shot back. “I was already on the battlements.”
“Why?”
He continued to eat. “Eh. I’m not a big sleeper.”
“What does that mean?”
Quinn shrugged. What did she think it meant?
“So you were just up there . . . doing what?”
“Just be glad I was there. You were about to go over the side.”
“I was?”
“That’s the only reason I grabbed you. Because this time there was no river for you to fall into.”
“Well . . .”
Quinn couldn’t help but smirk a little. “It’s all right, you can say it. I won’t tell.”
“Promise?”
“On my honor.”
“You have no honor.”
“You should tell me anyway.”
“Fine.” She blew out a breath, as if this would be the hardest thing she’d ever had to do, and she’d once faced down a volcano dragon along with her sister. “Thank you for saving my life tonight.”
“See? Now that wasn’t so ha—”
“Shut up,” she snapped before stalking out.
“Why do you toy with her so?” the head cook asked, coming into the kitchens from the back room she slept in.
“I can’t help it. I know it irritates her.”
“Just like me son,” she said, before kissing him on the forehead. “He’s irritating too.”
She picked up the empty platter. “Did you get any sleep tonight?”
“Not much. But I don’t need much.”
Pausing, she jerked her head at where Gemma had left. “You do know—”
“I know, I know,” Quinn sighed, already disgusted with himself.
“You know what?” Laila asked, walking in from another entrance. Behind her was Ainsley with an enormous deer carcass over her shoulders.
When Quinn only stared at his sister, the cook laughed. “You might as well tell her. You’re going to have to eventually.”
“She’s right,” Laila agreed. “We both know I’m only going to beat the truth out of you.”
“You’ll try, maybe.”
The cook returned to Quinn’s side, gripped his cheeks with both hands, and kissed his forehead again.
“Dumb like me son too!” she laughed.
* * *
Gemma secured her weapons and pack, then eased open her bedroom door. She checked the corridor, listened for anyone other than guards. When she didn’t hear anything, she moved. Down the stairs and out through the back hallways. She nodded at the guards she passed, who barely paid attention to her. As was their way. Once outside, she again checked for signs of her family. Mostly her father. He’d be the only one up this early. But it was a very cold morning and he liked to snuggle up to her mum on mornings like this.
Still, it didn’t hurt to be too careful.
Once comfortable all was clear, she ran to the royal stables, where her horses were kept. She went right to Dagger. But he was already saddled and out of his stall. Samuel stood beside him; he was dressed and ready as well.
Gemma shook her head and whispered, “Not this time—”
“I’m coming.”
“You don’t have to come, Samuel. Keeley already told you. You’ll always have a place here. And she’s made you head of the royal stables. She loves the way you treat the horses. She doesn’t trust just anyone with that job. You’d be a fool to walk away from such a position.”
“Say what you want—I’m going with you.”
“You can’t.” She let out a breath and admitted the truth. “They may kill me, Samuel. When I return. I have no idea what awaits me when I go back.”
“I know. I knew that when we left. But if you go back, I go back.”
“How did you even know I was going?”
“I thought you were going back days ago. I’ve been waiting here the last three nights with Dagger, both of us ready to move out.”
“Are you really sure you want to do—”
“Are we still discussing this?”
“Shhhh!” she begged, her hands raised to calm him. “You’ll wake up me da. And once he’s up, everyone’s up. Including Keeley.”
“Then I guess we’d better go.”
Knowing how stubborn he could be, she grabbed Dagger’s reins and led the horse out of the stables.
“Your second horse?” Samuel asked.
“Leave her.” She wasn’t going into battle. Just to inform her order of what was coming . . . and possibly to face her death. She only needed one horse for that.
They walked their horses through the town until they reached the inner gates. Then they mounted, rode over the bridge, and turned east. But they’d only gotten a few leagues before they were forced to stop.
“You must be kidding me!” Gemma exploded, glaring at the centaur standing across from her. He was in his natural form but without antlers or fangs. Just his ol’ horsey self. Annoying her!
“Did