Martin shrugged. “Practice helps. But I’ve always been able to read them, and they’ve always been friendly to me.” As if to illustrate his point, the beagle pressed up to him and started licking his face. Martin fended off her efforts halfheartedly, turning his head so he could talk without getting kissed full on. “Even when I was knee high, the neighborhood dogs would come wagging their tails. My da too. Runs in the family, I guess.”

“I had a friend who was like that, only with horses,” said Tristam. “They loved him—always coming to beg for treats or get rubbed down. He could pick up on their moods, and they always did what he asked.”

“Sounds like a handy trick for a knight to have,” said Martin.

“It served him well,” said Tristam. Though he wondered now if Jack’s gift had hurt him in the end. If Gray had not been so obedient, would the horse have taken Jack into the pen with the demon cat?

“Here’s another set of tracks.” Another shieldman crouched near a cluster of trees and pointed at the dirt.

It had been tracks and droppings the entire trip and nothing else. No sign of human habitation, no campsites. They’d followed the trail through the forest for two days, but the dogs just led them in circles.

Tristam brushed a layer of dust from his forehead. “I don’t think we’re going to find anything. Let’s go back to Forge.”

Relief washed across his companions’ faces, and Tristam couldn’t blame them. He walked ahead of the group, brooding as they began the long hike back. Malikel was a fair commander, but all the same, Tristam didn’t look forward to delivering news of yet another failed expedition.

Working under Malikel had brought a blur of changes and new responsibilities. Most of Tristam’s days were spent in the Palace reviewing reports and poring over maps. And after Tristam was knighted, Malikel started sending him on scouting missions in the forest. He welcomed those chances to get out of the city, but it wasn’t easy leading a team of guards into the wilderness, especially since many were older than he was. Time after time they found nothing.

You could be out on the road patrols right now, with nothing to worry about except where to set camp, said a spiteful voice in his head.

“Is everything all right, Sir Tristam?” Tristam cleared the frustration from his face as Martin came up next to him. It was still new, this need to set an example and keep morale high. The days of riding with Jack, rolling their eyes and making cracks behind the commander’s back, were over.

“Just call me Tristam. You know Malikel doesn’t place much stock in titles or ceremony.”