“My lord.” The knife clattered to the floor as the old man knelt down in the doorway. “My apologies at such a welcome. There’s been talk of highwaymen along Trader’s Road.”

Damien bent over and placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “No apologies necessary.”

“I’m afraid we do not have many luxuries here,” the older man continued, still staring at the ground. “We are a simple people. But what we have is yours.”

“Thank you,” Damien replied. “Food and a place to sleep are all we ask. And perhaps if there is a stable where we can obtain horses for our travels back to Nor Esen. I’m afraid we were unable to bring ours back from Rook Castle.”

The man looked up, puzzled, but he did not ask. “We can provide what you require.”

Damien took a step back. “Please rise. And if I may, what is your name?”

The man slowly stood, awe across his face. “Tarren, sir. Jorgen Tarren.”

“Jorgen Tarren, House Maris thanks you.”

Jorgen smiled. “Please wait inside my home while I find a place for you and your companions to stay the night. I do not have enough for a hot meal, but I do have cold ham, bread, and ale. Please help yourselves.” Jorgen stepped back and motioned for them to enter.

Taegis entered first, followed by Sten, while Damien waited by the door. Selene glanced at Jorgen, amazed at the exchange between him and Damien. Mother would have never treated a commoner in such a way. She would have issued firm demands and expected them to be fulfilled.

But Damien had treated the man as an equal.

Taegis checked the cabin, then came back to the door and ushered the rest inside. As Selene crossed the threshold, Jorgen glanced at her with one eyebrow raised. “I did not realize you had a woman in your group. Will your . . . uh, companion need any special accommodations?”

Damien glanced at Selene.

Dart’an! She should have kept her hood up. A lone woman traveling with a band of men was not considered proper, no matter the party. How would Damien explain her presence?

Damien waved toward Selene. “Jorgen Tarren, let me present to you my new wife, Lady Selene.”

So he was going to go with the truth. She both respected him for that and at the same time wasn’t ready for the world to know. She had hardly had time to accept that reality herself.

Jorgen’s eyes grew bigger. “My-my lady,” he stuttered. “I-I didn’t know. . . .”

“It was very recent,” Selene said, hoping to put the man at ease. If nothing else, she could still speak like a lady.

“Then I shall be sure to place you both together.”

Selene opened her mouth to answer, then stalled, her own eyes growing wide. Both . . . together?

Before she could say anything, Jorgen bowed to Damien and left. Selene stared at the doorway, a cold sweat breaking out over her body.