Page 99 of Kingdom of Chains

‘Not unscathed,’ Tatum replied. ‘He took my pin.’

Alveye frowned. ‘But left your head, which is the perplexing part.’

‘I just got used to calling you Commander,’ Hadewaye said.

Tatum clapped him on the back. ‘The deep respect you build for a superior will never go away.’

‘Where’s Isabel?’ Hadewaye asked, looking over at Blackmane.

‘Carmarthenshire. Where else would she be?’

Hadewaye thought about that. ‘I don’t know. I thought perhaps you would bring her here with you.’

Blackmane’s chest tightened. ‘She can barely sit up, let alone ride a horse.’

‘We heard she got injured in the… crossfire,’ Alveye said, jogging a few paces to catch up. ‘So that’s it? It’s over between you two?’

Blackmane picked up his pace.

‘I really liked her,’ Hadewaye said. ‘She was caring and funny, and she brought out those things in you.’ He looked around at the others. ‘Did you all notice that?’

Blackmane looked heavenward. ‘Can someone shut him up before I stab him?’

‘She was smart too,’ Alveye added.

Blackmane drew a long breath.

‘And beautiful,’ Tatum said. ‘If you’re into that doe-eyed, fair-haired sort of look. Personally, I prefer brunettes.’

Blackmane shook his head. ‘We’re done with this subject.’

Everyone fell silent when they reached the wash area. Alveye and Hadewaye settled themselves on barrels to watch the training field, visibly happy to have their friends back, while Tatum and Blackmane stripped down to wash.

‘So the whole camp is empty?’ Alveye asked. ‘Every child out?’

Tatum nodded. ‘Every child.’

‘What’s their plan now?’ Hadewaye asked. ‘Besides making sure Hodge and his men stay away.’

Tatum headed to one of the tubs and climbed in. ‘Hopefully both kings realise the people of Carmarthenshire pose no threat and only wish to be left alone. Thorn and Tolly plan to meet with them both, eventually.’

Hadewaye looked in his direction. ‘Do you think either king will agree to meet with someone named Thorn?’

‘I imagine they’ll resort to their proper names at some point,’ Alveye said. ‘You two will have to keep your heads down for a while and let all this play out. The warden will be watching you like an eagle.’

Hadewaye winced. ‘Might be too soon for eagle mentions.’

Blackmane tried very hard not to listen to anything being said around him. He would have preferred to never talk again if that were an option. The way through these feelings was to focus on work and to bury the previous few weeks deep in his mind. That was how he had always gotten through. The routine of work and training until his fingers bled and legs gave out would keep his mind steady and moods even.

Reaching for the washcloth, he scrubbed hard at his skin, washing away any part of the wastelands that still clung to him. When every inch of him was clean, he submerged himself in the water and let the cold freeze the memories of her.

‘Should we be worried?’ he heard Alveye ask Tatum as he surfaced.

Blackmane stood, water running off him. ‘No, you shouldn’t.’ He reached for a towel and wrapped it around himself before going to collect his uniform and boots. ‘I think I’ll go train, get my hours in.’

Hadewaye’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What are you talking about? You just got back. Not even the warden’s expecting you to train today.’

Without saying another word, Blackmane headed for his room.