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We are about an hour into our journey when the sound of the curlew’s call goes up on our left flank – three calls in succession – the sign that one of the outriders has spotted a patrol. Kes, Ailish and I immediately pull away from the main party and join Brighida, the outrider who alerted us.

Pulling away from her, urging his horse to pick up speed at about two hundred yards out, is one of Greythorne’s men. There's no doubt he has seen us and is off to report to a main patrol. Kes and Ailish swing into action immediately. Kes jumps onto the back of Ailish’s horse and they take off across the heather-covered hill in pursuit of the rider.

“There's no way they're going to catch him with two of them on one horse,” Prince Ronan states from behind me, his tone mocking and derisory. I’ve suspected from the beginning he has had doubts as to the skills and expertise of the Khaleeni and perhaps sees them as lacking the killer instinct of male warriors. He's about to find out just how deadly they can be.

“They don't intend to catch him,” I inform him, “they intend to kill him.”

His silence tells me he is more than a little surprised at my response and he fixes his gaze on Kes and Ailish as if he is wondering if what I say is really going to happen.

After my own steed, Maneeha, Kes and Ailish have the two fastest horses in the Khaleeni. The prince is about to find out why. Seek and skewer is their particular skill. It doesn't take them long to advance upon the rider, and when they are about seventy yards away from him Kes readies her bow. They’re going at full speed now, Ailish expertly handling her horse. Kes loads an arrow, aims and fires.

Seconds later Greythorne’s man has an arrow running through his neck. His horse slows and he falls to the ground, the horn he was getting ready to blow rolling across the heather.

I turn to look at the prince and feel a small sense of satisfaction at the surprised expression on his face.

“Impressive,” he says, as he watches Brighida chase down the dead rider's horse and Kes and Ailish throw him on the back of it. Brighida brings the horse back to where I and the prince wait, and minutes later Kes and Ailish join us.

Kes immediately gets back on her horse. “Permission to track down the other rider, my Queen?” she asks.

“Permission granted,” I reply and seconds later I watch as three of my best Khaleeni ride away.

“God help him, whoever he is,” the prince wryly observes from beside me. “He's already a dead man.”

“Not necessarily,” I reply. “If they manage to separate him from his horn before he can blow it, then he has a chance. Kes will want him alive for the information he will be able to provide on how many patrols are in the area and where they are.”

“So, these Khaleeni are your own private guard?” the prince asks.

“Yes.”

“And why does the Queen of Ardvalla, with one of the mightiest armies in all the realms, feel the need for a private guard?”

“The queen of Ardvalla may be young, but she is not stupid, and when she has a subject like Lord Greythorne she thinks it prudent to take all necessary measures to ensure her safety.”

His generous lips stretch into a smile, and it does wonderful things to his face and strange things to my insides.

“I think there are those much older who could learn a thing or two from you, Queen,” he declares, as he turns his horse and makes his way back to the main group to take up his position beside the cart.

I look out across the barren landscape and spot four riders in the distance. Three forms I recognise as Ailish, Kes and Brighida. I’ve no doubt the fourth is the other rider from the two-man patrol. Unfortunately for him, he seems to have an arrow through his arm.

Chapter Nine

Thankfully, due to the information extracted from the captured rider, we are able to chart the shortest course that also minimises the possibility of coming into contact with other patrols. This sees us entering Lord Montague’s province by nightfall.

Montague doesn’t bother with patrols, probably because he knows any intruders of the realm have already been dealt with by Greythorne. Therefore, tonight we light a fire against the chill of the night. We also construct two soft beds of grasses and blankets for Aaran and Barra and gently lay them on top of them, as close as possible to the flames. Aaran briefly opens his eyes and manages a small smile as he feels the heat bring some comfort to his damaged body. Much to my concern, Barra has yet to regain consciousness.

Ailish makes the most of them being free from the cart and inspects their wounds. I bring some cloths and warm salted water and help her to clean them as best we can. The prince joins us and helps us to turn and hold them, all the while speaking soothingly to them in Bawnish.

When we are finished we retire to the fire and fill our mugs with ale and our laps with bread and cheese.

“I'm grateful for the care you have shown to my men,” the prince says as he stares into the flames from where he sits beside me, “especially that which you have given with your own hand.”

I smile. “It's the least I could do. I'm looking forward to finishing our journey and getting them the care of the best healers in Ardvalla.”

“I suppose in a way it was fortuitous for them you abducted me when you did,” he observes, as he takes a swig of his ale.

“I suppose it was,” I agree.

“I still find it hard to believe it was Ellerban men who did this to them, but I suppose I must believe you as I cannot see what reason you would have to lie to me.”