Page 32 (1/2)

Once I had calotten ht, I changed intoaboutI frowned at it and kicked out with , I plaited my hair back and frowned at the way the dress lifted froer fit well

The Vojvoda Andrei Rada and his son the Markiz awaitedroo me with a fatherly smile He took my hands and I found it difficult to save us, taking off to tour Alvernia alone"

I gririly, in his gated home and isolated city Where was he for the people of the Mountains?! Allthat had happened suddenly seethed to the surface If I’d known this was going to be ain I would never have coled tononplussed by ht up with you to keep you safe How did you find ht honesty Of the Moss’ kindness and sincerity Of Brint Lokaenerosity

"Like everywhere else in Phaedra, your Grace Populated with good people and bad people… and poorly governed" I straightenedoutall three of theto the floor, I spun on my heel and left them to it

Chapter Twenty Nine

The days ahead were filled with acoldness I barely ate a thing as we galloped through Daeronia, stopping to pick up the two soldiers in theus bread and shelter But we didn’t stay long If our pace had been gruelling before, noas frantic I knew the Guard were curious, that they all suspected so on, especially since they’d seen me come out of the o up them But I didn’t want to panic anyone, especially ere so close to saving Haydyn I’d rather they’d think I’d gone light in the mind than know the truth The tiht in Silvera only to find ere too late and Haydyn was gone I dreamt the Mountain Man was still alive and chased me into the eed lust And I dreamt of Wolfe Always he stood on the Silver Cliffs, his eyes beggingonher head ather expression When I looked back at Wolfe, he’d glare at ht over the cliffs into the crashing water

I didn’t need to be a scholar to interpret the dreah to make time for incidents I was exhausted by the ti in led state, she was even kind toa bath and food tray for ot to be jealous of her I even caed her too harshly

The next ood feelings toward Winter flew out theIt was easy in a household as large as Winter’s for the gossip to reachWinter’s bedrooossip, the pain of that knowledge hitting ehary for breakfast, or able to stand the sight of Wolfe and Winter together I could barely draw breath; rief With the betrayal

But he wasn’tback silly tears, that were best not wasted on hi cloak and clutched the pack with the Somna Plant inside It was time to leave

Chaeron and the others see to me Now every time he passedthey htChaeron if he knehat had upset ined the Lieutenant and the Guard were just as exhausted with Wolfe’s attitude, and my own, as much as they were of the journey

We crossed into Raphizya, stopping in Ryl to stay with Matai’s cousins again This time I met Mr Zanst, elcomed us into his hoood looks to his chared for home Mrs Zanst was so worried forbeen foolish enough to be kidnapped by the Iavii in Ryl She asked me if I had been treated badly, and I assured her that Wolfe had come to my rescue and kept me safe

After a wonderfully, civilised and pleasantly refreshing evening with the Zansts (perhaps because Wolfe stayed away), the Guard and I set off for Peza It rained the entire journey and I wasn’t sure if it was because my body had hardened with its recent experiences, but I escaped the cold that seeh the Guard Mayhap because of their position distant froet by unscathed also Still, I was glad to reach Grof Krill Rada’s ho and capable men complain so much about a little cold

I wasn’t the only one happy to seeout of his mansion with Strider, the wolfhound, at his side Strider seeenerosity at the dinner table and lickedat htly I was taken aback We hadn’t exactly left on the best of terms

"My Lord" I bobbed a curtsey

"You are a vision, Lady Rogan" His grin grew even brighter if that was possible There was no flirtatiousness in his tone, nothing seedy He seeenuinely happy to see me

I was co to catch hed "Come, I want you to meet soetting Wolfe and Chaeron at rew

No It couldn’t be Could it?

The door ept open by the butler,my suspicion was correct

As soon as we stepped inside I saw her I broke out into a choked laugh "Ariana?"

The pretty young wo with happiness "Is this her, Krill?"

"This is she" He spunthat letter, Lady Rogan?"

Ariana joined us, pullingher eyes as she toldthe letter; how she couldn’t believe the Handmaiden of Phaedra had written to her; how she so wanted to believe me about Krill’s love for her; how she’d left her life behind and took a chance on what I had confided

Grof Krill and Ariana married three days after her arrival in Peza She was now Grofka Ariana

Exhausted and incredibly elated that I’d done one other thing right on this quest of an, are you alright?" Grof Krill asked anxiously, seeing my dark eyes shine

"I’hted for you and… so very tired"

"Oh" Ariana looked aghast "Here we’ve beenyour time when you must be so weary from your journey How ill-mannered of us"

"No, no," I rushed to assure her "I am so pleased toyou and Grof Krill together It’s just been such a long trip"

I was struggling now to keep my tears in check

With a perceptiveness that bothereduntoward has happened to you, Lady Rogan?"