Virgil held up his hands in defense. “I don’t mean it that way—he’s certainly telling the truth in that he has no interest in fathering your children, but he does love you. They all do. The Teshlors have cherished you for years. Go on. Deny it if you can,” he dared the knight.

Kolby went back to washing.

“You see, they serve your grandfather, respect your father and brother, but they love you. You’re the goddess they never had. The embodiment of their principles. The ideal they choose to serve.”

“Are you serious?” She looked between the two of them.

“You’re adventurous, brave, intelligent, athletic, generous, kind, and above all—at least as far as they see it—good.”

“Yeah, but I’m a bitch.”

Kolby laughed. “She’s got you there, old man.”

“True, but that only means that if she could use a sword, she’d be the absolute embodiment of a Teshlor.”

“Doesn’t need to use a sword for that,” Kolby said, his words so weighted with sincerity they could have left marks. “The true measure of a knight isn’t their skill with a weapon, but adherence to the code we live by. For that, Her Highness is a walking illustration. If you had died on my watch . . .”

“That’s why he was scared,” Virgil concluded.

“Not you, though,” the princess accused.

“Me?” Virgil replied. “I’m always terrified for you. A princess who openly refuses to believe in any god is just asking for trouble.” He looked back toward the monastery. “What are we going to do now? I’m certain there are more legionnaires where those came from.”

Kolby nodded. “I’ve ordered Cedric to assume control of the fortress and detain the governor and legatus until I can send relief.”

“Assume control of an entire hostile legion fortress . . . by himself?”

Kolby nodded. “But only until I contact the Second. They’ll dispatch someone to serve as a legatus pro tem. It’ll be a while before the emperor appoints a new governor, but that won’t be our headache.”

“By himself? He’s just going to walk up there and take over?”

Kolby nodded, then smiled wickedly. “I told him not to wash first.”

Chapter 5: The Scribe

Chapter Five
The Scribe

A month later, in a fit of frustration and disappointment, Farilane conceded that she had not found The Book of Brin.