Page 90 of Unrivaled
Shock, relief, and then gratitude ran over her features.“You’ll help?”
“Can’t have you wearing our crest and toeing inward on your lunges, m’lady.”
Irritation rippled through me.I’dbeen taught to toe inward on my lunges.It made you more responsive.
“Would mistress Isolde also like to attend?”Kaelson asked.
The answer came from behind me.“Where the lady goes, I go,” Isolde said.
I would’ve jumped if yesterday’s fight hadn’t dulled my reflexes.Belatedly, anxiety washed through me at the sight of her, jug of water held perfectly balanced on the tray.
Mayhap they reallydidneed me on the door.
“Those who fled yesterday,” Kaelson said, to the room at large.“Did any escape you?”
He asked it ofIsolde.
She shot him a look beneath her lashes.Audrey turned to her, shock on her face.Isolde didn’t speak, but there was no doubt from the quick look that went between her and Audrey that Kaelson’s guess had been accurate.
She’d hunted them all down.
Audrey hadn’t known.
“Well, it simplifies things,” Kaelson said, with a sigh.“Complicates them somewhat, too.Would’ve been good to know who paid them.”
“We know who paid them,” Isolde scoffed.
“Proof would’ve been useful,” Kaelson said lightly.“For your lady.”
“Information we torture out of people isn’t considered proof,” Isolde said, pouring Audrey a drink.“Otherwise, you’d have it.”
Kaelson grunted in agreement.“There are ways around that.If we need them.”
Isolde arched her brows at him.“I’ll keep it in mind.”
He nodded, then glanced at me.“Mayhap spend more time with a bow in your hand, son.Havingoneperson in the city who can hit the side of the barracks at more’n ten paces will stop people wondering when there’s some Worg-quality shots made.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”Isolde asked, frowning.“Or an insult?”
“It’d be more comfortable for all of us, mistress, if you’d take it as a compliment.It wasn’t really meant as anything except a statement of fact.”
She appeared to consider that for a moment before nodding and passing Audrey the water.“Mayhap we could go for a ride,” she suggested, to the room at large.“You could brush up on your archery, Chay.”
I flexed my aching hand.It was about to get a whole lot worse if they took over training…
They didn’t wait for me to agree to their plan, nor consult what I’d want.
We all knew I’d do anything for her.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
ISOLDE
Do you know your serving woman is one of the Nightingale’s best operatives?I’ve been made for sure.Want me to kill her on the way out, or should I just pretend I didn’t see her, and you can feed her some red herrings?—Daisy to Man in the Mountain
6thDay of Summer’s Wife Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 272
