Rodry looked back across the bridge. His sister and her captors were out of sight now; even in this Vars had found a way to make things more difficult. He had no way of knowing which way they would have taken her, where they might be. Even so, he wasnt going to let that stop him.

We need to ride, he said to the others. But Ive no idea where.

King Ravin has a hunting lodge in a village a little way south of the border, Kay said, surprising him. What? My father used to trade with the south. King Ravin used to make a point of receiving visitors as grandly as possible with wine and…

And women, Rodry finished for him.

Kay paled at that, then nodded.

It was a possibility, and there would be tracks. Years of hunting had given Rodry practice in that, at least. He looked around at his friends.

Ill not lie to you, he said. I hoped to catch up to Lenore before she crossed the border. Going after her now means going into the heart of the enemys lands. It means more danger for all of us. If any man wishes to turn back…

None of his friends moved. Rodry had known that they wouldnt, but he had to ask. He turned to the guards who had accompanied Vars, pointedly ignoring his brother.

You men, he said. I think that you are not the cowards my brother is. I think you were misled.

One of the men, a sergeant, nodded. The prince told us we were marching the right way, your highness. Otherwise, wed have been at the princesss side, defending her.

Rodry believed him. He wanted to believe that no true man would have shirked his duty, given the choice. It only made what Vars had done worse.

Some of you will have to stay here to report the truth of all this to my father, Rodry said. I want to make sure that he hears all of this. But if any of you will ride with me, Id be grateful for the help, and so will the kingdom.

Ill ride with you, the sergeant said.

And me, a soldier called out.

More calls came from around Rodry, in a chorus of raised voices and stamping feet that seemed to shake the ground around him. He charged for the bridge, and those men with horses charged with him, leaving Vars standing at the heart of a pitifully small group of foot soldiers, all looking at him with some of the contempt that Rodry felt for his brother in that moment.

He felt more than that though. The old, familiar anger was roaring through Rodry now, fueling his galloping race across the boards of the bridge, down into the Southern Kingdom. He would get his sister back. He would make those who had taken her pay. Anything that got in his way…

…anything that got in his way would burn.

CHAPTER TEN