Page 58 of A Crown Without Mercy

Mira turned her head to the side and looked up as if something had caught her attention. She then rolled her eyes as far back as they would go before looking back at Cadell. “Yes, milord.”

They rode the rest of the way in silence; Cadell was furious with Enatta, and Mira was loathing the thought of being alone with her sisters.

Nicolai, Kieran, and Sylvana crawled out of bed and while Nicolai and Kieran dressed, Sylvana sat on the edge with the cotton blanket wrapped around her body. “I don’t see my dress?”

Nicolai walked over and laid a pair of impeccably fashioned black leather trousers and a crisp, white, pleated tunic on the end of the bed while Kieran set a pair of new, black leather boots on the floor next to her feet.

“What’s this?” she asked curiously.

“We assumed you would be more comfortable heading home in this rather than a fancy garment.”

Sylvana collected the trousers and ran her hand over the silk material. “I can’t accept this.”

Nicolai looked at her and cocked his head to the side. “Why not?”

“The material in this one outfit is worth more than half my wardrobe.” She chuckled.

“What did we tell you last night? Did you think they were hollow words?” Kieran asked.

“Well, no. But what am I to tell my brother if he sees me in this?”

“Tell him we gifted it to you. What else?” Nicolai suggested.

“Oh boy,”Sylvana mumbled as she stood and slid her arms into the shirt.

“We would like to see you again tonight,” Kieran said as he walked over stood next to her.

“I’m not sure I can. There is a lot for me to do around the manor and the day is half over, if you hadn’t noticed.”

“We are going to fix that. We don’t want you doing a Helots job anymore,” Nicolai said.

Sylvana rolled her eyes but said nothing in response.

Nicolai held out his elbow once Sylvana was finished dressing. “Klyn will escort you home, but you will have to ride. The wagon won’t be able to cross the road for a day or so.”

“I’d rather ride, anyway.” She smiled.

They escorted her to the front parlor, where Klyn was already waiting. He nodded to Nicolai and Kieran and then acknowledged Sylvana. “Good afternoon, Sylvana.”

“Good afternoon, Klyn.”

“Are you ready, milady?”

“I am.”

The two guards opened the front doors and Sylvana noticed the magnificent-looking stallion standing tall and strong next to one of Klyn’s. She studied the exotic animal whose body, main and tail, were sable-black; its thick, wavy main spilled over its shoulders and rested softly over the side of his face, while its tail cascaded down his hind legs. The leather saddle and reins, having been lined with silver studs, were as black as the stallion. He subtly turned his head and blinked once, slowly, and she was taken-a-back when she stared into its ice-blue eyes. “He is absolutely stunning.”

Nicolai strode down the marble steps and patted the stallion’s neck. “This is Skadi, he’s mine.”

“He’s yours?”

“Yes.”

“You want me to ride him home?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Well, no. I mean, it’s not customary for anyone else to ride a lord’s personal stallion. I

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