Page 22 of Shadows of Winter

Frayvar had crept closer when Kaylina had been caught, and his ears perked with interest.

“So the less pretty one,” Targon said dryly.

Vlerion sighed.

“The king pays me to run the rangers, oversee recruit training, and protect the nation. He’s indifferent to how I describe women.”

“He’s indifferent to a lot these days,” Vlerion said.

“Your tongue is flapping too much tonight.”

“It never occurred to you that there’s a reason the crown has preferred I be in the hinterlands?”

“Oh, I’m aware. As the captain, I do have some say in the scheduling, you know.” There was that dryness again.

“Some but not all, right?”

Targon was slow to answer. “I’d deny knowing what you’re talking about, but you’re a hard man to fool, despite your long absences from the city. Go see the bookkeeper girl. Wink at her, and get her to draw up a lease for those two.”

“And the curse?”

“Maybe the ghosts of the druids like mead.” Targon looked at Kaylina for the first time in several minutes—he hadn’t reacted in the least when Vlerion had pulled her out. “You can wander by now and then to make sure they’re not dead.”

If Vlerion was seething inside, it didn’t show on his face, but the tense set of his jaw and his tight grip promised he wanted nothing to do with Kaylina and Frayvar. She didn’t want anything to do with him either.

“Do you two have a place to stay tonight?” Targon asked, waving for Vlerion to release Kaylina.

He did so, but he didn’t step away, instead looming over her. She resisted the urge to move, though she would have preferred not to stay within grab range.

Frayvar shook his head. “We ran into the land agent almost as soon as we got off the ship.”

“We didn’t get to see much of the city,” Kaylina added. “Other than the now well-ventilated jail.”

“Unfortunately,” Targon murmured, glancing at the wagon as it rolled away, the bodies being taken who knew where. “The ranger barracks—”

“Are for rangers,” Vlerion interrupted.

Targon pointed at Kaylina and Frayvar and opened his mouth.

“They can spend the night in the castle they want to lease.” Vlerion gave Kaylina a challenging look.

Heat flushed her cheeks. What? Did he think they couldn’t handle spending the night on a cold stone floor?

“That’s fine,” she said. “Saves us having to pay for a room at an inn.”

“They haven’t leased it yet,” Targon pointed out.

“By morning, they might not want to.” Vlerion continued to hold Kaylina's gaze.

“Would you mind not meddling with my plan?” Targon asked. “Just drop them off somewhere, and visit the Saybrooks in the morning.”

“Of course, my captain.” Vlerion bowed to him.

“You’re an abysmal subordinate. The king isn’t the only reason you keep getting banished to the mountains.”

It might have been a joke, but Vlerion’s blue eyes grew hooded, his face grim. “I’m aware.”

7

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