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We had been following the River Cael and were closing in on the border between Daeronia and Alvernia My stomach had now foret to the Pool of Phaedra an obsession, sharp and unrelenting I was impatient when Wolfe stopped us by the river for our runtlement when I remembered I hadn’t spoken to him for three days Plus, it was unseasonably hot, not even a wisp of that crisp Daeronian breeze that I had co Chaeron I needed athe river bank that flowed on the left side of the trade road, as the ht They stopped, sliding down to lean against tree trunks and eat the hard biscuits that had coht, but I used the horse to cover le hed at the havenly feel of the cold water on od I hadn’t had to walk too much My stupid soft ‘lady’s’ feet would be ruined Reluctantly, I pulledbefore Wolfe sent someone to collectover then of Wolfe… or Chaeron Puzzled, I searched them out Where were they? Just as I was about to draw near the first group of ht a flash of colour fro the trees Wolfe’s green military jacket He’d had to borrow it from one of the Guard, who noore a plain jacket provided by the Vojvodkyna Curious as to why Wolfe and Chaeron were huddling in the woods, I eyed theme I was somewhat disappointed to see that none of the ed closer to Wolfe and Chaeron Leaving my horse, I stopped a few trees back froood idea," Lieutenant Chaeron exhaled

"I have to," Wolfe insisted, his voice flat

"I could do it"

"No, it has to beup into theher"

Chaeron sighed again "Things are difficult between you as it is"

"I know But I won’t let et in the way of my duty Which is to protect her"

"What will I tell the an on a tour of Alvernia, to let her see for herself what the area and the people are really like, so she can report back to the Princezna"

"They’ll think it’s insane They’ll wonder why you’ve gone alone Perhaps even speculate…"

"If any one of an I want you to deal with them"

Chaeron sucked in his breath as if insulted "You knoould, Captain"

"Good Tell thee traipsing around their land would be seen as an act of aggression; tell theht" There was a moment of silence between theenuine concern "Wolfe," he said softly, surprising iven name, "You’ve never been into the mountains A few of the an"

Wolfe shook his head detero into that without h his hair in obvious frustration, appearing vulnerable and lost "It would drive ht"

I backed away as stealthily as I could, the blood rushing inI walked nu and heard nothing as we mounted back up and set off Wolfe was furious with h to foolishly follow me into the heart of the Alvernian Mountains where the chances of us both co Chaeron’s concerned looks I wouldn’t go into the mountains with Wolfe I had to keepthe plant and I couldn’t do that if I orrying about Wolfe

I had to get away from him somehow

When we reached Arrana I had to leave and set off into the mountains alone It didn’t matter if I had an escort or not Only I knew the way to the Pool of Phaedra andme lost I just had to be careful and reet back down the ht, we made it to Arrana Smaller than the other cities, Arrana was also more heavily fortified, with aaround its border Like one of the keeps used thousands of years ago when the e, and aruards We had to wait for pere into the city walls, I frowned in disapproval There were no wars in Phaedra No need for city walls and es I understood the Vojvoda was nervous of the mountain people of Alvernia - I was nervous of theht into their e It isolated Arrana; it made it a lone entity, and broke it from Haydyn’s Phaedra

What must the people of Alvernia think? Or any people who crossed the border into Alvernia? It was unwelcoressive

This too would have to change

This would never do, I thought gluirl’s bosom with his eyes whilst his father, Vojvoda Andrei, tried to convince me that his son would be a brilliantmy fish as I dined with them I studied the junior Andrei as he smiled at me and I bemoaned the vapidity behind his eyes The poor boy wasn’t lascivious or cruel He was just… silly and… well not very intelligent He was so wrong for my Haydyn Haydyn needed someone as clever and as passionate as she was, someone who stood up for her and to her

Someone like Matai

All of a sudden I felt unbearably sad