Page 64

Twelves blades flashed as all horses swerved to face the direction of the oncoming threat.

"At ease," Rydekar ordered, though his sword remained drawn.

What was this woman doing here?

The Bone Queen rode alone on a red horse, her hair loose in the wind. In a way, she reminded Rydekar of Rissa. If nothing else, both women had a gift for ignoring what they were told. "Don't you have a border to guard?" he shouted when she was within hearing range.

The queen snorted."Don't you? That didn't stop you from having a bit of fun."

…fun?

"It's a reconnaissance, not a promenade."

"If you think promenades are more fun than reconnaissance missions, I pity your girlfriend."

Rydekar didn't have a girlfriend. He had an irksome mate who'd sent herself on a suicide mission he hadn't stopped.

"I don't need complications with the seelie forces." If Sura died on his watch, the fragile alliance might come to a crashing end. "Go back to your soldiers."

She leaned forward. "Does barking orders usually work?"

It used to.

"You don't know the seelie lands. I do. Clearly, the humans are hiding, and you have no clue where. You need me."

Rydekar sighed.

What had he done for life to throw another seelie queen at him? At least he didn't want to strip this one naked more than he wanted to strangle her.

He considered forcing her to turn back, but paused to weigh his options. "I don't have time to waste. Let's go."

The queen insisted they take a forest path; Rydekar could see the appeal of moving without being seen, but he hadn't thought it wise. She'd been right when she'd pointed out that he didn't know these lands.

Though her own kingdom was east of the Winter Court through which they now roamed, Sura seemed to know her way.

Too well.

"We'll reach the Winter City from the north, traveling through these woods?"

The queen smiled as she trotted. "We'll be there in less than an hour."

He let her take the lead, hanging back along with his guard.

As they neareda river, she yelled, "We should let the horses drink and rest now—we're almost there."

Rydekar made no protest. They led the horses to the water and dismounted.

None of the horses were interested in the water, except for hers.

"How did you like your queen when you met?" he asked out of genuine curiosity as his guard closed in.

"She's a beauty. A little young to be taken seriously, but smart enough."

"Hm." Rydekar wasn't by nature patient, and this game was getting old. "Now, do you want to tell me who you are, or should I find out the hard way?"

She blinked. "I don't know what you're—"

"How did you get to my men, I wonder?" He tilted his head. "Some have laid down their lives for me in the past, yet you got them to turn against me."