She closed her mouth.

He wiped his eyes and sniffed, and sniffed again and wiped his nose again. But he kept walking alongside her. Not speaking. Not looking at her. Just there, sullen, angry, stumping along—bam bam bam bam—as if his footsteps could hammer the world into becoming a different place than it was.

It was enough, for now. As long as he didn’t turn his back on her and walk away.

50 MORE LIKE A JOKE

Kem had said not one more word. His silence hurt her, and it also soothed her, and the sun was out, and the world was radiant. The air was crisp and dry, with no trace of rose-oil scent. The trees smelled of sap and needles. A meadow bloomed with late purple fan flowers in clusters of bright promise that lightened her heart. Two rabbits grazing amid grass raised their ears and watched her and Kem pass with alert interest. She and Kem weren’t the predators they feared. Then, with a flash of white tail, they leaped away into the brush.

Both she and Kem glanced back reflexively, to see why the rabbits had fled. The haunt had appeared out of the woodland, closing the gap while the wardens scrambled at his heels to keep up with his brisk stride. Was the prince beautiful when he danced, all grace and power? Wasn’t he already beautiful? His willow-leaf eyes, broad forehead, narrow chin, and lips that flashed through so many emotions as if he were restraining words he wanted to say.

The haunt’s gaze found her. She had to turn away and keep walking lest she blush and stammer, the way youths in the throes of first love did in the plays, although she had never been so innocent nor so free.

Kem brushed her arm with his hand to signal that she should halt, so she did, a little flushed as she turned back. He took a step away from her, leaving room for the prince to come up.

The weight of the haunt’s presence hit her as something more than physical, like the crackling in the air as a storm blows in. He stopped in front of her. The wardens halted behind him. All had weapons out and ready. Jirvy scanned the open woodland with an arrow set to his bow’s string.

“Is there something out there?” Elen asked. Had she been so intent on speaking to Kem that she’d been oblivious? Don’t get distracted!

Simo displayed some scraps of leather cordage. “We found what looks like a temporary campsite, and bits of debris like this cordage as well as shells and peels from a meal. Not more than a day ago, Jirvy reckons.”

“Smugglers?” said Elen.

“Perhaps.” The haunt shaded his eyes to look onward. “Yet I wonder. We are almost at the road. I feel its presence in my bones.”