves had been carved into the cave wall opposite the pool. Cells. Iron bars with gates secured the fronts.

At the beginning of the row of cells rested a desk and chair in front of a nook filled with tools. Or were those torture implements? Kaylina didn’t peer too closely into that nook, instead noticing a small bookcase that held a number of tomes. Reading material for the guards who were stuck on the subterranean duty? Or maybe prisoners were allowed a way to pass the time.

The lead guard grabbed keys from the desk drawer and unlocked a cell. None of the others were occupied.

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