this, they’re going to pay me so much I’ll never have to work again. I can eat and drink whatever I want, never work, never get hungry, and even have a pony to ride.
People are dying, the world’s at war, and you want a pony?
Frost sneered. People are always dying. The world’s always at war. The Calidorians betrayed us Abasks, and my people were destroyed. But we kept our history alive in our little community of slaves. I’ve worked in the Brigantine mines for years, slaved for mine owners from as soon as I was old enough to crawl. I got out and I’m not going back. And I reckon if I want a pony, I’ll have one.
Tash wanted to get out too.
There’s a slight problem with that, though, Pea-Brain. You’re not going to get away from the Brigantines. The soldiers will cut you to pieces. And I’ll watch as they throw your body into the core and wait until a puny, pea-brained demon comes out, and I’ll kill it myself.
And, with that, Frost gripped Tash’s arm and shouted. The noise filled the cavern with a horrible clanging.
Tash twisted free of Frost’s grip and darted to her tunnel, just reaching it as a Brigantine soldier appeared. Tash ran on, the shouts of the Brigantine soldier echoing behind her.
Tash had the advantage that the tunnel was made by her and for her, so it was small and narrow, and the sound of the soldier soon faded behind her. She made it up to the mid-level terrace where she’d started and peeked into the cavern. There were Brigantines just below, heading her way. She had to find her tunnel back to the surface. She had to get out.
She almost reached it when she heard a loud, high-pitched clanging. Across the cavern, Frost was standing with Fallon, the Brigantine commander, pointing at Tash with a look of delight on her face.
Tash darted into her tunnel and ran for her life.
CATHERINE
ARMY CAMP, NORTHERN PITORIA
Love and friendship make the best marriage.
Pitorian saying
CATHERINE HAD hardly been parted from Tzsayn since her return to camp. He was recovering well, though Catherine suspected he lied about the amount of pain he was in. But it was also obvious that he was happy, and so was she. The country was at war, there was much to fear, and yet Catherine felt a lightness that she’d never known before. She knew that her future with Tzsayn was right, and together they’d get through whatever lay in their path.
Of course, that didn’t mean there were no arguments.
“We don’t need to marry immediately,” Tzsayn said.
“But you were the one telling me I had to decide quickly!”
“We were going to wait until the coronation, and I can’t go through with that ceremony until I’m fully healed. Savage says he’ll chop my other leg off if I try.”
“But I want to marry now. It won’t be a public ceremony. It will be just us. Privately making it . . . legal.”
“Ah, I know how keen on the law you are, Judge Catherine.”
“Are you trying to get out of it now? Why so reluctant?”
Tzsayn shook his head. “I’m not reluctant.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I’m . . . I’d like to feel a little more like myself. I want you to love me, not pity me.”
Catherine took his hand and kissed it. “I love you. Totally. I don’t pity you at all. We said we’d be honest and I am. I worry that you’re in pain and that life will be harder for you with one leg, but I know you’ll find ways to cope—and I’ll do all I can to help. But I need you to trust me on this. Marriage now is the right thing.”
“Now?”
“Tomorrow. I’m having a dress made. It’ll be ready in the morning.”
And so, the next morning after the war council, which had to go ahead as if nothing unusual was happening, Tanya helped Catherine put on her new dress and presented her with a platter of fruit, honey, and cheese.
Catherine felt her eyes fill. In Brigant, the bride’s mother would bring her the wedding breakfast—her last meal as a single woman.
“Thank you, Tanya, I’d forgotten about this tradition. It’s good to have something of home here with me.”
“Not all things from Brigant are bad.”
“But it’s strange to think my mother doesn’t even know I’m about to marry.”
“She knew you were to marry Tzsayn. Even if the cir-cumstances are somewhat different from those we expected, I’m sure she would wish you a very