As soon as Iiro approached, Inessa burst from the carriage and ran into his arms. He held her firmly against his chest, his bloody hand running through her hair as he murmured things into her ear.
Watching them felt as if we were somehow intruding on an intimate moment. Frankly, it felt strange that Iiro had intimate moments, from the brusque exterior he had shown me.
Then again, there was clearly more to him than I had given him credit for. He had been willing to die in place of his brother, willing to die protecting his wife. Whatever his faults, he wasn’t heartless.
When he lifted his eyes to meet mine, there was gratitude shining from his gaze, and something else, something that gave me pause.
Guilt.
Which made me wonder if for all Theo’s assurances that the Summit would decide to let me live, that outcome was less likely than they would have liked me to believe.
Theo grasped my hand tighter, as though he sensed my sudden anxiety, and I let him pull me closer, let him ground me against the chaos that hadn’t stopped assaulting me since the moment the tunnel caved in.
Iiro noted the exchange and shot Theo a questioning look. The one Theo returned was equal parts warning and pleading, and Iiro hesitated only a second before muttering something in Socairan that sounded like an order.
Theo gave a sharp nod in response. They both looked from the carriage to the road ahead, conversing in grim, speculative tones.
Before I knew it, Theo was lifting me bodily onto one of the enormous destriers — sidesaddle, of course — before climbing up behind me.
I was about to protest when he wrapped his arm firmly around my waist, pulling me against his chest.
“We need to get there quickly to avoid another skirmish,” his deep voice intoned in my ear.
“What about the wounded, and the…dead?” I asked.
“The men will see to them. We need to get you and Inessa somewhere safe.”
He spurred the horse into a run without waiting for a response, crushing me against his body.
The way he held me, it was like we were in the middle of another storm and I was about to be swept away from him. And it didn’t matter that we were both filthy and smeared in other people’s blood.
I sensed that this time, he needed the closeness as much as I did.
By the time we dismounted our horses in a clearing near where Theo said the Summit would be, I was stumbling with weariness.
The stars glowed in the sky around the crescent moon, enough for me to make out Theo’s face when he looked down at me with concern. I started to lean into him, the way I had after our battle and the way I had on the horse, but he backed away, catching my arms before I fell forward.
I gave him a look that was equal parts confusion and irritation, and he shook his head, speaking in a low tone. “The other clans wouldn’t like this. It was one thing in front of our men. Iiro can make sure they stay silent, but that isn’t a risk we can take here. We have to be careful.”
That made sense. It did. Still, there was a sinking feeling in my gut, like I wasn’t quite standing on solid ground anymore. Or perhaps that was only my fatigue talking.
“I just want you to be safe,” he whispered.
I nodded, grateful that someone in this stars-blasted place cared enough to look out for my safety. He wrapped his cloak around me in one solid motion, tucking my stray hairs under the hood before putting distance between us once again.
Then Theo and the duke spoke hastily in their harsh-sounding language, undoubtedly making plans for whatever the hell it was that we were supposed to do next.
“Our camp should be set up by now,” Theo translated after a moment. “Iiro sent men ahead for that before we even left the estate. Tomorrow, we can see about getting clothes until the rest of the men arrive with our trunks.”
I just gave him a tired nod. Theo’s jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed in concern.
“It will be fine, Rowan. I won’t let them vote against you,” he said quietly. “I promise, I’ll protect you.”
Something inside me warmed at that, even if it was chased out by a numb sort of fatigue. After all, what was another scrape with death after this past week?
Iiro gestured for us to follow him up the hill, pausing at the very top.
Moonlight glinted off pale canvas tents set up in a large circle, and the sound of laughter and drunken singing traveled up from around at least a dozen campfires. A river wound its way along the edge, and I could see the outlines of women doing the washing, even at this late hour.
“This is the Summit?” I couldn’t help asking. “It looks more like a festival than a dangerous meeting of death and doom.”
Theo shook his head. Where I expected to see a smile tempting the corner of his mouth, he was wholly serious instead.
“You can’t let your guard down.” He tried to smooth his expression. “And…maybe try a little harder to blend in.”
Sure thing. That shouldn’t be difficult at all.
