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‘Princess Jasira?’ Wilder recognised the leader who greeted their party, his brow furrowed in confusion at the sight of Thezmarrians rather than his own men.

The princess pulled back the curtain and peered out. ‘I’m glad to see you, Captain Barker,’ she said. The relief on her face was plain.

‘Trouble on the road, Highness?’ Barker asked, looking concerned.

‘A conversation for behind closed doors,’ Thea interjected, urging the stallion forward to position herself between the guard and the princess.

Wilder wasn’t surprised to see the whole unit bow their heads in deference to the woman seated before him, some of them even touching three fingers to their shoulders in respect, as though she were already a Warsword. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen soldiers of the midrealms offer Thea such a tribute. She’d saved many lives in Tver.

‘Of course, Guardian Zoltaire,’ Captain Barker said, before his eyes widened at the sight of Wilder at her back. Wilder noticed the bob of his throat and the paling of his complexion before he cleared his throat. ‘We’ll escort Princess Jasira to her father right away.’ He addressed the princess next. ‘His Majesty was worried sick about your delay.’

‘He will be put at ease soon enough, Captain. Thanks to Thea and her companions here.’ Princess Jasira scanned the three Guardians. ‘This debt will not be forgotten. My father shall know of my saviours.’

‘There’s no need for that,’ Cal said. ‘You are safe, and that’s all that matters to us.’

The princess rewarded him with a warm smile. ‘All the same.’ Then she turned to Thea. ‘I will send for you when everyone is settled.’

‘Of course, Your Highness.’ Thea bowed her head.

The guards of Harenth surrounded the carriage and escorted the princess through the royal gates. Wilder had the distant realisation that Thea should have been escorted through alongside her, as a fellow royal of the midrealms. And yet she shared his saddle, covered in wraith blood just as he was, clad in armour and weapons, the echo of violence still singing at her fingertips.

Cal and Kipp looked to her with reproach.

‘Let’s find somewhere to talk,’ Kipp suggested. ‘Before we go in…’

To Wilder’s surprise, Thea nodded, guiding Biscuit after the two men.

They found themselves at the noblemen’s stables and Wilder reluctantly removed his arms from around Thea, letting her dismount, his front suddenly cold without the press of her body against his.

He leapt down from Biscuit’s back and eyed the trio warily. But Cal and Kipp pulled Thea aside, into an empty stall. They weren’t out of earshot, though. Cal’s voice was clear.

‘I don’t like this. Something doesn’t feel right.’

Kipp made a noise of agreement. ‘You can’t deny it, Thea. He’s acted like anything but a fallen Warsword.’

Ah, so they were to decide his fate in the stables, a mere few feet away from the halls of Vios where his judges awaited.

‘We know he lied, Thea,’ Cal pressed. ‘We know he hurt you and betrayed the midrealms during the battle of Tver, but…’

‘But what?’ Thea bit back. ‘We’ve gotten him this far. Justice awaits beyond those walls —’

‘Are you sure?’ Cal asked.

Kipp chimed in, ‘We have to question what’s happening when everything points to something strange beneath the surface. You know what his fate could be.’

Wilder listened intently. It was a conversation he’d had both with others and himself throughout his years of service to the midrealms. What was blind loyalty? What was duty amid a system of corruption?

‘But it’s all just words,’ Thea murmured. ‘This is what he did before…’ Her voice wavered. ‘He wears many faces, masks that we have all fallen for at one time or another. He made me fall once… I won’t do so again. He can’t be trusted.’

Wilder’s heart ached, but he remained rooted to the ground.

‘Is that what you truly believe?’ Kipp asked quietly.

‘I…’ Thea drew a strained breath, and for the first time Wilder heard the fear, the uncertainty in her voice. ‘I don’t know what to believe anymore.’

All reason left him. All he knew was that were he to face whatever came next, he would not regret one last moment with her. Wilder didn’t even realise he was moving, but in an instant he stood at the stall’s gate, his heart thundering.

Cal and Kipp startled, before glancing between him and Thea and exchanging a look. Silence stretched between them all. Then, without a word, the Guardians left to tend to their horses, leaving Wilder and Thea alone.