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Kaerius licked Galbraith’s shoulder and was unsurprised to taste the Boravian lord’s hands in several places, along with several other human scents. Perhaps those were Ralph’s allies in the assault, or perhaps they were Galbraith’s servants andstaff who had prepared his clothes. Kaerius had not been close enough to any of them to identify their scents clearly.

Galbraith’s breathing shifted subtly, and Kaerius patted him softly on the cheek to see if he would wake.

The man groaned. It was an oddly vulnerable sound from such an abominable man, and Kaerius hissed between his teeth. He had been almost tempted to shove the Severtian off this narrow ledge to his death, but such an action would not serve the princess. Besides, the sound grated on his nerves. It would be dishonorable indeed to kill Galbraith while he was helpless.

So he patted Galbraith’s cheek again and waited for long minutes while the man moaned and muttered his way back to coherence.

“Who are you?” Galbraith grunted at last.

Kaerius clicked his teeth.

“The mute idiot,” Galbraith muttered. “Threw me down here to kill me? You’ll have to do better than that.” He swung a fist at Kaerius’s face, and the Mer prince avoided the weak blow with ease.

He clicked his teeth again.I’m trying to help you, idiot.He guided Galbraith’s hand to the edge and let him feel the sea air rushing up from below. Then he slipped his hand under Galbraith’s shoulder.

The man curled onto his side, then pushed up to hands and knees. “Are you trying to help?” he muttered, when he finally realized that Kaerius’s strong hands upon his shoulders were steadying him rather than causing further harm.

Kaerius gripped Galbraith’s hand and put it on his own face so the lord could feel his nod. Then he pointed up the short, rough cliffside to the road.

“You want me to climb?” Galbraith said in disbelief. “Did you forget that I was nearly killed just now? I can barely keep my feet!”

Kaerius gripped the shoulder of the Severtian’s jacket and lifted him off his feet with one hand, hoping the arrogant lord would see this as the reassurance it was. The Mer prince was strong enough to support him if he would only make an effort.

Galbraith sighed heavily and sagged against the cliffside. “All right,” he muttered, dark and hopeless. “If I die, I die.”

Perhaps the man’s pessimism was not entirely unfounded, for he slipped more than once as they made their way slowly up the steep cliff. The climb back to the wall was not even twenty feet, but he would have fallen to his death at least twice if not for Kaerius’s iron grip upon his jacket which gave him enough support to find his footing again.

The man collapsed facedown atop the wall and lay there, winded and groaning, as Kaerius climbed over. The Mer prince gripped his shoulders again and helped him the rest of the way over the wall. He hauled Galbraith upright, and they made their way across the street to one of the palace doors.

The palace doors here were guarded on the inside and locked, but no guards stood outside. Farther down the hill, the access to the road and palace were restricted, so they were effectively within protected grounds already.

Kaerius pounded upon the door and waited. A faint uneasiness played upon his mind, but when he looked behind him, he could see nothing alarming. Galbraith leaned more heavily upon him. The prince pounded his fist on the door again.

At last, someone began to unlock it, and several minutes later, they were surrounded by lantern light, guards, servants, and helpful hands.

A dozen people asked questions at once, and all Galbraith could say was that he’d been walking on the road alone, and he’d seen Brighton, and then he’d been hit upon the head and remembered nothing else until the mute idiot prince had helped him up the cliffside. His gratitude toward Kaerius did notapparently extend far enough to prevent him from calling the prince an imbecile, but there was less rancor behind the insult.

Soon the princess and others joined them, having been told of the commotion.

Kaerius followed the commotion, noting how Sir Vincent treated even Galbraith with unsentimental, professional compassion. The physician ignored the man’s irritable grumbling and complaining while conducting a thorough examination.

“Captain Brighton would not have attacked you,” said Marin.

Someone said, “Where is the captain? If he knew Galbraith was attacked, he would be here.”

Marin looked around, frowning. “I assume he went home. Lieutenant, would you confirm Captain Brighton made it home safely?”

Several young soldiers bowed and hurried away, leaving Marin with a number of guards and the Severtian lord, who continued grumbling bitterly. Kaerius did not want to leave her with the attacker unidentified.

The princess sent a servant for Galbraith’s personal servant. Then she had several of the soldiers help Galbraith to a small sitting room on the same level of the palace. This seemed particularly thoughtful to Kaerius; climbing five flights of stairs would be miserable in Galbraith’s current state.

Kaerius couldn’t help smiling a little as he admired her. Her sweetness slipped past what little guardedness had remained in his heart, and he gave himself up to her entirely without even realizing it.

“Your Highness!” one of the young soldiers stepped into the room. “Mrs. Brighton said the captain had not come home yet.”

Marin’s eyes widened. “I assume you’ve started searching for him.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The soldier bowed sharply. “Someone stayed with Mrs. Brighton to send word back in case he arrived late.”