James chuckled. “Of all possible objections, I didn’t expect that one. If the Palace captures you now, you’d be in bad straits whether you were with us or not, I promise you. If you join us, you’ll be better paid, better trained, and safer. You’ve seen what Rand can do. He in’t even our best. But there’s only so much you can see from the outside.”

“You’ll train me?”

“We’ll teach you to handle a knife and hold your own. You’re fast and skilled. There’s no reason tonight had to end like this.”

There was something about the way he carried himself and security in his words—a promise she couldn’t bring herself to turn down. Kyra twisted the rag in her hand. Flick and Bella would come around. They always had before.

“I’ll try,” she said.

James nodded, mouth curving into a slight smile. “Glad to hear it. Welcome to the Guild.”

Five

F I V E

There was no warning. No sound, no shout of alarm. Tristam had been riding with Jack on an outskirts patrol and had fallen slightly behind as they rounded a corner. By the time he caught up, Jack was facedown on the path, covered in dirt and grimacing in pain. Tristam stared a moment before his training kicked in. He drew his sword and whipped up his shield, barely breathing as he scanned the road for enemies.

But there was nothing—only open fields of livestock and the boulder they’d just ridden around. Birds chirped in the background, oblivious to any disaster.

“What happened?”

Jack coughed. “Stupid horse,” he rasped. “Don’t know what got into him.”

Tristam looked at Jack, then at his gelding grazing peacefully nearby, as Jack’s words slowly sank in. “Your horse threw you? On a routine patrol?” He made a halfhearted attempt to stifle the first chuckle, then gave up and doubled over laughing. Jack was a talented horse talker and possessed an uncanny rapport with any steed he rode. Tristam had never seen him have trouble with a horse, let alone fall off one.

Jack scowled. “Once you’re done laughing, can you help me up?”

Tristam dismounted and crouched next to him. “What happened?”

“Gray spooked right after I rounded that curve. I don’t know what it was.”

“Anything broken?”

“No, but I hit my head.”

Tristam offered Jack an arm. His friend pushed off the ground, wobbled, then slowly straightened. Once up, Jack tried to walk, but his balance was off. He pitched first to one side, then the other, stumbling until he caught himself on a nearby tree trunk.

“How do you feel?”

“Dizzy.”

Tristam felt a slight twinge of guilt for laughing. “Perhaps you should rest this round and join me on the next one.”