He did have a point. Kyra climbed in, and an amused Martin threw a cloth over her.

“Stay out of sight until we reach the forest,” said Tristam.

Then they were off. Through the slats of the cart, Kyra caught glimpses of a neighborhood she didn’t recognize. Perhaps Tristam thought familiar surroundings would prove too tempting. Nonetheless, even seeing an unfamiliar part of the city was comforting after her days in the compound. Out at night, with the moon reflecting off the rooftops, and the wind blowing over her head, she could almost pretend she was on another job. The clatter of Lady’s hooves rang louder across the cobblestones than they would have during the day. A few times, Kyra glimpsed others on the streets, but no one stopped them.

But her comfort gradually disappeared as they traveled farther. The buildings thinned out, separated first by farmland and then forest. By the time the sun came up, the smell of bark and leaves had replaced that of manure and livestock, and she saw nothing through the slats but trees. Finally, the wagon rolled to a stop and Tristam pulled back the cloth. Kyra sat up to see that they were deep in the forest, by a small wooden guardhouse.

“We’ll leave the horse and cart here.” He put his hand to her waist as she stood, and Kyra jerked away from him. Tristam stepped back. “Force of habit,” he said irritably. Was he blushing? “I suppose you don’t need my help to get off the—”

“No.” Kyra jumped off and ran past him toward the guardhouse. Though she couldn’t help wondering…what would it be like to be treated like a lady? Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tristam leading his horse inside. The serving girls at The Drunken Dog would have killed to be escorted around the forest by a young knight. But then, all they knew about knights were from Brendel’s ballads. She wondered if they’d still want to be carried in a handsome knight’s arms if the deal included an assassin and a poisoned dagger.

After Lady was comfortably stabled, they continued by foot. This was an old forest, with large, thick-trunked trees that grew as high as Kyra could see, and as they continued, Kyra began to feel more and more uneasy. The sunbeams shifting through the leaves and the wind’s faint rustle seemed to hide some unknown danger. It didn’t make sense. There were certainly just as many dangers in the city, but Kyra couldn’t shake her agitation.

“Do you know anything about tracking?” Tristam asked.

“Why would I know anything about tracking?” Kyra asked, teeth clenched as she dodged another branch.

Tristam turned to face her. “Look, Kyra. I know you’re not happy with me. But it’s going to be an unpleasant trip for both of us if we’re at each other’s throats the entire time.”