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I felt warave him a soft look "I make no decisions I merely offer an opinion Which we all know I do often, and well, on one" He raisedas they captured mine Such a charone Jarek would be flirting with the next prettiestwith Jarek, in being in Silvera, and to leave him was to leave the city and all the security I had known since I was blown adrift fro to leave and abruptly pulled , Jarek," I replied and let him help me into the saddle "Take care of everyone"

He nodded, patting the rump of my horse, and stood back as Wolfe cantered into the courtyard froravely "Ready?"

"As I’ll ever be"

I was surprised and annoyed as Wolfe sent Lieutenant Chaeron before us so that Wolfe could ride beside estion of an alternative travelling forone from my side, Wolfe cleared his throat, "Vovjoda Jarvis has instructed ht to visit with Grof Krill Rada, and in Caera to visit with Vojvodkyna Winter Rada"

Visiting nobility on social calls on a journey to save Haydyn’s life?! Were they insane?! Re rumours of an affair between Wolfe and Vojvodkyna Winter a few seasons ago I wondered if Jarvis had actually been the one to come up with those instructions at all I threw Wolfe a disbelieving look "That’s ridiculous"

Wolfe shook his head "No, it’s not We can’t expect to travel through the land with fifty of the Royal Guard and not have word reach the Rada that the Handmaiden of Phaedra is on a diplomatic trip to Alvernia The Rada would be insulted if we didn’t stop in to visit with theh Raphizya and Daeronia"

"Thankful," I scoffed "Thankful! It’s your fault for otten through the provinces undetected otherwise"

"Oh really?" He asked, his eyebrow arched h Phaedra with a couple of ht?"

I sniffed "Exactly"

"And hoould we explain your disappearance at the palace?"

I srunted at my quick response "Fine What about the fact that even if you were disguised as a lumberjack people would know you were raised a lady You’re a target, Rogan; everything about you is, and I doubt even a few et in if I weren’t here supervising you"

I was stunned by his utter arrogance My expressionirked me, so much so I was speechless

"Perhaps I better swap places with Lieutenant Chaeron?"

I wanted to kick him off his horse "I think that would be wise," I ritted teeth

Very quickly I had the soothing presence of the older Lieutenant Chaeron, as happy to oblige h the city as folks dodged out of the way of the e, not to reatly here and there, slowing us evenus toward the Flower District, the wealthy neighbourhood where Matai and Wolfe lived, where all nobility and wealthy business owners had beautiful townhouses This route lengthened our journey out of the City I was even more surprised e drew to a halt outside one the townhouses

"What’s going on?" I queried Lieutenant Chaeron

He nodded to Wolfe as the Captain dismounted from his horse "Captain Stovia wanted to personally inform his mother of his departure She worries" He se he created Instead I had gone cold inside at the thought of Wolfe and hisfrohting to keep h my mind, always followed by my parents’ horrified faces as they died, of an, are you alright?" Lieutenant Chaeron asked softly

I nodded, throwing hio I had asked hi an, and it felt a little easier to s

I was about to speak, to reassure him, when the door to Wolfe’s home reopened and he appeared with a short woman at his side He turned and kissed her hand and she smiled sadly, worriedly at hiood men!" She called softly

"Thank you, my Lady!" Some of the men called back She se, not even a hint of a grey hair in her chestnut tresses Her eyes travelled over our entourage and then finally found hast She turned to Wolfe and whispered so to her She nodded, seeulp, and then looked back atto shake herself, her blue eyes switched from me to Chaeron "Lieutenant Chaeron, take care of rinned as Wolfe rolled his eyes at hisdown the stone steps to ility that made me envious "Of course, my Lady!" Chaeron called back

I looked away sharply, shaken by the Vikomtesa Stovia Even more so by her reaction to me… as if I was the one to be feared, not them

As soon as ere out of the city, Wolfe pushed us on at a fast pace When we could we skirted around villages, e couldn’t we slowed so as not to cause suspicion I hated those ers like I was royalty, when in truth I was a farirl just like e and onto the main trade roads, Wolfe picked the pace back up and we followed suit My body began to ache three hours in, my bottom numb in the saddle I tried not to show otten a late start We would be riding on until night fall

Lieutenant Chaeron seean to talk to me about his family We shared stories of farm life, how similar the people in Vasterya seemed to those in Sabithia But not once did I actually ever mention my family, and Chaeron didn’t pry Everyone knew my sad tale Everyone knew I didn’t talk about h as he spoke of his younger sister and her coe in the north west of Sabithia near the stone quarries