“The crows it was not,” Kitai said. “And if you think for a moment that you are going to hunt this Queen by yourself, Aleran, you are mistaken. I will not permit you to face her alone.”

“Kitai—”

“I don’t know who is on this strike team you mentioned, but I am hereby assigning myself to it.”

“You’re not on the team. You are the team. I’ve already decided that the safest place for you is next to me.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You have?”

He nodded. Then he stopped his horse and turned to her. “I wish you to become my mate,” he said, duplicating her own accented Aleran flawlessly. “Set the challenge of your choice.”

She tilted her head. “What?”

“You heard me,” he said.

Kitai stared at him for a moment more, then said, “Let the winner of the trial be the one who slays the vord Queen.”

Tavi huffed out a laugh. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you didn’t want me to marry you.”

She smiled at him. “No, fool,” she said. “I most certainly do. Kill this creature, my Aleran, and make our world a place where we might live again, where our child might grow up in safety. Kill her, and I will be yours until death parts us.”

Tavi stared at Kitai and thought that he’d never seen a creature so beautiful. He leaned over to her and kissed her hard on the mouth. When it was through, they rested their foreheads together, until Kitai’s horse sidestepped, and they both nearly plummeted off.

They shared another smile, righted themselves, and returned to the host.

Tavi rode up to Fidelias, who stood talking with Varg. “All right,” he said. “It’s just ahead. Give the order to get us under way and prepare to sound the attack.”

CHAPTER 51

CHAPTER 50

Invidia stared at the vord Queen, transfixed.

“Do not make a fatal mistake, Invidia,” the vord Queen said, her voice calm. “One more dead Aleran means nothing to me. Nor should a few more matter to you, at this point. Kill them. I will keep my word to you.”

Invidia bit her lip. Then she bent forward, slowly, her fingers outstretched for the sword’s hilt. Once she touched it, something in her seemed to solidify, some resolution that made her expression as smooth and as cold as glass in winter. Her hand seemed to gain strength as she touched the blade. Then she lifted it and turned toward the two Alerans, her eyes hard, the mad, bitter rage pouring off her like smoke from the scorched carcasses around them. “You brought this upon yourselves.”

It happened so swiftly. One instant, Invidia was beginning to take a step forward, a dead man’s sword in her hand.