Karl watched him for a moment. “Good idea.”

Damien finished washing up. “I’m heading back. The rest of you take your time. I’ll see you in the morning.”

He knew Taegis was with him without having to look back. Until he reached Northwind Castle, Taegis would be his shadow, whether he wanted it or not. They walked quietly for a few blocks until the inn came into view.

“I’m assuming you will share a room with Lady Selene,” Taegis said.

“I should. Mildred said there were only two rooms and the one with the tub had four beds. Most likely the other room is the same. That leaves everyone with a bed if I room with her. But . . .” He let out a breath. “It’s not something I’m used to.”

“That will take time.” There was merriment in Taegis’s voice.

Damien glanced over at his guardian. There was a small smile on his face, visible by the light shining from the inn’s windows.

Damien decided to play back. “And what would you know of it?”

“Nothing, having never been married myself. But I can imagine.” His expression sobered a little. “You have a very kind heart, my lord. I have a feeling her ladyship could use that kindness. Permission to speak?”

“You usually give advice anyway. Go on.”

Taegis stopped in the middle of the street, a couple of feet from the door. “You were in a tight spot there by the Hyr River. At first, I thought your decision was foolhardy, even though I did not want to see you pained again by hurting someone with your gift. I wished at the time that we had left Lady Selene behind. But now . . .”

“But now?” Damien echoed.

“I think there is something more going on. I’m not quite the follower that your father was of the Old Ways. But there seems to be a touch of destiny on Lady Selene. Perhaps she was meant to come with us . . . which means perhaps the incident at the river was supposed to happen. Perhaps this union happened for a reason. If nothing else, then for her ladyship.”

Damien glanced at the inn as Caiaphas’s words came back to him. “Protect my daughter, no matter what.” Was it possible that Taegis was right? Was there more going on? Did the union happen so Damien would know her gift?

Could Selene be the one to unite the seven Great Houses?

A shiver ran down his spine, wholly unrelated to his damp clothing.

The room was dark when Damien opened the door to the second guest room. It was set up like the first, with four small beds lined up along the right wall, shutters across the windows on the other side of the room, and a table along the left wall. The candlelight from downstairs was the only way he could see inside the room. He thought about searching for another candle, then changed his mind.

“Sten will be guarding your room tonight,” Taegis said quietly from the hallway.