I follow his long strides as he cuts between two stalls. At the sounds of our approach, Eyebrow Tattoos looks up. His expression when he recognizes Prince Meilek is almost comical. The plate in his hand slips into the tub, splashing his shirt. His face goes ruddy as his expression twists into panic.

Then he turns and runs.

“Blades,” Prince Meilek snaps. The two Blades at our backs bolt after him.

I’m not about to be left behind, so I take off as well. I follow closely as they sprint around people and tents, drakes and campfires. Eyebrow Tattoos is surprisingly fast. He knocks over a pot, spilling stew and hot embers. Smoke billows into the darkening sky. People shout and dash into our path.

I leap over a man crouched over the spilled stew. Prince Meilek is right beside me, a focused predatory glint in his eyes. I’m suddenly glad I didn’t try to run when he caught Saengo and me those weeks ago.

The tents end as the ground slopes gradually downward toward a stream filled with splashing children and people bathing shamelessly in the torchlight. Eyebrow Tattoos has nearly reached a small copse of trees when one of the Blades finally tackles him. They go down in a crush of limbs and armor.

The Blade ends up on top, pinning Eyebrow Tattoos. In an instant, the other Blade has his sword drawn and pointed at the man’s throat. He stops struggling immediately, his chest heaving from exertion.

Prince Meilek and I catch up a second later. In a clipped voice, Prince Meilek asks, “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you at your post in the Valley?”

Eyebrow Tattoos shakes his head frantically. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. I didn’t mean to run. I just—I panicked. I-I wasn’t supposed to be seen.”

“Seen by whom?”

“By you.” His eyes are huge. His forehead is shiny with sweat. Is he scared of Prince Meilek?

Granted, the prince looks rather forbidding at the moment, with no trace of his usual kindness. “Who gave you this order?”

“Th—the queen, Your Highness.”

Ah. Eyebrow Tattoos is terrified of what the queen will do to him now that he’s broken her orders.

“And why would she do that?” Prince Meilek asks calmly, a threat beneath his words. This isn’t just the prince of Evewyn. This is the captain of the Queen’s Guard, and he doesn’t tolerate lies.

“I don’t question my queen’s orders, Your Highness.” His gaze darts frantically past the prince and his Blades, seeking escape.

So an Evewynian army marched east more than a week ago, before mysteriously vanishing, and now we find an Evewynian soldier hidden among the camps. The implications make my skin prickle.

“Are you the only soldier stationed here?” I ask.

Eyebrow Tattoos notices me for the first time. Disgust curls his lip. “You. Don’t speak to me, shaman filth—”