The footsteps and shouts grow closer and louder—multiple guards. I curve my body around the tree to peek. Five men walk on either side of the carriage; likely, there’s another, his right-hand guard, inside. None are on horseback, which momentarily baffles me. Is Lannex truly traveling this distance with only foot guards? I wipe the thought; no time for speculation.

Another glance at Lorna, and I tug the tip of my hood. Her powerful leg muscles flex as she readies herself to run. Her feet dig into the dirt.

We wait.

We wait longer.

The carriage and the soldiers, outfitted in Aeradian red, are now five trees past us.

Lorna grimaces, and she throws up an impatient hand. I shrug my confusion in return. Has the Little Sparrow already betrayed us?

Lorna jerks off her hood. “What do we do?” she mouths. “We’ve been tricked.”

I release a huge breath and rub my palm down my face. Why did I trust a Verdanian? She likely ran off, and Torr is trying to decide whether to chase her or create a distraction himself.

My heart thuds.

No.

No, she hasn’t forsaken the plan. She hasn’t gone anywhere. I can feel it.

She’s waiting for something.

A scream pierces the silence, and I lift myself onto my toes to look up the road. Idalia barrels out of the trees and throws herself into the arms of one of the foot soldiers.

“Help! I need help!” She shrieks.

He fumbles with her weight for a moment, then signals a stop. The guards gather around the Princess.

“What is the meaning of this?” Lannex pokes his head out the window and scans the woods.

Idalia shrieks again, and the nobleman flings himself from the carriage. He’s a short man, apparently with an ego twice his size. He slides a hand over his balding head. “Lady and Guard, is that a woman!?”

“She says she’s the Princess of Verdana, my lord.”

“It cannot be so,” he states. “She looks like a common whore! I know Princess Idalia to be the most handsome woman. Surely this cannot be her!”

He stalks over to Idalia, cups her chin, and pushes her head from side to side. Any moment now, Torrent will come blazing out. I breathe slowly and concentrate on Idalia’s every movement.

“Please, Lord Lannex. I beg of you! Sanctuary! I claim sanctuary in Aeradian!” She sobs and flails her delicate hands in his face.

What were you waiting for, Little Sparrow?

One of her hands lowers to a guard’s leg, and I see her pull it back with something she tucks beneath her cloak.

Her wails grow louder. “Take me to King Lachlan! I’ve been kidnapped by bandits! The Prince of…”

Torr bursts out of the woods, flourishing his sword with wild swings. The first sentry launches himself towards my friend, who, even in his worn, hungered state, does appear savage. Torr kicks, and the guard flies then slams into the ground. Torr opens his arms wide, growls like a wild beast, then grins at the guards.