Pausing, she fiddled with the strap of her bag. She felt out of place, and not because she was in a foreign county, but because she wasn’t herself. She’d spent so long pretending to be a man, her father’s heir, and someone she wasn’t. Now, she didn’t know who to be or how to act. Maybe it was time for her to step out of her own shadow to finally learn who she was and what she was capable of.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“Lieutenant Gilbert.”

“Well, Gilbert, I’m heading west.” She resumed her path.

“Um, why are you going that way? Everyone else is gathering east of the dock.”

“That is precisely why I’ve chosen to go west.”

“You need to come with us,” he said, jogging after her.

“Why is that?”

“Because Prince Henrick and Princess Nara wish to speak with you.”

“Okay.” She kept walking. The clouds rolled in, concealing the sun and making it difficult to tell the time of day.

“Why are you still going the wrong way?”

“Who says this is the wrong way? There are many ways to get to the palace, and this is the way I am choosing to go. You’re not coming with me, are you? I’d rather travel alone.”

He stopped, then mumbled something she couldn’t understand.

“Lady Reid,” Gytha barked. “You’re coming with us. Now.” Her commanding voice left no room for argument.

Reid whirled to face Gytha, who stood about forty feet away with her hands on her hips. While Reid did not care to be ordered around by this brusque woman, she didn’t want to come across like a spoiled, stubborn brat. Her goal was to reach the palace to speak to Henrick and Nara. Even though Reid didn’t care for or like Dexter, she was curious to learn more about the Axian army and the soldiers within it. It was also advantageous to travel with people who had the necessary supplies to make such a journey. Without saying a word, she headed back toward the soldiers.

When she joined them, Dexter raised his hand, and everyone fell into three lines. They headed south, no one speaking. Reid joined a row, keeping her eyes open for a place that would afford her the privacy to change into pants. After two miles, Dexter halted, then started splitting the soldiers into groups of ten.

Reid stepped out of line, examining the area. There was a forest to the east, fields to the south, and wild vegetation to the west. She still couldn’t get over how green everything was on this side of the Gast River.

“I recognize you,” a deep voice said, startling Reid.