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“I have combed the streets and found no suitable recruits, sir,” she replied, hands loose at her sides and stance wide.

Her uncle stopped behind her. Bryn tried not to tense up.

“None of my Flame Assassins have returned from Veter, and it seems that the Heir was spotted in a longboat, heading toward the Kingdom of Light,” he said, surprising her with the information. “The King had mentioned that should my soldiers fail, you were to send out soldiers to find her and bring her in.”

Bryn did not respond.

“I have not told the King of my Flame Assassin's disappearance,” he said lightly. “Should he find out sooner than I plan to reveal it to him, I’ll make sure that each of your shieldmaidens is drawn and quartered in the town square.”

Bryn swallowed but betrayed no more emotion to her uncle as he spoke.

“Is this understood?”

Bryn nodded sharply. Her uncle turned to walk to his office when she finally called back to him.

“Remember, General, that my father does not like to be lied to.”

Bryn turned to see his ears go red.

“Best you tell him soon,” Bryn said, that half smile on her face that promised his downfall.

Without waiting for a response, Bryn headed toward her chambers. Time was running out for her. Finding more information about this weapon so she could keep it from her father’s clutches became the most important task for her to complete, and the only way she could discover more was by reading her mother’s journals. Perhaps they would provide better insight into what the King plans to do with this weapon.

When Bryn entered her room, she folded up the coded message she’d written for Revna instructing her to come to her room and opened her window. Manipulating the breeze, Bryn watched as her message floated gently down the tower she was in and disappeared behind the barracks.

As she waited, Bryn paced around her room, unable to let go of the threat her uncle had laid out in front of her. Inviting Revna to her chambers was a risk, but she needed to speak with her again to finish learning about what she had discovered and to warn her about the General’s threats.

A knock came at her door, and Bryn quickly opened it, grabbing Revna by the arm to pull her through the door and shut it again.

“What’s going on, Bryn?” Revna asked, bewildered by the quick movements.

“The General has threatened me with your life and the life of every other shieldmaiden under my command, and I needed to warn you,” Bryn blurted out.

Revna only stared at her.

“My apologies, I didn't intend to just dump that on you,” Bryn grimaced.

“I’m glad you told me, but where is this threat coming from?” Revna asked, placing her shield on the floor and moving to sit on Bryn’s bed.

“There are some things I have not told you,minnraven,” Bryn said, moving to sit next to Revna.

Revna only remained silent, allowing Bryn to continue speaking.

“I’m not a soldier who was picked from the ranks to become Lieutenant General,” Bryn started slowly. “I am the second-born child to the King, so it is my birthright, but he has not publicly claimed me ever since the Heir ran away ten years ago.”

Waiting for the shock to radiate from Revna, Bryn paused. When she felt no such reaction from her, Bryn turned to look at her lover.

“I know,” Revna said, a sad smile on her face. “I’ve seen you with the King before; you look exactly alike. It's a wonder no one else has noticed.”

Bryn just gaped at her.

“I’m sure no one wants to say the words, but I’m not the only one who knows you are a Helvig.”

“Then why do you stay with me?” Bryn couldn’t help but ask.

“Because you are different, Bryn,” Revna said, placing a gentle hand on Bryn’s cheek. “You may be his daughter, but you are not like him. You care about this kingdom and its people; you work every day to make things better for them when it can get you killed.”

Tears burned in Bryn’s eyes, but she refused to shed them. She placed her hand over the hand that Revna still held to her face and closed her eyes for a moment.