Page 25 of Rise of the Phoenix King (Crown and Crest 4)

I smile despite myself. “What are you doing?”

She continues to cling. “I’m afraid you’re going to sneak off without me.”

“I won’t,” I promise.

“You better not.” She gives me her pixie grin, finally dropping my hand. “I’ll come after you if you do—and you don’t want that.”

I make a noise deep in the back of my throat. “I never said I don’t want it.”

She laughs, pushing me toward the door when she sees me wavering. “No. You’re being noble, remember? Off you go.”

With a smile, I leave Clover and meet my men in the bailey between the stables and the armory.

The storm has broken up, leaving only the scattered remnants of fleece-like gray clouds in the sky. The days are growing longer as summer approaches, and the sun hasn’t set yet. But it’s low on the horizon, and its golden rays will soon be replaced by the shadows of twilight.

Though Lawrence put me in charge of the mission, I question my authority when I see Clover’s brother Colter waiting with Ayan, Pranmore, and the soldiers who will be joining us. He’s the youngest of Count Flauret’s boys, only a year or two older than Clover, and the amber pennant he wears on his arm outranks my emerald.

If the day had gone as planned, I’d be wearing an amber pennant myself by now, along with the gold and ruby medallion I’ve been working toward for so long.

But the day didn’t go as planned, and the banneret knight is still my superior.

“Henrik.” He lifts his hand in greeting as I approach. “What’s our mission?”

“The king didn’t tell you?” I ask carefully, assessing the situation.

“I only spoke to Denny. He said you’d give me the details when you arrived.”

I know Clover’s brothers reasonably well, even if they are above me in station. Gavriel is arrogant, and Denny is levelheaded and somewhat reserved like his father, but Colter is the most like Clover. The knight wears a carefree expression, unconcerned by Lawrence’s decision to place me at the head of the group despite my lower rank.

Put at ease by his nonchalant demeanor, I begin, “We’re looking for—”

I’m interrupted by a commotion near the inner gatehouse. As a group, we turn toward the soldier who rides into the bailey like death is on his heels. I know him—his name is Simon, and he was the captain serving under me on the supply run to Fort Lintanry. When he spots me, he veers my way.

“Commander,” he says urgently, his horse shaking its head in protest when the knight comes to a sudden stop. “There’s been an attack in Heistone.”

“What kind of attack?” I demand, dread rooting in my gut.

He winces, inadvertently looking at Ayan before he answers. “A Vallen war golem was set loose in the city.”

7

CLOVER

I’min the middle of adjusting my quiver so it rests comfortably between my shoulder blades when I hear Simon’s news. I stop dead in my tracks, and dread pools in my stomach.

But what did we expect? It had to be expensive to smuggle the golems onto the mainland. Whoever paid the price didn’t plan to leave them lying around in crates.

“You couldn’t have told us sooner?” I ask Caldwell when he appears at my side.

The elf lowers his eyes to a stray tuft of grass that grows between the courtyard stones. “I’m sorry, Lady Clover.”

Because he seems like he genuinely means it, I say, “I suppose you did all you could.”

He turns to me, a wan smile crossing his face before he falls solemn once more. His gaze moves to my bow. “You’re not joining the commander on the mission to Heistone, are you?”

“I am.”

His scruffy eyebrows fly up underneath the shadow of his cap. “It’s dangerous.”

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