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My grin is s "Did you think I spentodes to the desert sunset, uess I just iined moreadministrative tasks"

"I can also start a fire, skin a rabbit, forage for edible plants, tendsha off by flinging a rock in its general direction with a sling"

Several paces away, Hector has re hi look on his face Hector, at least, is unsurprised to find ht even be a bit proud It makes me feel war Mara’s soup--not jerboa, but a light broth etables--the sun dips into the distant sea I’ attention to see if the sky flashes red on the opposite horizon because I’h we are too far froainst the black sky marks the spot I think of the thousands of lanterns and candles now brightening my capital city And I think, with a twist of despair, how I feel so one far the next day when Hectorfollowed"

I snap ht ahead If indeed we are being followed, then it wouldn’t do for the queen’s Guard to be seen talking to a maid who looks uncannily like the queen

I say, "Are you sure? This road is highly traveled"

"No Just soroup of riders has kept a steady distance behind us since we set off They don’t have carriages, and no one is on foot So they should be traveling much faster than we are"

"Everyone knows I journey south Maybe so the way"

"Maybe" But his tone is unconvinced

"Would it help for e instead of behind it?" I say hopefully I’ on dust, and I’ve had to tie ht," he says "Though I hate to give up the advantage of having you covered in filth No one would recognize you like that"

I can’t help turning to glare at him His lips twitch, but the amusement fades quickly "We’ll keep an eye on them," he says

"No" I’m in the desert now I know exactly what to do "We’ll do better than that"

"Oh?"

"If they’re still behind us e caht, I’ll send Belén to scout them"

"You’ve decided to trust him, then?"

"I trust his ability to scout" I think back to the day of Iladro’s poisoning It felt so natural to call on Belén for help The moment required it, and we slipped back into our old roles as if nothing had happened "And I dare hope the other kind of trust will co party Hector spotted is still there, tiny black figures near the horizon Other travelers coo, but these riders stop e do, lows as dusk fades to night

I order everyone to forego caht, and we dine on jerky, dried dates, and flatbread I don’t want anyone to see us froh circle with only the ht There are al Tristán’s people, all of ere personally vouched for Even Store to join us The others eye him warily but make a space for him He does not remove his cowl

I stand and say, "Belén, come here"

He approaches without hesitation and drops to one knee

I ask, "Do you still wish to swear fealty to me?"

His soft indrawn breath is the only indication that I’ve taken him by surprise "I do," he says evenly

"Then I would accept you into my service"

He reaches up with both hands and clutches the fabric at e , especially when the side of his thumb brushes across ers soesture of a neorn vassal, and it must be allowed

Belén intones, "I swear my life and service unto you I swear to protect you and to honor you I a as I live, your people shall be my people, your ways my ways, your God my God"

I take his hands and pull hiroup mutters, "Selah"

He towers over me I can’t help but stare at his eye patch He was tortured For ive me up once he realized his ht

He whispers, "Thank you, Elisa"

Behind hilimpse Mara’s face Her cheeks shine with iven too easily But it feels right to do it "I need your help," I tell hi"

When I explain about the riders following us, he nods, unsurprised I don’t even have to tell hi" And he slips away into the darkness

"Who do you think it is?" Mara asks, once he is gone

I sit back down and cross s "I suspect Conde Eduardo He was displeased to hear of this journey and its purpose He is set onthings from him"

"He does not know about me, yes?" Stors I’ve been keeping from hiht be able to use thee Set a false trail, ," I say

"What if they’re thieves?" says a feh "Then they are poor thieves indeed," he says "Five against all of us?"

He is right to be amused He and Tristán could probably defeat five common thieves alone What I worry about, what I don’t say, is that they , patient and cold, waiting for the rightthe sa, because he says, "Until we know for sure, we’re doubling our watch Elisa, will you ride in the servants’ carriage toht?"