Blackmane opened his mouth to object, then closed it again. It was true. She had quickly gotten under his skin, and lying about it would not change the fact. ‘It doesn’t matter. It was never going to be anything more than fleeting attraction.’ The fleeting part was a lie, but he ran with it anyway. ‘She’ll marry Lord Lunatic, I’ll return to Chadora, and we’ll all move on with our lives.’

Alveye tutted. ‘I worry about her, though. Hodge is like one of those children who hugs puppies to death, then gets upset even though they’re to blame.’

Everyone stared at him.

He looked between them. ‘What? Am I wrong?’

Hadewaye shook his head. ‘I mean, we’re all thinking it, but did you have to say it out loud? The man’s just lost the only woman he’s ever cared for.’

Blackmane pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Can I stay an extra few days or not?’

Tatum released a noisy breath and looked over at Rabbit, who was now attempting to mount with little success. ‘If Hodge finds out we’re still here, he’ll likely imprison us alongside the wastelanders.’

Blackmane’s eyebrows came together. ‘If he finds out we’re still here?’

‘Obviously I’m not going to let you traipse through rebel territory alone.’ He looked at Alveye and Hadewaye. ‘I want you two to head directly to Chadora and give the warden and King Becket a thorough overview of the situation. Explain that we stayed behind to assist a friend of Lady Isabel’s. That part is key. And feel free to exaggerate her condition. If the warden asks me upon my return if this woman was pregnant and missing a leg, I’ll back that story all the way.’ He held up a hand. ‘And for God’s sake, nobody die. The consequences I’ll face will be so much worse if I lose one of you boneheads. Understood?’

Alveye blinked. ‘Was that speech supposed to be inspiring?’

Hadewaye smirked at the ground.

‘The correct response is “Yes, Commander,”’ Tatum prompted.

The pair muttered, ‘Yes, Commander,’ then headed for their horses.

‘You don’t have to stay,’ Blackmane said when it was just the two of them. ‘I can take care of myself.’

Tatum rolled his eyes. ‘Like you took care of yourself at Harlech Castle all those years ago when you were shot and fell into a pit of mud?’

Blackmane did not reply.

‘Come on,’ Tatum said. ‘Let’s get the man on a horse while he’s still able to sit on one.’

They went to join Ita and Rabbit, taking hold of the injured man and lifting him onto the horse. Then they wrapped the dead in their cloaks and tied them to the saddles of the spare horses.

‘Thank you,’ Ita said, eyeing Walnut’s filthy boots that were poking out from beneath the cloak.