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How she knew, Yrene had no idea But the Fae possessed a preternatural sense of smell

Yrene smiled all the same as she bowed her head--just before Aelin slammed the door in the Lord of Anielle’s face

Chaol turned to his father, any hint of amusement expertly hidden "Well, you saw her"

Chaol’s father shook hat Yrene supposed was a coe and huhts Yrene had ever seen

From Chaol’s smile, she knew her husband felt the same

"What a horriblethe other to Fenrys, who had shifted back into his Fae forrowl of appreciation "Poor Lord Chaol"

Aelin, her aching legs stretched out before her as she leaned against the wall, finished off her own portion of chicken, then dug into a hunk of dark bread "Poor Chaol, poor his mother, poor his brother Poor everyone who has to deal with hi the dark army hundreds of feet beloan snorted "You were in rare forht"

Aelin saluted him with her hunk of hearty oaten bread "Anyone who interruptsthe price"

Rowan rolled his eyes, but smiled Just as Aelin had seen him smile when they’d both scented as on Yrene The child in her

She was happy for Yrene--for them both Chaol deserved that joy, perhaps more than anyone As hts travel further Not as she finished her bread and caainst Rowan’s side He slid an arm around her shoulders, casual and easy

None of the in silence, giving them what privacy they could in the s on bedrolls The Lord of Anielle, it seemed, did not share her appreciation for luxury Or basic couests Like hot baths Or beds

"Theout at the levels of the keep below "You can smell it"

"They’ve held this keep for days now They knohat’s waiting for the, "is proof they do not trust our allies Proof they don’t trust the khagan’s arhters Could create a weakness where there shouldn’t be one"

"Perhaps you should have told Chaol," Aelin said "He could give theiven them plenty This sort of fear rots the soul"

"What’s to be done for it, then?"

Rowan shook his head "I don’t know"

But she sensed he did know Sensed that he wanted to say so else, and either their current company or some sort of hesitation barred him

So Aelin didn’t push, and surveyed the battle, dark arht, the sounds unearthly enough that they dragged a shudder down her spine

"Is a land battle easier or worse than one at sea?" Aelin asked her husband, herat his tattooed face

She’d only faced the ships in Skull’s Bay, and even that had been over relatively quickly And against the ilken who’d swarmed them in the Stone Marshes, it had beenNot what awaited theht on the Narrow Sea while she and Manon had been in the mirror, then with Maeve on the beach

Rowan considered "They’re just as ht on land," Fenrys gru?" Aelin asked over her shoulder

Fenrys laughed "Exactly because of that" At least he was sain