Page 61 of The Threadbare Queen

“Having a little chat?” Evelyn smelled of river water and smoke.

“Just setting down the rules.” Sirna slid the knife back into its sheath and rose to his feet. “I have a few for you, too, my dear.” He kept his voice low, almost pleasant, but now that the blade was no longer against her skin and she could turn to watch, Ava saw Evelyn’s nostrils flare.

She was afraid.

She tried to bluster through it. “Rules?”

“I’m trying to keep us safe. Drawing attention to us by treating her as a slave or a prisoner is working against that.”

Evelyn’s lips thinned. “I haven’t done any more or less than you.”

Sirna shifted, pushing right up against Evelyn, hand gripping her arm. “All I’m saying is we need to clothe her, feed her, and pretend she’s your simple sister. Starting now.”

“I don’t see why she has to be my sister and not yours.”

“Because,” there was a level of icy anger to his tone, “Reckhart knows me. He knows I don’t have a sister. Besides,” he paused, tilting his head, “she looks like you. That’s whyhetook you with him to Bartolo, remember?”

“All right.” Evelyn shook herself loose. “But I’m not your servant.”

Something moved in his eyes. Ava thought the headache from the drink the night before, and the sudden flare of temper between them, brought out the worst in him.

Evelyn went still, then she turned her head, looking behind her, and jumped to the ground. “I’ll get breakfast going. We’ll be leaving soon.” She bent to pull a few wrapped food packs out of the leather sack either she or Sirna had set beside the steps, and walked away.

Ava braced herself. Sirna was angry. She could sense it. And she had no ability to fight back, or even to stand, right now.

“Keep the blanket on, I’ll see what I can buy for you from the others.” He yanked her to her feet. “And not a word from you. You stay silent, or I’ll have to weigh up my options with the people here. This road is far enough out of the normal way of things, their bodies would not be found in a hurry.”

As she stumbled down the stairs and let Sirna pull her along to the fire pit, she wondered if he had it in him to kill them all to keep himself safe from future retribution.

She didn’t want to find out.

She now had the lives of everyone around her on her shoulders.

It was a pity those shoulders were so weak.

Chapter 15

Awhistle from up ahead was the first sign they were coming close to the Jatan camp.

Luc could see their prisoners, walking in a group surrounded by the Rising Wave unit, try to hide their reactions, but it was clear.

Luc whistled as well, and everyone slowed to a stop.

“Who’s your commander?” Luc asked.

Hurst’s fists were clenched. He still couldn’t believe he’d been taken prisoner and was now going to have to face his general on foot.

Revek was right.

This man would kill him if he could.

“General Tuart.”

Luc moved his horse forward when he had the name, skirting the group of prisoners and making his way to the front.

“You’ll need a few companions,” Kikir said, coming up beside him.

Luc turned in his saddle. “Kym, you come with me, too, and Rafe. Revek, you’re in charge here.” He motioned with his hand, and from the back, ten of his soldiers slipped away, on either side of the path, disappearing into the forest.

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