MUIN

The guards at the palace gate lowered their spears when Taien came up the road.

Muin drew him to a stop before the points reached his face. The sabretooth showed the guards his teeth, and both men stepped back.

“He has eaten,” Muin said.

“That is reassuring,” said the older guard.

“It should be.”

The younger guard looked from Taien to the sword at Muin’s hip. “State your business.”

“The queen sent for me.”

The older man studied her leather armor, the fur across her shoulder, and the dried mud on her boots. His gaze settled on the blood marking her left bracer.

“Whose blood is that?”

“A man who tried to collect a road toll.”

“Is he dead?”

“No.”

The guard waited.

“He may walk again,” Muin added.

A horn sounded inside the walls. The older guard signaled, and the gates opened.

Muin rode into a courtyard crowded with soldiers. Saddled horses stood along the stable wall. A cart held axes, rope, and lanterns. Several men wore mail that had seen little use. One was trying to fasten a breastplate over a coat too thick to fit beneath it.

They were preparing to enter the forest. Judging by their faces, they knew why they had not gone already.

A groom approached Taien and stopped well short of his claws.

“Bring him water,” Muin said. “Set it down and leave him alone.”

“Does he bite?”

“When he wants to.”

The groom looked toward the gate guards. Neither offered advice.

Muin dismounted and loosened Taien’s harness. He settled beside the mounting block, his eyes following every movement in the courtyard.

A broad-shouldered man in a dark cloak waited at the palace steps. A captain’s clasp fastened the cloak at his throat.

“I am Seth,” he said. “Her Majesty will see you now.”

Muin glanced at the cart. “Why aren’t your men in the forest?”

“The kidnappers warned us against sending soldiers.”

“They have watchers on the roads, then.”

“We believe so.”

“Move those horses out of sight. Anyone watching the palace can tell you’re ready to ride.”

Seth turned to a nearby soldier. “Take them to the lower yard.”

He led Muin through a hall lit by iron lamps. Servants stepped aside as they passed. No one spoke above a murmur. A boy carrying firewood pressed himself against the wall and stared at the sword hanging from Muin’s belt.

Queen Caironda waited in a council chamber with only a map and an untouched cup of wine for company. She wore a plain black gown. There were shadows beneath her eyes, but her voice was steady.

“You are Muin.”

“I am.”

“I am told you have entered guarded places before.”

“Yes.”

“And escaped them.”

“Enough times to be here.”

Caironda pushed a sheet of coarse paper across the table.

The words had been written in thick, uneven strokes. Dengaar demanded gold delivered to a clearing in the forest before sunset the next day. If soldiers came near his cave, the prince would die.

Muin read it twice.

“Dengaar has robbed our roads for three years,” Caironda said. “Wagons, merchants, pilgrims. My guards drove him into the forest whenever they found him. Yesterday he took my son.”

“How?”

“Goern was returning from the summer estate. The thieves dropped a tree across the road. When his escort stopped, Dengaar came out of the woods with his men.”

“How many guards?”

“Six. Four died.”

“And the two who lived?”

“Saw Goern taken. One is wounded. Both say he was alive.”

Muin set the note down and examined the map. The road from the estate crossed a narrow stretch of woodland before turning toward the palace. Farther in, a ridge of broken stone ran north to south. Caironda had marked it with several small circles.

“You know where the cave is?”

“We know the brigands retreat toward that ridge,” Seth said. “There are several caves.”

“If you send soldiers to search them, Dengaar will hear them coming.”

“That is why I sent for you,” Caironda said.

Muin looked at her. “How old is Goern?”

“Thirteen.”

“Can he fight?”

“No.”

“Will he try?”

“He has no taste for the practice yard. Yesterday, one of his guards saw him strike a thief who was binding his hands. It earned him a blow to the head.”

“Then I’ll tell him not to do it again.”

Caironda’s fingers tightened on the edge of the table. “You must reach him first.”

Muin had heard pleas from mothers before. Most had fewer soldiers at their command and less gold to offer. None of that changed what waited in the forest.

“Did Dengaar name your son in the demand?” she asked.

“No.”

“He calls him ‘the boy.’ Has he sent proof that Goern reached the cave?”

“No,” Seth said.

“Someone saw them carry him away?”

“Yes. He was conscious when they entered the trees.”

Muin nodded. It was the last reliable account they had. She would follow their trail from there.

“What has Dengaar taken in the past?” she asked.

“Coin and goods,” Seth said. “He has never held anyone for ransom.”

“He has kept the band together for three years. His men know how to hide from patrols.” Muin tapped the note. “This changes things for them. Some will be afraid of what happens when the queen finds them.”

Caironda leaned forward. “Can you bring Goern home?”

“I can find the cave. Once I see how they guard him, I can decide how to get him out.”

“I want your word that you will try.”

“You have it.”

Caironda named her price. It was enough to keep Muin fed and Taien supplied with meat through the winter.

“Half now,” Muin said. “Half when I return with Goern.”

Seth’s expression hardened. “Her Majesty’s word is sufficient.”

“It will do little for me at a market stall.”

“Pay her,” Caironda said.

Seth bowed his head.

“I need rope, two water skins, dried meat, and a cloak that will fit the prince,” Muin said. “Your soldiers can watch the roads out of the forest. Keep them away from the ridge.”

“They could catch the kidnappers if they flee,” Seth said.

“They may get the chance. First, give me time to reach Goern.”

Caironda looked to her captain. “See to it.”

Seth left to prepare the supplies. Caironda remained beside the table while Muin folded the ransom note.

“My son talks when he is frightened,” the queen said. “He asks too many questions. If you find him and he delays you, tell him I ordered him to listen.”

“I’ll tell him.”

“He may not believe I hired you.”

“Give me something only he would know.”

Caironda considered. “He has a hunting knife hidden beneath his bed. Seth took one from him in the spring. Goern bought another from a kitchen boy and thinks I have not found it.”

“What sort of knife?”

“A poor one. The handle is wrapped in green cord.”

“That will do.”

Muin went to the door, then stopped. “Why didn’t you take it from him?”

“He was proud of buying it himself.”

“He cannot fight, you said.”

“He knows that too.” Caironda looked at the map. “He wanted the knife anyway.”

Outside, Taien had emptied the water bowl. The groom stood on the mounting block with both hands braced against the wall while the sabretooth watched him.

“He climbed up on his own,” Muin said.

“I know,” the groom replied. “I’d like to climb down on my own as well.”

Seth arrived with a leather purse and the supplies. Muin counted the coins, packed the rope, and strapped Goern’s cloak behind her saddle. Then she mounted Taien.

“Bring him back,” Seth said.

Muin looked past the palace wall toward the forest. The sun had begun to fall. There was still enough light to examine the place where the escort had been attacked.

She touched Taien’s neck, and he carried her toward the gate. This time the guards lifted their spears well before she reached them.

Neither asked about the blood on her bracer.

The guards at the palace gate lowered their spears when Taien came up the road.

Muin drew him to a stop before the points reached his face. The sabretooth showed the guards his teeth, and both men stepped back.

“He has eaten,” Muin said.

“That is reassuring,” said the older guard.

“It should be.”

The younger guard looked from Taien to the sword at Muin’s hip. “State your business.”

“The queen sent for me.”

The older man studied her leather armor, the fur across her shoulder, and the dried mud on her boots. His gaze settled on the blood marking her left bracer.

“Whose blood is that?”

“A man who tried to collect a road toll.”

“Is he dead?”

“No.”

The guard waited.

“He may walk again,” Muin added.

A horn sounded inside the walls. The older guard signaled, and the gates opened.

Muin rode into a courtyard crowded with soldiers. Saddled horses stood along the stable wall. A cart held axes, rope, and lanterns. Several men wore mail that had seen little use. One was trying to fasten a breastplate over a coat too thick to fit beneath it.

They were preparing to enter the forest. Judging by their faces, they knew why they had not gone already.

A groom approached Taien and stopped well short of his claws.

“Bring him water,” Muin said. “Set it down and leave him alone.”

“Does he bite?”

“When he wants to.”

The groom looked toward the gate guards. Neither offered advice.

Muin dismounted and loosened Taien’s harness. He settled beside the mounting block, his eyes following every movement in the courtyard.

A broad-shouldered man in a dark cloak waited at the palace steps. A captain’s clasp fastened the cloak at his throat.

“I am Seth,” he said. “Her Majesty will see you now.”

Muin glanced at the cart. “Why aren’t your men in the forest?”

“The kidnappers warned us against sending soldiers.”

“They have watchers on the roads, then.”

“We believe so.”

“Move those horses out of sight. Anyone watching the palace can tell you’re ready to ride.”

Seth turned to a nearby soldier. “Take them to the lower yard.”

He led Muin through a hall lit by iron lamps. Servants stepped aside as they passed. No one spoke above a murmur. A boy carrying firewood pressed himself against the wall and stared at the sword hanging from Muin’s belt.

Queen Caironda waited in a council chamber with only a map and an untouched cup of wine for company. She wore a plain black gown. There were shadows beneath her eyes, but her voice was steady.

“You are Muin.”

“I am.”

“I am told you have entered guarded places before.”

“Yes.”

“And escaped them.”

“Enough times to be here.”

Caironda pushed a sheet of coarse paper across the table.

The words had been written in thick, uneven strokes. Dengaar demanded gold delivered to a clearing in the forest before sunset the next day. If soldiers came near his cave, the prince would die.

Muin read it twice.

“Dengaar has robbed our roads for three years,” Caironda said. “Wagons, merchants, pilgrims. My guards drove him into the forest whenever they found him. Yesterday he took my son.”

“How?”

“Goern was returning from the summer estate. The thieves dropped a tree across the road. When his escort stopped, Dengaar came out of the woods with his men.”

“How many guards?”

“Six. Four died.”

“And the two who lived?”

“Saw Goern taken. One is wounded. Both say he was alive.”

Muin set the note down and examined the map. The road from the estate crossed a narrow stretch of woodland before turning toward the palace. Farther in, a ridge of broken stone ran north to south. Caironda had marked it with several small circles.

“You know where the cave is?”

“We know the brigands retreat toward that ridge,” Seth said. “There are several caves.”

“If you send soldiers to search them, Dengaar will hear them coming.”

“That is why I sent for you,” Caironda said.

Muin looked at her. “How old is Goern?”

“Thirteen.”

“Can he fight?”

“No.”

“Will he try?”

“He has no taste for the practice yard. Yesterday, one of his guards saw him strike a thief who was binding his hands. It earned him a blow to the head.”

“Then I’ll tell him not to do it again.”

Caironda’s fingers tightened on the edge of the table. “You must reach him first.”

Muin had heard pleas from mothers before. Most had fewer soldiers at their command and less gold to offer. None of that changed what waited in the forest.

“Did Dengaar name your son in the demand?” she asked.

“No.”

“He calls him ‘the boy.’ Has he sent proof that Goern reached the cave?”

“No,” Seth said.

“Someone saw them carry him away?”

“Yes. He was conscious when they entered the trees.”

Muin nodded. It was the last reliable account they had. She would follow their trail from there.

“What has Dengaar taken in the past?” she asked.

“Coin and goods,” Seth said. “He has never held anyone for ransom.”

“He has kept the band together for three years. His men know how to hide from patrols.” Muin tapped the note. “This changes things for them. Some will be afraid of what happens when the queen finds them.”

Caironda leaned forward. “Can you bring Goern home?”

“I can find the cave. Once I see how they guard him, I can decide how to get him out.”

“I want your word that you will try.”

“You have it.”

Caironda named her price. It was enough to keep Muin fed and Taien supplied with meat through the winter.

“Half now,” Muin said. “Half when I return with Goern.”

Seth’s expression hardened. “Her Majesty’s word is sufficient.”

“It will do little for me at a market stall.”

“Pay her,” Caironda said.

Seth bowed his head.

“I need rope, two water skins, dried meat, and a cloak that will fit the prince,” Muin said. “Your soldiers can watch the roads out of the forest. Keep them away from the ridge.”

“They could catch the kidnappers if they flee,” Seth said.

“They may get the chance. First, give me time to reach Goern.”

Caironda looked to her captain. “See to it.”

Seth left to prepare the supplies. Caironda remained beside the table while Muin folded the ransom note.

“My son talks when he is frightened,” the queen said. “He asks too many questions. If you find him and he delays you, tell him I ordered him to listen.”

“I’ll tell him.”

“He may not believe I hired you.”

“Give me something only he would know.”

Caironda considered. “He has a hunting knife hidden beneath his bed. Seth took one from him in the spring. Goern bought another from a kitchen boy and thinks I have not found it.”

“What sort of knife?”

“A poor one. The handle is wrapped in green cord.”

“That will do.”

Muin went to the door, then stopped. “Why didn’t you take it from him?”

“He was proud of buying it himself.”

“He cannot fight, you said.”

“He knows that too.” Caironda looked at the map. “He wanted the knife anyway.”

Outside, Taien had emptied the water bowl. The groom stood on the mounting block with both hands braced against the wall while the sabretooth watched him.

“He climbed up on his own,” Muin said.

“I know,” the groom replied. “I’d like to climb down on my own as well.”

Seth arrived with a leather purse and the supplies. Muin counted the coins, packed the rope, and strapped Goern’s cloak behind her saddle. Then she mounted Taien.

“Bring him back,” Seth said.

Muin looked past the palace wall toward the forest. The sun had begun to fall. There was still enough light to examine the place where the escort had been attacked.

She touched Taien’s neck, and he carried her toward the gate. This time the guards lifted their spears well before she reached them.

Neither asked about the blood on her bracer.