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  Snatching it, Aldora regarded Drigoe with a frown before she slipped it into place at her hip. “Why are you helping me?”

  “Because I choose to.” Drigoe rocked back, settling to sit on his backside and smiled at her. “Thane’s that way.” He pointed at Tricolq City.

  “Does Thane think me and Raneth are dating?” asked Aldora. If he does, that means I’m going to be in a lot more danger before Raneth’s dad kills that jerk. “Is that why you’re helping me?”

  “No.” Drigoe’s smile fell and he stood, his jaw clenched. “I never chose to work for Thane, you know.”

  Aldora managed to stand and eased herself away from Drigoe and towards the horses. Without having to worry about the Rivermuds, she set to work freeing the them from the carriage. There was no way she was forcing them to pull that back home, not in their state, but she could lead them home at a slow walk.

  “Thane’s getting involved in some heavy stuff,” stated Drigoe, following her but keeping his distance, letting Aldora feel some semblance of safety.

  Not that it would matter, she thought. He could materialise to me if he wanted to grab me.

  “Your sister insisted I free myself; get out while I could.”

  My sister? Aldora turned to face Drigoe, with Major free of the carriage and his cheek piece in her hand. “I don’t have a sister.”

  Drigoe folded his arms. “Your half-sister, Alika Leoma. My fiance, but don’t tell Raneth.”

  I don’t have a half-sister either. I’ve never had a sister. Aldora released Major, trusting the horse not to run off. Isadore had owned Major all his life. The brown stallion knew and trusted Aldora. She set about releasing Nadia but kept hold of her saddlery, not quite trusting her father’s newest horse to follow her when Drigoe was around. She watched as Drigoe slowly approached the horses and held out a hand, letting Major check him out first both visually and by scent.

  Drigoe gently touched Major’s front shoulder, before slipping his hands down the horse’s leg, shaking his head slightly. “These horses are too worked to take you home. Or are you looking for Raneth?”

  Aldora pressed a hand to her wound. Her eyes felt heavy and she didn’t know if it was because she was tired from blood loss, or from watching the Rivermuds and now Drigoe closely. Is this all a ruse to find Raneth for Thane? She cleared her throat and lifted her chin, trying to look confident. “Why would I be looking for Raneth? I haven’t seen him for...” She thought back. When had she last seen Raneth? “A few months ago.”

  “He lost King Cray to one of Thane’s clients. Twice.”

  What? She sucked in a breath, hissing an exhale as her wound complained at her for daring to move any part of her torso. Cray’s… Thane’s… No wonder Raneth wasn’t chasing Rivermud! Her breath kept catching against her ribs. She shook her head. “Raneth would never let anything happen to Cray. The king means too much to him.” She paused, glaring at Drigoe. “And I don’t have a half-sister.”

  Drigoe took his turn to shake his head. “Raneth can’t help it if he can’t take on a sorceress and a bunch of people all at once. Thane had me track him when he left Tricolq looking for Cray. Raneth’s rescue failed right before I stopped tracking him and killed the other Followers with me. And don’t be ridiculous. You definitely have a sister. Raneth knows her. Ask him if you don’t believe me.”

  If the pain in her side wasn’t a constant annoyance that made her knee tremble and her hand squeeze the leather strap by Nadia’s cheek, Aldora would have snapped at Drigoe. Her father had never mentioned a sister and she’d never seen drawings or Southern Kingdom photographs of anyone other than her, her dead mother, her uncle and her father. Raneth’s magic allergy. She eyed Drigoe warily, then rubbed Nadia’s nose, grateful she could stand with the white mare between her and the muscular man. “How old is the sorceress?”

  Drigoe shrugged as he jutted his lower lip up. “Maybe forties or fifties, but it’s hard to tell. At some point they just stop aging, like that sorceress in the Bayres’ pockets.”

  Cally. Aldora had only heard a few stories of the sorceress from Raneth, mostly of times when he got into trouble during his younger years, when his class at the Royal Official University broke for the holidays. He’d been young, a handful, and Cally had dealt with him in such a way that almost all of the stories when Raneth was up to mischief had Aldora howling in laughter. Raneth will need help. He can’t get near young sorceresses. Drigoe gave the horses a wide berth as he walked past them, heading for her. Aldora shied back, still holding onto Nadia.

  Drigoe raised his hands and stopped where he stood. “Dagger Bearer, my beef was never with Raneth, his parents or you. It’s with Thane.” He gestured back the way the carriage had likely come. “Let me walk you home. Please. You shouldn’t be out in the middle of nowhere on your own, not with a wound like that and not without more training.”

  Aldora looked towards her village’s general direction. “What do you know about my training?”

  “Everything,” said Drigoe, shrugging. “Thane made it his business to know, so all the Frey Followers know too. Someone in the Royal Official University or your village is loose-lipped.”

  That’s not good news, but at least me and Raneth can look into that now I know. Aldora sighed, wincing again as her wound made itself known. I could do with going home to the village. I know where to get medical help there, not like Tricolq, and the Rivermuds have done good enough work to stop the bleeding. Warily, she glanced at Drigoe. And even if he knew where a doctor was in the city, there’s no trusting him. “These are my father’s horses. I can’t leave them.” I need to get to the palace, and find out if what Drigoe has said about Raneth and Cray is true. “I’m going to rest them and then in the morning I’m heading back to the village. You’re welcome to stay nearby.”

  Drigoe looked towards Tricolq City. It broke up the grassy horizon before the river, its tall clocktower stabbing into the sky. “I can’t stay still,” said Drigoe, his voice almost a whisper. He cleared his throat. “I have to keep moving.”

  “Why?” asked Aldora.

  Drigoe toed at the ground. “Frey Followers are not supposed to leave the employ of the Frey Estate or kill other Followers.” He held his hands out, as if offering an imaginary blade. “Thane heard about my gift of materialisation when I was a kid. He adopted me from my orphanage and raised me to be his perfect Follower.”

  Is that even legal? Isn’t that like buying a slave? Surely the orphanage… Wait. What if this is a lie? Aldora knew Thane had never lied to a Bayre, but this was Drigoe, and she was a Leoma. She inspected Drigoe’s face closely but he looked hurt more than anything, eyelids drooping, his eyes watery.

  “His right-hand man,” continued Drigoe. “It’s because of your sister I finally have the guts to try and escape him. But I have to avoid Thane now. He’ll be furious. At least until he’s forgiven me, if he can forgive me.”

  Holding onto Nadia’s bridle still, Aldora’s other hand rested against the two sharp points of the Dagger’s pommel, before her hand slipped to the grip. “Thane’s never struck me as the sort of guy who could forgive. And I don’t have a sister.”

  Drigoe rubbed at the corners of his eyes, as if talking to Aldora was the most tiresome few minutes of his life. “You’d best talk to your dad about that then.” He rubbed Major’s nose, smiling when the horse nudged his hand to make him keep going. Drigoe obliged. “I can materialise us and the horses to Brown Buzzard Village. I’ve been there before so it’s possible.”

  Getting back to the village with his help would save a lot of time. After I’ve had Smith tend to my wound, I could check on the village and make sure everyone’s OK, and then go to the palace and find out where to go to help Raneth and Cray. Hang on. The Rivermuds. “Where did you take the men holding me?”

  “The Rivermud family? I put the sons in Silmachare Village and dumped Jules in your village. He’ll come back this way looking for you, I’m guessing. Thane told them that they can’t hurt Ranet
h but if they had you, I’m guessing they’re not planning to honour their promise.” He nodded at Aldora’s side. “Especially considering that. They’ll kill you as soon as they’re finished with Raneth. That’s why I separated them. He’s better dealing with the father first. The sons are a lot harder. They’re never apart from each other.” He looked around, frowning. “Not sure why they had you here. Did they mention anything about their smuggling contract with Thane? Maybe they were going to meet him.”

  “Smuggling contract? I know Thane supplements his finances for the Bayre-Frey Feud with crime, but what could they possibly be smuggling?”

  “Southern Kingdom guns. Thane plans to learn what he needs about smuggling over the Giften-Southern Border from the Rivermuds, then kill them and take over. His best paying client wants a whole stash of them for a few years down the line.”

  “You’d best tell the royals that,” said Aldora. “And tell Raneth or his dad where the Frey Mansion is, so they can end the Bayre-Frey Feud once and for all.” She watched Drigoe carefully, noticing he looked at the ground, his shoulders lifting as he shook his head.

  “I can’t ever reveal where the Frey Mansion is if I want to live. Informing the royals about Thane’s activities though.” He quietened, looking back at Aldora. “Maybe that’s possible. Lords’ Law Act would protect Thane then.”

  Protect Thane? Why is that even a concern? Because he’s afraid Thane will kill him, or because he’s loyal to Thane somehow? He’s not said a bad thing about Thane. Just that Thane was getting too deep into something so he bailed.

  Drigoe glanced towards Tricolq City. “Last chance, Miss Leoma. Want me to take you to your village? You and your horses?”

  I’m not going to get any answers this far from the palace, and I need to check on the village and get my wound cleaned and looked at... Reluctantly, Aldora nodded. “Fine,” she uttered. “Take me home...please.”

  She’d barely had time to even blink before the village stood around her. Aldora grabbed for Major as he shied away, even as Nadia rose her front legs and whinnied.

  Drigoe lurched forwards, securing Major and shushing him gently, rubbing his shoulder, and the horses settled quicker than Aldora expected. She relieved Drigoe of Major, and calmed herself using slow deep breaths. The Frey Follower stepped back from her and her horses. “I’ll head to the palace; tell them about the guns.”

  Aldora watched him striding away but called his name. “Thanks,” she uttered as he turned to face her. He gave a slight smile, a shrug lifting his shoulders before he continued, not bothering to utter a word. That was weird. Promising herself she would mull over Drigoe’s help and how easy he was to talk to, and how open, Aldora led her father’s horses towards the Leoma Blacksmith and stables. Drigoe had materialised her not far from her home, making her stomach feel as if she had swallowed gerbils that were digging furiously in her gut. He must know where I live, which means Thane does. She shuddered and groaned as her side twinged as if mauled by a lion. I need to see a doctor sooner rather than later. She’d have to check on the villagers last. She couldn’t help them if she passed out. She looked down at her side as she walked, surprised that Major and Nadia weren’t freaking at the smell of her blood, but she couldn’t feel any fresh blood sliding down her hip, not since the Rivermud had plugged it up with his blood-gift. So gross. She tensed her body, refusing to shudder a second time to avoid the pain, even though tensing did throw a ripple of pain through her body.

  The quickest way to her father’s stables required Aldora to pass the blacksmith’s doorway. Aldora peeked in as she came alongside the open doors, and spotted Isadore, Tomasso and Haethowine. “Haethowine, Dad, Tom.”

  “She’s hurt,” uttered Tomasso, striding forwards. He bristled with energy but Aldora knew he had worked with her father for long enough to know better than to run towards the horses. He relieved her of them. “I’ll get Smith to come here once the horses are stabled.”

  “There’s no time for that,” said Aldora, letting her father pick her up and squeeze her into a hug. The smell of metal and horses clung to him and Aldora breathed it in, wrapping her arms around his sweaty neck. She didn’t see Tomasso leave.

  “What happened? People were saying that criminal kidnapped you. That he’s not the only one with his gift,” said her father.

  “I told you, Isadore, it’s a blood-gift. Whoever those others were, were Jules Rivermud’s relatives,” said Haethowine.

  “His sons,” warned Aldora. She quickly explained what happened, dodging the news of Drigoe and how far away she had been. “The horses are exhausted.”

  “The carriage?” asked Isadore hesitantly, leading Aldora with a strong hand on her back to a chair propped in a corner. He dumped the paperwork on it onto the floor. Aldora sat down, clenching her teeth as the wound felt as if it had torn her body in two.

  “It’s in between here and Tricolq Bridge.” She could admit the distance later, once she understood how Drigoe was involved in all of this, if he was involved in any of this. A part of her felt he’d been truthful, forthcoming and even friendly, but the other part of her, the part that cared for Raneth, told her not to trust Drigoe. That a Frey Follower couldn’t be trusted. She glanced up at her father and Haethowine. “Is everyone OK?”

  “My Common Gift of Fire freed everyone,” said Haethowine, kneeling beside Aldora and smiling. This close, Aldora could see the red marks on his throat where he had clawed at his neck, desperately trying to breathe. She hoped the reminder of her failure wouldn’t permanently mark his skin. “It made that stuff brittle and easy to break.”

  “They said it was snot,” said Aldora.

  Isadore blanched as Haethowine went slightly green. “What do you plan to do now?” asked Isadore. “After getting your wound sorted.”

  Aldora was surprised her father wasn’t running with her in his arms to Doctor Smith’s. He’s trusting me, she realised. Trusting me to know if I’m going to keel over. Grateful that her father trusted in her, even if there was a chance nobody else in the village did so wholeheartedly other than Jenny, Aldora resisted the urge to rub her wound as it itched. “Drigoe was there,” she admitted, not able to figure out how else to explain what she had discovered about Cray, Raneth and this Alika Leoma person. “He said Cray was taken and Raneth’s trying to rescue him, but he’s against a sorceress. One he’s probably allergic to. And Drigoe sent Jules Rivermud back here, without his sons, if he can be believed.”

  “So you want to help Raneth.” Isadore hummed thoughtfully, folding his strong arms. “Whilst wounded.”

  “I want to try, Dad. I’m sure Raneth will send me home if I get in the way, or if he thinks my wound is too bad. And there’s something else… Drigoe said I have a half-sister? Why don’t I remember her? Is Drigoe lying?”

  Her father pressed his lips tightly together, before he looked at the wall clock. He cleared his throat, and then looked at Haethowine.

  “Told you she’d find out eventually. Royal officials all know each other.”

  Isadore nodded, then gave Aldora a shaky smile. “It’s true. I had a daughter before you. Her name is Alika. When your mother died…” Isadore shook his head, clenching his jaw. “Your mother raised her like her own, but Alika became a handful without Kate. I couldn’t handle you both. You were younger, and Alika…” He shook his head again. “I sent her to Green City, to be with some old friends of mine who offered to take her in. She got in touch when she graduated the Royal Official University but we didn’t speak before that. Your sister’s hot-headed like you and your mother — when I sent Alika away, she refused to even acknowledge I was alive. As you grew, I thought I was saving you heartache — that Alika’s cold shoulder would make you miss her too. You were young enough to forget her, and you did, with time.”

  Aldora said nothing for a moment, frowning as she tried to remember the days around her mother’s death, or any of those from before it. She didn’t have many memories of her mother — more feelings and impres
sions of where memories had once been before being eaten away by time — but she couldn’t remember having her sister around at all. I can question Raneth and Dad about Alika once I’ve helped Raneth.

  “Thank you,” she said, watching her father frown in response.

  Probably thought I’d have more questions.

  “So can I help Raneth? If he sends me home because of my wound, I’ll come straight back.”

  Haethowine and Isadore looked at one another, before Haethowine shrugged with one shoulder. “It’s your decision, Izzy, but the sooner Aldora’s royal official is back hunting that criminal of his, the sooner everyone here is safer for it.” He smiled at Aldora. “I’ll watch over the village while you’re gone. You did a good job whilst I was in the hospital. I liked your informational drop-off points idea.”

  Aldora was too tired to explain it wasn’t solely her idea. I’ll explain later.

  “Take one of the rested horses,” said Isadore. “Cael or Katie, and get the doctor at the palace to clean and stitch that wound. And get painkillers.” Aldora nodded. “Make them tell you everything they know about Raneth and the king.”

  Even though it was a short ride, riding with her wound had nearly made Aldora blackout. As she burst from Little Wood, she and Cael narrowly missed three royal messengers charging towards Little Wood at full speed. Aldora gulped in a breath, shaking, before she dismounted from Cael’s slender frame and took his reins in her hand. She rested her other arm over the saddle to use Cael’s strength to stop her trembling knees from giving way under her. “Nearly there now,” she said, though she wasn’t sure if she was telling Cael or herself. The white stallion with small black spots splattered across his body kept moving. As they ventured closer to the white palace, Aldora smiled as she spotted a royal official stepping out of the entrance corridor, a small plate in one hand as he settled to sit on the three white steps at the open entrance of the palace. Rikward. He started guarding the palace doors every day at dawn. Must be breakfast time, which means the royals are awake.