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“I would want you to do the same for me,”was all she said.

There was a shout ahead of them. All at once, the Paladins were jumping into formation and drawing swords. A volley of arrows had shot through the air and landed in their midst, though none hit flesh, having been deflected by armor. And then, through the gray curtain of rain, Zara saw them—the shadows in the trees on either side of them. An ambush.

Zara looked at Devana. He was backing away. She grabbed his arm before he could run, drawing her dagger.“Clever,”she said.

“I didn’t know they’d be here, Lady.”

“You didn’t know you were leading us to the perfect place for an ambush?”she said, nodding toward the trees on either side of them. There was ample cover for the elves to hide in and shoot from, even in the daylight.“You must have known the others would save you if you brought us here.”

Devana said nothing, unable to provide a convincing defense.

Glancing around to make sure the Paladins’ attention was elsewhere, she quickly moved behind him and sawed through the ropes around his wrists. As they fell away from his hands, he gave her a stunned look, then planted his hands on her shoulders and shoved her.

She hit the wet ground hard, landing on her elbow, and waves of pain shot up her arm. By the time she looked up again, he was halfway to the trees.

An arrow hit the ground near her head. She flinched, then scrambled to her feet and started running. Chaos had erupted. She realized the Paladins were moving in the opposite direction as she was, but it was too late for her to change course. Her leathers weren’t strong enough to deflect arrows. She needed to get out of the open. So she ran to the trees.

Chapter 14

As he rode up to the woods and an arrow shot toward him from the nearby trees, Nero was reminded of why he did not often interact with Varai he didn’t know.

The arrow landed in the dirt at Changa’s feet, wobbling slightly as it wedged itself into a crack in the stone. The behelgi stopped, her hooves dancing nervously as the arrow’s black fletching twitched in the rain.

Nero looked up at the trees. He saw nothing, but he knew the Varai were there. He pulled his hood back.

“I know you know who I am,”Nero said.“Do we have to do this?”

There was a long pause, and then someone emerged from the trees. Through the haze of rain, Nero could make out a cloaked Varai man. He had a bow and an arrow half nocked, fortunately pointed at the ground. The man called out over the rain.“You’re the one called Nero?”

Nero shrugged tiredly, squinting as rain hit his face.“Are there any other half-bloods around here?”

“Certainly not.”

“I didn’t think so.”He nudged Changa forward.

“What is your business here?”the man asked, still suspicious.

“I’ll buy some trail rations from you if you have any.”

“Rations are more valuable than money here.”

He couldn’t disagree.“Just passing through, then.”He stopped Changa a few steps from him. The man looked him over with open distaste. Unsurprised, Nero looked back with equal distaste. He disliked Varai almost as much as he disliked Ardanians.

“You’re on your way back to your fellow outcasts?”the man sneered, apparently having heard enough gossip about the local half-blood to know which raiding party he traveled with. To be accurate, Nero’s group was an anomaly in that it was less a raiding party and more a small band of wandering refugees. As far as Nero knew, all the other raiding parties actually intended to return to Kuda Varai eventually.

“Yes,”Nero said.“Are you going to shoot me if I continue on,kinsman?Or may I proceed?”

The word had the desired effect, making the elf’s face crinkle with displeasure at the implication that they were related in any way.“Dismount and proceed,”was all he said.

Nero gave him a sarcastic smile as he swung off Changa’s back. The elf walked beside him, escorting him through their territory. A group of well-camouflaged tents were hidden among the trees. A few elves were keeping watch over the glen beneath their camp, but most were sleeping during the day.

“Killed any Paladins lately?”the man said disinterestedly. The question had become almost a greeting among the Varai in Ardani.Heard any news from the homeland? Taken any good hauls? Killed any Paladins?

“A few.”

The man gave a vaguely approving grunt.“Your Varai accent is terrible,”he commented.

“So I’ve been told. We could switch to Ardanian instead, if you like.”