Tyrus eyed the blade. “If you draw that against me, you ought to be prepared to use it.”
“I am.” Sweat beaded along Ronan’s forehead, but he kept the sword steady.
“I would need to defend myself.”
“You would.”
“All right, then. I would prefer to avoid open combat, so let’s handle this civilly. Do you know how to score a strike?”
Ronan nodded.
“If you can, I’ll stay. If I can disarm you first, you’ll let me leave.”
Tyrus unsheathed his blade, and Ashyn realized they were going to spar, which was not her idea of “handling it civilly.” Before she could say so, Ronan was lunging, sword swinging and —
A resounding clang, so loud that Ashyn jumped in spite of herself. She saw the blades strike. She saw Ronan’s sword fly up, knocked clear out of his hand. It hit the ground, and he stood there, gaping at it.
Tyrus shook his head and sheathed his blade. “You may have been trained to fight, but I believe you need a little more practice. Now, I’ll ask one more favor of you, Ronan, before I leave. See to Ashyn, please. As there is some danger with me returning to the city, I’d rather she didn’t accompany me there. Please escort her back with Guin. I’ll speak to you both once this matter is cleared up.”
Tyrus began walking away.
“Your high…” Ashyn began. “Tyrus!”
He glanced back.
Ashyn stepped forward. “Moria would try to stop you.”
“I’m sure she would. More effectively, too. But she’d also understand that this is what I need to do. Now take care on the remainder of the journey. I’ll see you in the city.”
He continued toward the stables.
Ronan retrieved his sword, grumbling under his breath. “He might be more even-tempered than your sister, but he’s just as stubborn.”
Ronan was still sliding his blade into his belt when Tyrus rode from the stables.
“We can’t let him go alone,” Guin said.
Ashyn looked at her in surprise.
“We won’t get a reward if we don’t accompany him to the gates,” Guin said, but in her eyes, Ashyn thought she detected a shadow of genuine worry.
Ashyn looked back toward Tyrus. As he rode onto the lane, a dark shape shot from behind the stables. It was Daigo. The wildcat stopped by the roadside. He looked at Ashyn, then back at Tova, loping out from where he’d been hiding. Tova started for Ashyn. Daigo gave one last look from Ashyn to Tova to Tyrus, then raced after the prince.
“Daigo’s right,” Ashyn said. “We need to go with him.”
“Didn’t I say that?” Guin murmured.
“I agree,” Ronan said to Ashyn. “But he’ll not allow it.”
“Then we’ll follow him.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
They said all roads led to the imperial city. Of course that was true – all roads linked up with other roads and would ultimately take you anyplace you wished to go. This road did in fact become the Imperial Way, though, and was busy enough that they could follow Tyrus unnoticed.
“Oh, he’s noticed,” Ronan said when Ashyn commented.
“But he hasn’t looked back once.”
“No, we haven’t seen him look back. He’s a prince and a warrior, Ash. He’s not going to glance about like a nervous trader with a full purse. He acts as if no one would dare attack him, so they give him wide berth. But he’s fully aware of his surroundings. He knows we’re here. He’s just not going to do anything about it unless we come closer.”
“He’s in danger, isn’t he,” Guin said. She’d been riding quietly until now.
Ronan took a moment to respond. He’d become accustomed to ignoring her, and he seemed to have to struggle against that urge now. “Yes, he’s in danger.”
“Do you think the rumor’s true? That the emperor has already condemned him?”
Ashyn considered carefully. “I do not know the emperor well enough to say with certainty, but I believe that the court of opinion may have condemned Tyrus, though his father has not. That is equally dangerous. It is, however, a matter easily resolved.”
“Is it?” Guin asked.
Ashyn’s reply was firm. “It is.”
She glanced down at Tova. He walked at her side, making no effort to hide. Hounds of various types were common enough in the empire that, while his size garnered a few curious glances, he was dismissed as a rare or exotic breed. Daigo was the one who stood out, which meant that he did not walk beside Tyrus, but slunk along the buildings and long grass and any other obstacles he could find at the road’s edge. With Moria gone, the wildcat acted in her stead, watching over Tyrus.
“I don’t think we’re the only ones following the prince,” Ronan said after a moment.
At first, she thought he meant Daigo, but then she saw his tight face.
“Where?” she whispered.
“Guin? Fall back.”
“Please,” Ashyn added.
The girl did. She’d been pensive since the scene at the inn, as if finally realizing this was not some grand adventure. She wasn’t stupid. Nor as unfeeling as she seemed. Simply unaccustomed to worrying about danger – or worrying about others. She’d been a spirit for so long. How long? If girls had wed by their fourteenth summer in her time, it could be several ages ago.
“They’re on your side,” Ronan said. “Near the edge of the road. Three warriors.”