As hard as Ashyn tried, she could not quite shake the lingering hurt over Ronan’s . . . betrayal certainly wasn’t the right word. Even abandonment felt too harsh. Just hurt, then, not so much that he was leaving, but that his agreement seemed to come so easily.

Still, she’d help him. That was the honorable thing to do. Assist him in any way she could. Be happy that at least one of them escaped.

She suggested a plan and he agreed to it. After breakfast, he gathered what food he could carry and took a makeshift bag he’d devised. Then he went up into the rafters while she took Tova to the door.

She rapped on it. The guard heard her—she’d knocked loudly enough—but he didn’t answer. She rapped harder and said, “My hound requires meat.”

The door opened then, the guard peeking in, his face screwed up as if he’d misheard.

“There was no meat with breakfast,” she said, “save some pickled fish.”

His face screwed up more. It didn’t help that she’d spoken softly. Intentionally so, though her voice was never loud at any time. Now she stepped back and motioned at Tova.

“He cannot stomach pickled fish. He requires meat. Preferably fresh, though he’d settle for anything you have. Even fish, if it’s not pickled.”

The guard was one of the villagers. A warrior, given his dual blades. Not a high-ranking one—he bore no tattoos—but that was to be expected from a village guard. He was perhaps as old as her father, and she’d like to think that when he looked on her, there was kindness in his eyes, as if he might have a daughter her age. The kindness was, of course, rightfully tempered by caution and a touch of sardonic humor.

“Let me guess, Seeker,” he said. “You would like me to go and fetch you some meat, leaving the door unguarded.”

No, I want to hold your attention while Ronan escapes across the roof.

She smiled. “That would be nice, but I know you won’t be so foolish. I simply want meat for my hound. His stomach has been grumbling, and I’m concerned. He requires more exercise than he’s been receiving—and, no, I’m not asking to take him for walks. I understand our limitations. I only request that when the girls come to take our breakfast trays, you tell them to bring meat.”

“All right, then, Seeker,” he said. “Since you’ve asked nicely and haven’t played any tricks—”

The guard pitched forward. He fell into Ashyn, and something hit the floor on either side of him. Pieces of a roof tile. Ronan stood behind him holding a second one, ready to smash it over the guard’s head, but he was already on the floor, unconscious.