appeared at my side seemingly out of thin air, his hair swept off his narrow face in damp auburn waves, his slightly turned-up nose red from cold. Odd that I hadn’t had to look behind me to know he’d be there.
“Yes, my queen?” The left side of his top lip hitched up in a smirk that would’ve appeared cocky on someone else, but Ewan only conveyed good-natured mischief.
“I have a mission for you.”
“I’ll do anythin’ you need.” His eyes met mine, radiating eager energy. If he’d been born in the modern world, I could picture him as an extreme sports fanatic; snowboarding down a mountainside, carving up a half-pipe, hang gliding at six-thousand feet. Just the kind of throw-caution-to-the-wind person required to help me.
“I need to learn to protect myself.”
He gave a quick nod.
“Fergus refuses, and my guard—” I lowered my voice. “My guards placate me by saying they’ll keep me safe, but I want to do more than hide behind them.”
Ewan gave an appreciative nod, so I continued, “Darkness is coming, a great battle that the Protector has shown me in a vision.” If the undead monster Kenna and I had faced inside the limbus was any indication, it would be a horrific battle indeed. “I want to fight alongside my people.”
The angular plains of his face fixed in sharp determination.
“I’m small and have no training.” I gestured to my petite stature. “I need weapons I can handle. Something that won’t slow me down or take me months or even weeks to learn to use.” A memory of coming upon Jamie working out in the Brother Cave caused me to falter—dark-gold hair flying, powerful muscles glistening with sweat as he wielded his massive sword through a labyrinth of obstacles he’d designed himself. I’d thought him invincible.
With a colossal effort, I kept walking. My prince hadn’t just been a figurehead who spoke eloquently and looked gorgeous in royal regalia; he’d trained every day for hours, building his skill and stamina, mock fighting with the guards or anyone who would take him on, all to prepare himself to protect his kingdom. That was the kind of leader I wanted to be, but I didn’t have time to gain that level of skill. An attack could happen any day, any hour.
I focused back on Ewan’s expectant face. “Can you help me?”
His lip quirked up again, this time showing a line of straight, white teeth. “Aye. I know just the thing.”
After this was all over, I vowed to find an occupation better suited to Ewan Murray than farmer.
The following morning, I awoke with the dawn lighting up our teepee like a flame. We hadn’t seen the sun in days. With a stretch and a yawn, I soaked up the warmth like a budding flower, careful not to wake Sofia sleeping close by. Eager to feel the naked rays on my skin, and find Ewan to get started on my training, I wrapped my cloak around my shoulders and slipped on my boots. When I opened the flap and ducked through, the air was clear and bright.
Just beyond the trees, the white expanse of a snow-crusted field reflected the sun’s rays, melding from buttercup to gold to russet. I blinked and then blinked again, looking up at the clear sky. The snow had stopped for the first time in weeks.
Voices and soft laughter pulled my attention to the center of camp, where a group of early risers had gathered around the fire pit. I recognized Lachlan and Gabby Rosetti, with her shiny blonde waves, along with the other new members of the Crew. They sat with the Seanachaidh, Calum Haldane—Doon’s resident storyteller. The balding man’s movements were exuberant, his face animated.
I wandered over, my boots sinking into the squishy, half-frozen earth. The entire encampment had been cleared of snow and ice. As I approached, Lachlan let out a wide yawn and rubbed his eyes, and I knew. The Crew had stayed up all night to clear the grounds—just as Jamie would’ve expected them to.
“Yer Majesty! Do join us!” The storyteller made a beckoning motion. “I’ve just begun a new tale.”
I approached, noting the slumped shoulders and red eyes of the teens and preteens gathered around the circle. Deciding not to embarrass them by making a big deal of their sacrifice, I determined to find some way to reward their efforts later. As I stepped into the circle, a soft breeze caressed my face, the first one in weeks that didn’t hurt my skin. “Mr.