“I fear my queen is being taken in by his machinations, but the only result of that will be, when he exposes his true intentions, it will hurt her heart.”

“I have a father I do not understand, and I do not respect,” True returned. “Even so, it does not negate the hole that has been empty all of my life in not having that important person to fill it. Silence has never shared with me, but she has long been starved of love and affection, and now she’s getting it. She is astute but matters such as these defy the logical mind when you’re thinking with your heart. I do not know if she desired Johan’s attention before. She never had it, so she seemed immune to its absence. I can only say if my father seemed to awaken from the trance he appears to have been in all my life and became a father to me, I might so welcome it, I’d be blind to the reasons behind it.”

Mars studied True with such intensity, you could almost feel the heat coming from his gaze.

He then jerked up his chin.

True left it at that and changed the subject. “I’ve had words with your mother.”

Mars did not like that and the line of his body shared it.

“I’ve asked her to work with my own to inject some modicum of Firenze into the wedding ceremony,” True explained, making Mars relax. “She was eager to be of help. She rides with you now, but I’m asking you to allow her to go to Notting Thicket to do that for Farah. I’ve also informed my mother this will happen, and she should accord Queen Elpis every courtesy when she is at Birchlire. She has agreed.”

“This is kind of you, True, and it will mean much to Farah,” Mars said quietly.

“That’s the goal,” True murmured.

“It will also mean much to Mama for she wishes to make amends to her daughter not of the blood.”

True had no response to that except to stiffly lift his chin.

Mars carried on to note, “You also travel with little guard after Farah was a target in Fire City.”

“I travel with my version of Trusted, Mars,” True replied.

This was all that needed to be said for Mars had no reply.

Thus, True reminded them all, “Birds. Frequently. If we do not hear from one or the other for two full days, the others ride to their last known location.”

Cassius and Mars agreed to what they’d already agreed with dips of their chin.

But after Mars righted his, his expression softened when his eyes caught on something beyond them and his tone was distracted when he said, “Safe journeys to you both. We shall meet again in the Thicket.”

He then cut between the two men as if they were branches to brush through.