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“Then traveling back to Fernwell with Luc and the soldiers of Rising Wave would be safer.” Taira touched her knee and then rose from her crouch. “We know these people are desperate to get you. If Luc is only a half day’s ride away, even if his business with the Jatan isn’t finished by the time we get there, he’ll be able to send some guards back with us. It will take us on a different route out of Illoa, as well. One they won’t expect Ava to be on.” She turned to Deni. “I’d prefer to have more protection for Ava than just you and me. She’s still not fully recovered from what they did to her.”

“That is very true.” Deni gave a slow nod. “And traveling with a Rising Wave contingent will mean we can take a main route, not hide on backroads to avoid being seen.” Deni glanced at her as if looking for approval. “That alone would save us much more than half a day.”

She could have it all, after all.

Ava gave them both a bright smile. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 27

“You can’t all come.” Luc looked over the more than twenty soldiers who’d volunteered to protect him while he ate dinner and negotiated with the Jatan.

“Yes, they can.” Massi was strapping on her quiver of arrows. “Either Baclar is lying about ordering that shot, or they have some internal conflict. Someone there wants you dead. And I won’t let them try.”

“The more eyes the better.” Hallis, the man who spoke, was an old friend of Luc’s mother. Younger than her by a few years but of her generation. Deep wrinkles radiated from his dark eyes, but he was still fit, and Luc knew those eyes missed very little.

The group who’d presented themselves for duty were a mix of young and old, some were experienced by their time in the Chosen camps, others by the long battle to keep the children who were left from the Kassians clutches.

Everyone had too much battle experience, Luc realized. The Cervantes had been plunged into twelve years of continuous fighting, and he wanted it to end.

Which only strengthened his resolve to make this negotiation work.

“Don’t let the thought of more war make you consider a bad deal.” Rafe spoke up, and Luc wondered what the captain had seen on his face to make such an astute comment. “We are tired, it’s true, but we know our worth. What’s another few weeks of fighting, compared to getting what we are owed? Because that’s all the fight this lot has in them. If that.”

There was a murmur of agreement.

Luc sighed. “All right. But some of you try to keep watch out of sight. It’ll be better if they think there’s only half of you there.”

“I’ll sort it out,” Massi said.

Luc nodded. “Rafe, you stay here and manage the prisoners with Revek. After this afternoon’s escape attempt, we can’t have them trying again. It’ll just ramp up the tension.”

“I think they’ll think long and hard before trying something like that again, after Rev’s response.” Rafe closed his hand over the hilt of his sword.

“How is Terrick?” The soldier who’d been attacked by Hurst was seriously injured, but last Luc heard, he was holding on.

“It’s a deep wound.” Rafe shrugged. They all knew it could go either way.

If Ava were here . . . Luc tried to push the wellspring of longing that rose up in him at the thought back down.

Wishing was not reality.

She was over a week’s ride away, and there was no way he would want her in this volatile, dangerous situation, anyway.

He moved through the trees they had put between themselves and the Jatan, and saw a massive fire had been lit in the middle of the open field.

He left the situation of the guards to Massi, as she’d asked, trusting her to have his back covered. Two guards followed him, a pace or two behind, and when he swung down from his horse, he handed the reins to one of them.

All six councillors sat on low tree stumps that had been placed to the side of the fire. There were four other seats, and he saw Tuart and Baclar standing, waiting for him.

“We thought you might bring your lieutenant with you,” Baclar said, indicating the fourth seat.

“She’s close if I need her,” Luc said in response, and Baclar looked out into the darkness.

Luc assumed he wouldn’t catch sight of her, but he focused over Luc’s shoulder and Luc saw his face change slightly.

He turned.

Massi sat easily in the saddle, her bow in her hand, arrow notched.