Page 45 of Thorns & Fire

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‘He’s the Prince of Naarva,’ the Bear Slayer said at last as they reached the cottage and their horses.

‘So?’Dessa’s brow furrowed.‘He’s our friend.We have to work together with him—’

Kipp reached out and squeezed Dessa’s hand.‘Torj is right.He has conflicting interests as a monarch of the midrealms.I’m not saying we don’t tell him.I’m saying we don’t tell him straight away.Let the Bear Slayer talk to the Guild Master first.’

Wren fitted her boot to her mare’s stirrup for what felt like the hundredth time, the motion now second nature to her, allowing her mind to spiral with a whirlwind of thoughts.She had come here, her stomach a pit of dread, simply hoping to find the plant she needed for her antidote.Instead, she’d uncovered something that would undoubtedly split her focus, that would set them on another unknown path.

What would Thea say, she wondered, to finding out after all thistime that Delmira was not lost to the midrealms, but had been lying dormant all these years?

‘Thea needs to know,’ she said.‘It’s her homeland too.’

‘She will,’ Torj assured her.‘But Audra needs to know first.There are many implications this sort of information could have...and we need to be ready.’

Reluctantly, Wren knew that Torj had a point.The unexplained rebirth of her kingdom was knowledge...and knowledge was power.

CHAPTER 16

Torj

‘A Warsword will be for ever married to the midrealms, and his duty to protect them’

– The Warsword’s Way

AS THEY RODEsouth, Torj wasn’t sure the alchemists understood just how much danger the new Delmira posed to them.He had been around long enough to spot a prize that could spark a conflict easily enough, and Wren’s fallen kingdom was one of them.

While he trusted Wren and her friends to keep their word, who knew who else might have made the discovery already?His mind went to Silas the Kingsbane and how he’d left Queen Reyna to the Warswords so unexpectedly.Did the enemy already know?Torj would not risk a raven or messenger.The news would have to wait until they returned to Drevenor, and in the meantime, hopefully he’d learn more about whoever was leaking information from the academy.

Thankfully, the journey seemed quicker than their initial trek, but when they reached the fork in the road, Kipp veered his horse left, onto the route that led directly to the Laughing Fox in Harenth’s capital.

‘Snowden, I’ll not have you jeopardize this trip, put Embervale in danger, for a fucking pint,’ Torj snapped.‘I’ll buy you one myself back at the Mortar and Pestle.’

‘Easy, Bear Slayer.We need somewhere to wash and ready ourselves for the event, don’t we?And you’ll need to stay hidden until I can find appropriate disguises...’The strategist was failing to hide his glee, which only frustrated Torj further.

‘Have you learned nothing in the past few weeks?’he demanded.‘The attack on Drevenor?The man following you from Settler’s Port?The corpses hanging from trees?The fucking riot in Elmridge?The midrealms are not as they once were.’

‘Which is why we need allies close,’ Kipp said evenly, all traces of humour gone.‘The Fox is, and always will be, safe for us.’

‘He’s right.’Wren steered her horse after Kipp.

Gods, Torj missed dealing with shieldbearers at Thezmarr, where his orders werefollowed.‘I’m your guard.Yourprotector.I’ll carry you to a damn safehouse if I have to.’

Fury blazed in Wren’s gaze as it snapped to his.‘You lay a hand on me and see what happens, Bear Slayer.If I recall, you deemed my lightning a curse before.I have no qualms about cursing you all over again.I’ll make the first time look like child’s play.’

He stared at her.‘You threatening me now, Embervale?’

‘Yes.’She lifted her chin in defiance.‘The midrealms were never safe, and I’ll be damned if I live my life in fear.You’re the one whose orders are delaying our return to Drevenor.You don’t have to like the idea of getting ready at the Fox.You just have to come along – or don’t.’She urged her horse forwards.‘See if I care.’

They rode through the night and into much of the next day, until Torj found himself staring at a familiar sign swaying in the wind.A laughing fox, its bushy tail curled around its body with a flourish.

Dessa, who was looking worriedly from strategist to Warsword,said, ‘If we need somewhere to wait, I heard there’s a lovely wine garden closer to the palace.It’s a little...fancier...than this place.Perhaps we should take advantage now we’re in a proper city?’

Despite his rage at the whole situation, Torj couldn’t help but watch shock wash the mischievous grin from Kipp’s face as he turned to Dessa and blinked slowly.‘Fancier?’

Dessa nodded enthusiastically.‘Yes, it’s got beautiful outdoor day beds and—’

Kipp shook his head in disbelief, gaping at her as though she were a stranger.‘I think we should see other people,’ he said flatly.

Behind him, Wren burst out laughing, the sound like notes of music to Torj’s ears.How long had it been since he’d heard her laugh so freely?The fact that he couldn’t remember hurt deeply.The fact that he wasn’t the one to prompt it himself hurt more.