Nightwalker nodded, his face grim and determined. “We’ll find them, Your Highness.” He slipped past Han and Dancer, disappearing through the archway into the growing dusk.

Magret strode toward the keep, still carrying Raisa in her arms.

“Magret. Set me down,” Raisa said, exasperated. “Please believe me when I say I’m just bruised. I’ve been shot before, and I know the difference.”

At that, Han swung around to look at her, his mouth twitching with amusement and relief. It was the first genuine smile she’d seen on him in a long while, overlaying a face haggard with worry.

“Byrne, we need to do a better job of protecting the queen,” he said. “Before we know it, she’ll be showing off old battle scars to her ladies whenever she’s in her cups. It won’t help our reputations any.”

Amon nodded without smiling. “I agree. We need to do a better job, and we will.” He turned to Raisa. “Humor me, Your Highness,” he said, stubborn as ever. He nodded to Magret. “Take her inside.”

C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y - S I X

AGREEING TO
DISAGREE

There was no saying no to Magret Gray. The former nurse carried Raisa into one of the salons on the first floor of the palace. There she removed Raisa’s armor and padding, stripping her to her camisole, and put her down on her back on one of the couches, under a blanket. She pressed an icy cloth against the purpling bruise above Raisa’s right breast.

The court healer, Harriman Vega, a wizard, arrived with four assistants. Han Alister followed them in and stood next to Raisa, arms crossed.

Lord Vega scowled at Han. “Wait outside, please, while we examine Her Highness,” he said in a high, supercilious voice.

Han shook his head. “I’m staying,” he said, immovable as stone. “After what’s happened, Captain Byrne isn’t in a trusting mood. I promised him I wouldn’t leave her side.”

And he trusts you? Raisa thought. That’s different.

Magret stood, hands on hips, giving Han a look of undiluted hostility.

“Your Highness, please,” Lord Vega said. “Surely you don’t want this young man looking on while we—”

“He stays,” Raisa said, with a sigh. I might as well get used to having no privacy at all, she thought.

Still, her cheeks burned as Lord Vega undid the cord at her neckline and pulled down her camisole. The wizard healer tried to keep his body between Han and Raisa, but Han moved enough to make sure he could see the healer’s hands and hear what charms he spoke. His face was again as unreadable as one of the stone faces of Hanalea.

Vega and his assistants all had to take a look.