out to the cook, his green eyes sparkling. Something he said made the cook laugh.
She’d been out of her mind when she’d bought him for a copper.
She and Red Gloves had been on their way to another city, looking for anyone who’d hire their blades. Her sword-sister had been frothing at the mouth as they’d purchased supplies, all because a goatherder had told her a prophecy about her birthmark. Red had not liked that one bit.
The slavers had thrown the man down to the platform in the slave market, offering him as meat for dogs. Blind with rage, Bethral had flipped the copper coin onto the platform, then eased him up and over her shoulder. Her sword-sister had squawked like a chicken, but Bethral had just turned on her heel and walked away before she’d killed a slaver. Or two.
She’d leave no man to that death, no matter how impulsive or crazy her purchase had been. Red had complained, but she’d fought their pursuers as Bethral had mounted and fled, the slave in her arms.
The cook moved off, and Bethral slipped into the pantry, not wanting to be caught staring. She took a deep breath of the herb-scented air, then went to where the dried meat and hard biscuits were kept. Bethral grabbed one of the small cloth sacks on the shelf and busied herself filling it.
She’d lost her heart when Ezren had opened his green eyes and stared at her, cradled in her arms and safe from their pursuers. She’d caught her breath at the secrets those eyes held even as he slipped back into unconsciousness.
Bethrel had stayed in Edenrich to see if there was a chance that those green eyes might focus on her.
Ezren Silvertongue had recovered with the aid of magical healing and a grim determination to survive what had been done to him.
Beaten, abused, he’d been as close to death as any man Bethral had seen on the battlefield. But even with his tongue cut from his throat, he’d clung to life with a strength of will that astonished her. And his voice . . .
Bethral had been told that his voice had changed, but all she knew was that his voice sent a small thrill down her spine every time she heard him speak.
Which wasn’t often. For Lord Silvertongue had immersed himself in the Court once again, rejoining the life he had lost during his captivity. In particular, he seemed very adept at avoiding her.
Bethral shrugged. What was, was. She could no more change than that barn cat could change the color of its fur. At least she caught glimpses of him occasionally. If she was careful, she could stand in the shadows and listen to him talk to others. And if the day came that he courted and won a lady of the Court, well . . .
She’d deal with that when the time came.
Bethral sighed, and slipped back through the kitchen without drawing attention to herself. Time to meet Gloriana in the courtyard and then be on her way.
THE bright sun blinded Bethral as she stepped through the double doors and into the courtyard.
A quick sweep of the area told her that her orders had been obeyed. Lady High Priestess Evelyn stood off to the side with Orrin Blackhart, who was talking to his men as they clustered near their horses.
The walls were manned, and the guards at the gates of the courtyard were at attention.
Bethral felt a pang of envy that she hoped did not show on her face. Evelyn had found her love, and had fought her way to his side with an unshaken faith in him, despite his past.
“Is it safe?” A soft voice came from behind her.
Bethral glanced back, giving the young girl behind her a nod. “All’s well, Your Majesty.”
Gloriana nodded in return, then started across the courtyard toward Evelyn. Oris and Alad waited by the door, watchful in their own right.
Bethral frowned slightly as she watched the two women hug. This would be a hard day for Gloriana, having to say farewell to the woman who had raised her for over half her life. Evelyn was leaving this day to return to the Black Hills, taking over as the Guardian until the new High Baron could be named.
Hard for the girl, who sat so new on her throne. Bethral frowned again, not sure that her decision to leave for a few days was wise. The bandits who were harassing the main road into the City needed to