Page 43 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame

‘Can you be so sure that you can trust these people, after what you just witnessed?’

‘They came to your aid without knowledge of you,’ Cahra said quietly.

Raiden’s eyebrows furrowed as Cahra approached. ‘Hold fire,’ he told his fighters.

Cahra’s eyes were daggers as she said, ‘Mull all you like, Raiden, but you’ll want to hear what Wyldaern has to say.’ She turned to beckon to Wyldaern, but the young woman was already shadowing her as if more worried about Cahra’s safety than her own.

‘I will reveal my faith,’ Wyldaern vowed under her breath to Cahra, ‘buttell noneabout our earlier conversation.Not until your trust is earned.’

Trust.Cahra laughed mirthlessly. She reached Raiden, and they faced each other. He regarded her, lowering his sword. His guards withdrew their weapons.

She refused to look at Ter—

Thierre, Thierre, Thierre. The Crown Prince of Luminaux.

Thierre watched, forlorn, as Cahra opened the coach door for Wyldaern, who took her seat opposite his. In Cahra’s place.

Raiden halted Cahra before she climbed in. ‘If that woman in any way threatens him, I’ll have Queran put an arrow in her.’

‘You mean, “His Royal Highness”?’ she shot back, sneering as she jerked from him. ‘Save your threats. In a minute’s time, you’re going to feel like complete idiots. LikeIdo,’ she seethed. She climbed in, folding her arms and facing Raiden’s vacant seat.

‘Make haste,’ she heard him command, entering with Thierre. They all sat staring at one another, Raiden demanding, ‘Care to tell us why we’re here, then?’

Cahra flicked a glance to Wyldaern and nodded. Cahra would ‘tell none’, although she wasn’t exactly sure what that meant, given she and the Seer had hardly spoken. The only thing of note was that eerie white light.

Slowly, Wyldaern pulled the Sigil of the Seers from her robe.

For a moment, no one breathed.

Then Raiden and Thierre both sunk back into their seats, staring. At one another, then at Wyldaern and Cahra.

Cahra shot them a spiteful glare.

Raiden had the sense to look remorseful. ‘I had no idea.’

‘Of course you didn’t,’ Cahra erupted. ‘You barely let me talk!’

‘Kolyath is in league with Ozumbre! If those soldiers had learned of the Prince…’ Raiden’s face went pale.

Cahra threw up her hands, turning on Thierre. ‘Seers, why in Hael are you here then? If it’s so damn dangerous, then why?’

‘Someone has to,’ Thierre stated. ‘Certainly, it could be one of my father’s spymen, or any manner of soldier. But as I told you, I connect with people. I am learned in other royal courts, history, geography, culture, warfare. And I am not like my family. I cannot live in a kingdom and not know anything of other lands in turmoil.’

‘Oh, so you wanted anadventure,’ Cahra retorted. ‘Royal life a royal bore, was it?’ Poor form, directed at a lord, she knew, worse still at a Prince of the realm’s tri-kingdoms. Raiden looked ready to throttle her. She didn’t care.

‘It matters not why you are here,’ Wyldaern said. ‘Cahra’s safety is what matters.’

‘As does yours,’ Raiden told the Seer.

‘Oh? A minute ago, you were ready to shoot her,’ Cahra snapped.

‘The sister kingdoms believe the Oracles to be a people now extinct,’ Thierre said, apologetic then curious as he watched Wyldaern. ‘Was it a vision that led you here to us? How you knew of my true name?’

‘Yes,’ Wyldaern replied, glancing at Cahra. ‘So I must ask the question. What are your intentions for Cahra and myself?’

‘As Cahra has been, you are now our honoured guest,’ Thierre said to Wyldaern. Cahra looked away. ‘And we, your humble hosts, and with hope, allies.’

‘That remains to be seen,’ the Seer answered. ‘What if I had not shown you the sigil? What would I have been to you, then?’