And it was not only Koth that sought an alliance with Krimathe. From south of the Flaming Mountains of Astal also arrived an ambassador guarded by Parsathean warriors, hoping to unite all the western realms to stand against Anumith the Destroyer.
But the High Daughter’s cousin had claimed that her role was to defend Krimathe while their future queen was gone, not to send away part of its army or to make important alliances. So Mala had given them a choice to wait in Krimathe until her cousin returned from her quest—or to seek her out, as she had only recently left.
As time could not be wasted, they had all chosen to follow. And since no one in Krimathe knew for certain where the goddess had sent the High Daughter on that quest, Mala had asked her Hanani companion, Shim, to lead them.
Over the past fortnight, the stallion had tracked her by scent far more quickly than even Aerax could have—until an injury had forced the Kothan party to slow while the southerners rode ahead.
They were not far behind, however. Perhaps a half day, and their slow pace was helped along by the even slower caravan that the Krimathean appeared to be leading. If the Kothans traveled late into the night, they might catch up again before making camp.
But only if all of their party could ride that far without needing rest.
He looked to Lady Junica. The graying curls that an inn’s handmaid had meticulously twisted into a roll that morning had fallen prey to a rain shower and hung in limp tendrils around her shoulders. This long journey from Koth had taken a toll on her, though she’d held up well—until two days past, when she’d dismounted awkwardly and twisted her back. Now she was carried along by a periwag, a gray-skinned beast with splayed legs and a drooping snout. The litter strapped to its wide back allowed her to lounge upon cushions instead of straddling a saddle.
But even a smooth ride was not always an easy one. “How do you fare?”
She sighed, fanning herself with lazy sweeps of her wrist. “I may look like a queen as I lounge here amid my many cushions. But I feel like a fool.”
“Then be at ease. You might be mistaken for a queen, but no one would mistake you for a fool.”
A smile curved her lips. “I see those courtly lessons have begun to sink in.”
Degg snorted. “Not far beyond his skin. His every conversation is still mostly grunts and growls.”
Aerax shrugged. “In the palace, more response is rarely needed.”
With eyes narrowing, Lady Junica said, “Do you suggest that we councilors blather on without saying anything?”
He would suggest sinking every councilor with the rest of the palace. Except for Lady Junica. “I would not suggest it of you.”
She laughed lightly. “So you have learned well.”
Aerax grunted. For he had not learned well enough. If he had any gift of persuasion, already his purpose might be done.
But it was not.
“Speaking of overlarge beasts that growl, where is your cat?” Lady Junica rose up slightly, her gaze sweeping the road ahead. “I have not seen him since midday.”
“Hunting,” Aerax told her.
After catching a scent that had excited Caeb so much that he’d nearly pulled Aerax from his saddle, trying to urge him along on the hunt. Almost anything Aerax would have given to join the cat . . . and then keep riding.
One day. There was work to be done first.
The councilor’s gaze seemed suddenly intent and piercing, as if trying to see through him. “Do you not worry when he is gone?”
Always Aerax worried. Everything he’d ever loved, he’d lost—except the snow cat. But he knew the surest way to lose Caeb would be to leash the cat to his side. “He likely sleeps off a full belly.”
“Hopefully that full belly will calm his foul temper,” Degg said.
Aerax slashed a disgruntled look at the councilor. Caeb had but a snow cat’s temper. And like every cat, he had little use for humans and wished to be left alone. So with a few exceptions, Caeb snarled at anyone who approached him.
Aerax only wished that a bastard prince’s snarling were as effective as a saber-toothed predator’s was.
“Though perhaps the foul-tempered one is the prince who loves him,” Degg said, catching sight of Aerax’s look.
Lady Junica speared the other councilor with a quelling glance, then sighed. “This heat makes us all foul-tempered.”