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In response to uards say it was aescorted away by the Royal Guard"

"Yes, that’s an accurate description" My mind races What to tell him? The truth will only lead to more questions about where the Invierno came from and what I ith him I’m not ready to reveal the cavern beneath the Wallows or the fact that I’ Storm to learn more about the Godstone

Which leadsrealization that I do not trust Conde Eduardo, that oes well beyond that of mere political reat ally during our ith Invierne But my every instinct screams caution

"Your Majesty--"

"Eduardo, obviously there are things we h the hallill not do justice to all I have to tell you" I give hiest s soon? Maybe two days hence?"

He frowns "That’s the day of the Deliverance Gala"

I feign surprised disappoint me And everyone will be exhausted from the festivities the day after So perhaps four days from now?"

I’ve trapped hi desperate or i, he nods and says, "I’ll let everyone know and e before I leave you to your errands"

"Oh?" What now? I slon, realizing I had unconsciously increased et away

"Lord Liano has expressed a strong desire to see you again I would take it as a personal favor if you would grant hiala"

I school my features into perfect pleasantness and say, "I would be happy to"

He bows "Until the gala, Your Majesty"

I incline my head, and he strides away

Allit

"That ell done," Hector whispers once we are a safe distance away

Strange how I can brush off Xis of a madly affectionate nurse, but kind words from Hector feel like drops of water in the desert "Thank you But Hector, four days That’s how long we have to co plausible"

"We’ll do it Somehow"

"You and I should meet with--" My Godstone turns to ice

"Elisa?"

"Hector! So himself in my path, as an arrow asps The blood drains fro froainst the wall "To the queen!" he yells, and uards hem me in on all sides in a s practice

Hector turns to face whatever is co, sword drawn, and now I see that the arrow is lower than I thought Below his shoulder blade In his ribs Bright blood spreads across his tunic Oh, God

An arrohistles down the corridor and clatters haruard’s calf muscle He cries out but does not break formation

More arrows spear down the corridor from the opposite direction We are trapped

"Should I pursue?" a guard asks "See if I can break through?"

"No!" Hector says "They’re trying to lure us into doing exactly that Stay tight They may not attack openly"

So ait Hector’s back is to ed between him and the wall Sweat breaks out at the nape of his neck His skin is as white as an Invierno’s

Please, God, I pray furiously, ertips to uards safe

A crazy thought occurs to hs "Yes, yes of course!"

So we do, every single one of us, andfootsteps, the clang of steel on steel Someone comes to our rescue

The blood from Hector’s wound drips to the floor now My head swi about the smell, metallic and hot, snaps me back to myself It’s familiar

It’s war

I know exactly what Cosmé would do "Hector, I need to break off the arrow shaft"

"Waitwhat?" His voice is breathy with pain I hope the arrowhead has not embedded itself in bone

"Youknocked around Please"

He twists to give h I watched Cosmé do this a few times in our rebel ca and my hands shake, from the icy Godstone or from fear I cannot tell as I wrap both hands around it Cosmé always braced the body part, snapped hard and fast

He hisses from pain "Snap lower," he says "As close to ainst his back The sounds of fighting corunt, I snap the shaft in two The jagged end snags round and wipe my hand on my skirt

Hector sways on his feet Instinctively I wrap ainst ht I’ht" But I’m not so sure I know he can handle the pain, but his body could go into shock

A flurry of bodies approaches I see glinting blades, swinging linize

It’s Conde Tristán He works his way toward us, accompanied by men dressed in the sky blue and ivory of Selvarica The assailants are no one I recognize I count five, but in the chaos I can’t be sure They’re dirty and unshaven and clothed in little s, but they wield quality blades and bows

Tristán cuts through attackers with astonishing speed, a short sword in one hand, a dagger in the other His fighting style is beautiful, alive no quarter, and the attackers cannot draw their bows

Now that we have reinforceate the opposite end of the corridor, and they take off running The wounded guard is swaying on his feet, and Hector yanks hie Defend the queen"