Ashk and Aiden slowly rode out of the trees, heading toward the manor house at the other end of the big sweep of lawn. Two of the midland barons rode behind them, having insisted on coming. The rest of her companions, her men, and the combined Fae and human army were waiting in the woods. She still wasn’t sure if it was because it was reasonable or because Aiden’s gift as the Bard had influenced her decision, but she couldn’t deny his genuine concern that Breanna’s hostility toward the Fae might cause her to shoot first and ask questions later, and it would be easier to persuade her to see them as allies if the Old Place wasn’t suddenly flooded with humans and Fae.

Of course, that was before they’d met up with several pairs of Fae from different Clans patrolling the woods, all of whom informed her quickly, and with wary relief, that men from their Clans had set up camps in meadows and pastures in the Old Place. They told her Varden, the Willowsbrook Clan’s Lord of the Woods, was working with Barons Liam and Donovan as well as Lord Falco and Lady Breanna on a way to meet the enemy while protecting the Old Place and the human village. And they told her, with a hint of fear in their eyes, that the Huntress rode among them.

So she’d held to her decision and rode ahead with the Bard and two barons—not because the witches who lived at Willowsbrook might still feel hostile toward the Fae but because she wanted to take the measure of the Huntress before exposing her men.

As she rode toward the manor house, she noticed the small black dog sound asleep under a tree. She noticed the large hawk who watched them from its perch on a pole that supported lines of pegged clothes. She noticed the men around the stables, who put down grooming brushes and picked up pitchforks and crossbows. And she noticed the dark-haired woman who strode out of the house and headed right toward them, followed by a man and woman.

She reined in. Aiden stopped alongside her, and the barons swung their horses to either side to flank them.

Aiden raised his hand. “Blessings of the day, Breanna.”

Breanna’s eyes flicked from Aiden to Ashk, and Ashk saw a question in those woodland eyes that a man would never notice and any woman would understand.

“I am Ashk, the Hunter,” she said. “My husband guested with your family a few weeks ago and asked me to send you his regards.”

“Husband?” Breanna studied Ashk. “You mean Padrick?”

Ashk nodded.

“He was a sensible man,” Breanna said, her voice turning sour. “Even if he is gentry…and Fae.”

Oh, dear. It didn’t sound like the barons were going to be warmly welcomed, either. And there was still doubt in Breanna’s eyes.