“Thank you,” Aidan told her, meaning every word. “They’re both like brothers to me. Your helping them means much.”

“Keep your word to me and no need for thanks.”

“As promised. We don’t intend to hurt anyone. Just need a safe place to stay tonight.”

She glanced around. “This is as safe as any. If there are any problems with your friends, the servants know where to find me.”

With a nod, she left and Aidan looked at Brannie. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I was trying not to glare. That requires concentration.”

“You had to concentrate on not glaring?”

“Because I didn’t know I was glaring! So I kept thinking, ‘Am I glaring now? What about now? I feel like I’m glaring now.’ It was endless.”

Aidan shook his head. “Do you realize that you make things—outside of battle, I mean—very complicated?”

“No, I don’t.”

“You do. Constantly. If a sword is in your hand and someone is screaming bloody murder as they charge you . . . you are direct and ready. But you and Izzy trying to figure out what to eat for dinner . . . I think we’re still waiting for you to make up your mind.”

“Oh, it’s not that bad.”

“If that’s what you need to believe,” Aidan said.

He picked up the bones and any remnants of food and tossed everything outside so the castle dogs could have it. Then he found blankets that, sadly, smelled like horses, but would be much more comfortable to lie on than plain straw.

Once he had the blankets laid out, he dropped facedown on one.

“What were you talking about with Keita and Rhiannon when I was with my mother?” Brannie asked.

Aidan turned his head so he could comfortably stare at her for several seconds.

“When?”

“Earlier today. When we were in Rhiannon’s special place.”

He snorted. “I think you mean sacred space.”

“So . . . what did they want?”

Aidan had been hoping that Brannie would forget her question when he corrected her—as she often did—but she was too annoyed by her cousin to let it go. And if Aidan wanted to annoy her more, he’d tell her everything. That, however, would not help the journey they were about to make.

So, instead, Aidan told Brannie enough to get her off his back.

“The queen was bragging about how safe her sacred space is, which was fine . . . until your great-aunt Brigida casually strolled through.”

“I did see her, then?”

“Yes. You did. And so did Rhiannon, who was none too happy about it. Especially when Keita began the mocking.”

Brannie shook her head. “Keita is such a crazy, murdering sow. Pissing off her mother like that? Stupid.”

Aidan rolled to his side and propped himself up on his elbow. “You do know that your cousin is not really a murderer, Branwen, right?”

“Oh, come now. You can’t be fooled by her as well.”

“I’m not. But she didn’t kill those people earlier today because she was bored. She’s a Protector of the Throne. That’s what they do.”