Page 105 of The Iron Flower

An embattled incredulity flashes through me. “Really? Was she?”

Yvan’s hand finds my arm, as if cautioning me, his fire steadier now, consolidated.

The muscular, rose-skinned soldier moves forward threateningly, jutting her strong, square chin at our party. “If your men step one foot over our border, we will slay them. Especiallythatone.” She points her huge rune-axe at Rafe. “Hismale energy is particularly strong.”

Rafe’s mouth falls open, and he stares at her, wide-eyed, as if he doesn’t know whether to be offended or flattered.

“Only Diana Ulrich, Marina the Selkie and I seek to come across your border,” I hastily clarify.

“I am their guard,” Diana informs them with a flash of her teeth.

Commander Vin eyes me carefully before turning to her sister. “Ni, you will accompany them. And you will inform me if there are any moresurprises.”

Ni Vin inclines her head in assent. “Yes, Commander.”

“And you will strike her down if she seeks to harm what is ours,” the gray-clad sorceress puts in.

I’m thrust into complete confusion.What are they afraid of me harming?

Diana falls into a protective crouch. “Strike her down if you wish to have your face clawed to shreds, Sorceress.”

“You forget, Kam Vin,” Freyja interjects, “that this isourterritory, andwedecide who may cross over our borders.”

“We implore you,” Marina says to Freyja, and everyone stills, all eyes on Marina. She splays her palms out in supplication, her flute-like tones breaking through. “Please, let us enter your land for an audience with your queen.”

Freyja’s hostility dissipates as she looks at Marina, her expression now conflicted. Her eyes flit to me, then back to Marina as she deliberates. She lifts her chin, as if decided. “I will grant you leave to cross,” she finally says. “Diana Ulrich and Ni Vin may cross with you.”

Freyja cuts me a glare. “You may also accompany them, Elloren Gardner. But only under close guard.” She motions toward Commander Vin and the two gray-clad sorceresses with her rune-axe. “As for you—the Vu Trin will meet us here in two weeks’ time to collect what is yours. Your time is almost up. The debt stands repaid.”

I’m cast into further confusion.What debt?

“The wand, Elloren Gardner,” the gray-clad sorceress asks, her eyes set tight on me. “Is it still in your possession?”

I swallow hard, my head spinning as everyone’s eyes turn to me.They know about Sage’s wand.How do they know?

“Yes,” I croak out, acutely aware of the white wand pushed into the side of my boot.

The sorceress visibly relaxes and glances toward Ni Vin. “Watch the Gardnerian closely, Ni Vin,” she cautions, her eyes darting back to me. “The wand may have sought her out, but do not forget the dark blood that flows in her veins.”

“I forget nothing,” Ni Vin says grimly.

“See that you don’t.”

With that, the gray-clad Vu Trin sorceresses prod their dark horses into motion and ride into the forest, Jarod calmly stepping aside to let them pass. Freyja watches them go before turning back to consider us. She points her rune-axe toward the ivory-skinned Alfsigr-featured Amaz. “The Selkie may ride with Thraso.” Then she looks to me. “You, Elloren Gardner, will ride with Valasca.”

A dark-eyed young woman in a rune-marked indigo tunic rides forward. She appears to be around my age, or perhaps just a few years older. A small rune-knife is sheathed on her belt and she carries herself with a magnetic bravado. Her features look Noi, but her ears are pointed, her skin is sky-blue and her short, spiky black hair is streaked with vivid blue highlights. Her face is marked with Amaz rune-tattoos, and a fur-lined, black cloak is draped over her shoulders.

Valasca peers at me through Trystan’s shield and smiles.

“Ni Vin,” Freyja continues to direct us all, “you will ride with Euryleia. And Diana Ulrich—”

“I ride with no one,” Diana counters. “I will run alongside Elloren Gardner.”

“We travel fast, Lupine.”

Diana smirks. “Then you might have a chance of keeping up with me, Amaz.”

The other soldiers go very still, as if in awe of her boldness, but Freyja smiles widely and she dips her head to Diana. “It is an honor to meet you, Diana Ulrich.”

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