“Sit down, Corporal Byrne,” Han said, squinting up at him. “You’re making me edgy, looming over me like a snub-devil bawler.” The pain, betrayal, and vulnerability were gone. Replaced by his street face.

Raisa wondered if he were using the thief-lord patter flash on purpose, to needle her.

“Sit here, Amon,” Raisa said quickly, getting up from her chair and retreating a few paces away. “I insist.”

Amon sat, resting his hands on his knees. “I wanted to thank you for risking your life to save the Princess Raisa,” he said.

“Just so you know,” Han said, brushing his hand over his face, “I didn’t actually set out to save a princess.”

“I know,” Amon said. “And I apologize for lying to you. We felt it was necessary for Her Highness’s safety.”

“Well,” Han said, “it explains a lot. All this time, I was feeling sorry for you, having a flirt for a sweetheart. And here it turns out it was strictly business between the two of you.”

His chilly blue-eyed gaze flicked from Amon to Raisa, and something about the mocking way he said it told Raisa that he didn’t believe that at all. That he was smart enough to know their relationship was more tangled than that.

“Yes,” Amon said, swallowing hard. “Strictly business.” He kept staring at Han, his brows drawn together like he was puzzled about something. “There’s something about you that’s…that reminds me of…” He looked at Raisa, then shook his head, dismissing it.

“I hoped you could tell me more about my father’s death,” Amon went on. “The—Her Highness has told me what she knows.”

Han’s mocking expression faded, his features softened. “Captain Byrne was a brave man,” he said. “And fair. My father was a soldier too. I don’t remember much about him, but I’d like to think he was like your da.” He paused as if gathering his thoughts. “I don’t know that I can help much. Captain Byrne was already dead when I came along, and his killers had gone after—had gone. But I have something for you.”

He turned a peeved expression on Raisa, as if aggravated that he was forced to speak with her. “Do you know what they did with my gear?”

“It’s over here,” Raisa said. She crossed to the outside wall, grateful for something to do.

Kneeling, she sorted through Han’s belongings, and rose, cradling a deerskin bundle in her arms. “Was this what you wanted?”

Han nodded. “There should be a ring, too,” he said. “In my purse.”

Raisa handed the purse and the bundle to him.