Page 85 of Mastering their Maiden

It would happen in time. When the moment was right, and things were settled.

I hitched the bow Kaiden made for me higher on my back and felt the energy between Esme and me shift. She let out a long sigh, but I shook my head before she could start in again. “I’m happy they took you. At first, I wasn’t obviously, but I never would have learned all I know now if you were here to coddle me.”

“I don’t think I ever coddled you.”

“You coddled me, but I don’t blame you. You did what you had to to keep us both alive.”

Esme pursed her lips, and after a few moments of silence her shoulders relaxed. “I’m grateful to Frayne for helping keep you safe until Kaiden and the others got here, though I’m not exactly sure how I feel about you riding up front into the city.”

So Lavan or one of her men had spoken of the plan. I learned last night how it would work. Quade would ride first, with the other masters directly behind him. Lavan, Blaise, Indre. My Umber, Dex, and Zander.

And Kaiden.

I would be with him, in the same saddle, both of us with bows and quivers at the ready if things went awry. We hoped the masters in the city would join our defenses, and if all went well the king would be outnumbered. Kaiden said he hid behind men stronger than him and would yield once they were taken prisoner. At least, that was what he hoped. The man needed to be disposed of, but I didn’t want my master to be the one to end his life.

“What’s the plan if Ryne does fight?” Esme asked. “You have the troops, but if you get separated from each other, I fear—”

“Kaiden won’t let that happen,” I assured her. “If it does, we’ve planned to whistle three notes at each other so we can regroup. I’m not foolish enough to try and fight on my own. I want at least one of them beside me.”

“It’s probably the same three notes Quade taught me when we were still by the ocean. I had a bad habit of wandering when I was pregnant with Aravan, and he wanted a way to easily find me.” She smiled and elbowed me softly in the ribs. “He will protect you, too, you know. So will Lavan.”

I scowled. “If it comes to that I’ll defend myself.”

My sister laughed. “You can’t hold a grudge against him forever. You said yourself that you were glad he was the one—”

There was a loud snap in the distance. A branch breaking. Falling to the ground. The noise was enough for me to whip my eyes away from Esme and put my body in front of hers. She tensed behind me, and I scanned the horizon for anything out of place.

Dex told me a few Skepna did manage to make it out of the village, but I couldn’t imagine they’d come this way again. They would have learned their lesson.

But when there was movement toward the east of where we stood, I knew within a few moments it wasn’t the Skepna. The sound was too rhythmic. Too practiced and coordinated. It was a march. A heavy one. Horses’ hooves against the earth…

And by the time I’d taken my next breath, a squadron of mounted Kavari emerged from the trees.

Esme gasped, and I felt her fingers snatch my tunic and begin tugging me backward. We weren’t far from the village or the encampments outside of it, but running now would draw attention. And I knew, from the number of times I’d let my men playfully chase me in the last week, there was no way we could outrun them. Especially when they were on horseback.

“Aria.” Esme’s voice was tight when I pulled the bow off my back, and I felt her starting to shake when I nocked an arrow. “Aria.”

“Run.”

“No.” She shook her head, spine straightening. “No, I’m not leaving you. Not again.”

Soft as she was, my sister was just as strong, and I knew neither of us would go quietly if it came to that. The screams would also draw attention.

But there was another way we could grab it. Hopefully.

“Whistle,” I said, pulling the arrow into place. “Loud and clear as you can.”

I knew it would draw attention, but I didn’t care. They would spot us soon regardless.

My arrow was in place when the three notes rang out, bouncing off the trees around us. It was high pitched, but distinct from any birdsong I could think of. Instantly, the Kavari men looked toward us, and I narrowed my eyes and did a quick head count. Around twenty men, all wearing dark purple tunics.

The king’s colors.

Esme whistled again, putting the soldiers on high alert and drawing one out from the thickest part of the group. A few men dismounted when he approached and got off his horse, regarding us with a curious, angry expression.

My arms stayed taut, no ache in my shoulder thanks to Dex’s continued attention to make sure it healed fully. Should it come down to any sort of a fight, I knew I’d be able to pick a few off before they managed to seize me. Enough to give Esme time to run away.

But when I studied the man who’d come to the front of the group, my battle plans shifted.

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