Before Liam could agree, Donovan said, “Two from each of you would be welcome.” He turned to Liam. “You can’t leave this place completely undefended.”

In case those men weren’t heading for the manor house in the Old Place but were coming to deal with the upstart young baron who had spoiled the eastern barons’ chance to get the votes they needed for the decrees they wanted passed. And he couldn’t leave four barons who now carried the weight of being leaders in the coming fight for Sylvalan’s survival to the mercy of whoever might be out there.

“Agreed,” he said, swinging into his gelding’s saddle. He wished Oakdancer was there, then decided the stallion was better at the Old Place. The horse could carry two riders. If it came to that, he could toss Breanna and his little sister Brooke onto Oak-dancer’s back and tell the horse to run to the Mother’s Hills—and the stallion would run until it killed him if that’s what it took. “Send someone to Squire Thurston’s estate. He’ll rouse the villagers and the farms.”

He put his heels into the gelding, sending the animal bolting out of the stableyard and up the lane that would lead to the stone bridge. A few moments later, Donovan caught up to him, the guards strung out behind them as each man finished saddling his mount and followed.

They slowed when they reached the bridge. Pointless to damage a horse going over the stones carelessly—and he remembered the other reason why it was prudent to approach slowly when he saw a small flash of movement near the bank.

“There are men in the woods,” he said, raising his voice. “I beg of you, if they come this way, give what warning you can.”

“Liam,” Donovan said sharply. “What are you playing…” His words died as six water sprites rose from their hiding places.

“These are yours?” one of the water sprites asked, looking at Liam.

“Yes,” he answered.

“If they throw a copper in the water each time they cross into the Old Place, they will come to no harm,” the water sprite said.

“Why a copper?” Liam shifted in the saddle. They were wasting time!

The sprite smiled in a way that chilled him. “Because then we will know they are yours, and we will let them pass.”

Donovan stood up in the stirrups, shoved a hand in his pocket, and came up with a few coins. “I don’t have enough coppers for all of us. Will you accept a silver coin this time?”

“We will.”

Donovan tossed the coin in the water, then he and Liam crossed the bridge. As their horses stepped onto the land that was the Old Place, the water sprite shouted, “We saw you kissing Gwenn. We like the way you kiss her. So does she.”

Liam heard several splashes as the water sprites dove into the brook.