Page 25 of To Save a Kingdom

“Hmm.” His breath rumbled against her skin, sending her heartbeat fluttering. “Perhaps. But better paranoid and alive than the alternative.”

True.

Giving her one final squeeze, he released her, spinning her to face him. He bent, collected her dagger and slid it back into her hand. “Good form on the attack,” he said as he lifted her wrist until the blade’s edge was at his neck. “Next time, though, go for the throat.”

She blinked. Alarm coursed through her as she tried to tug her arm away before she cut him. “What? Why?”

He refused to release her. Instead, he turned the weapon so its tip pointed at the thick artery pulsing beneath his skin. “Aim here.” He shifted her grip to indicate the same spot on the opposite side. “Or here.”

“El!” She pushed away with her free hand, uncomfortable with her blade so close to him.

“Not only is it a quicker death, but if you can get their windpipe, they won’t be able to sound an alarm.”

Aliya froze. “Oh,” she whispered.

“You’re also less likely to get caught on their armor than you are by aiming for their torso.”

Fair point.

As soon as she nodded her understanding, he dropped their arms and slid the dagger into its sheath at her side.

“I was on my way to check on the mages who are trying to deconstruct the Whisperers, and to make sure the elven and human guards aren’t causing problems,” Elessan said. “Care to join me?”

Well, that would be more productive than wandering aimlessly around the garden until her eyelids became heavy. And safer. She swallowed. “Of course. Have there been any reports of issues?” Her eyebrows furrowed as she glanced up, meeting his gaze.

He shook his head. “Not that I’ve heard, but I find it better to be proactive than reactive. Especially in… tense situations.”

There was wisdom in that. Something clenched in her gut. Elessan would be an exceptional king, nevermind that none of the idiots in either of their kingdoms could see it. Pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders, she chewed the inside of one cheek. She wasn’t even certain where they’d managed to set up. “You know where the mages are?”

“Yes. They’re in an abandoned homestead a few miles beyond the north edge of town.” He glanced at the sky. “If we want to have the chance of any sleep tonight, we’d best take horses. They’ll be faster than walking.”

Less than an hour later, Aliya trailed Elessan on a dappled gray mare as he led her up a road that was little more than two narrow wheel tracts leading to an old barn. The dilapidated structure leaned to one side. Any paint had long since peeled off, and the wooden siding was bleached grayish-white from years of exposure.

She glanced around the clearing. Remnants of an old fence poked up from the overgrown grass. Clearly, no one had lived here for years. It was no doubt the safest place for the Whisperers in case they activated them while trying to destroy the vile things.

In front of her, Elessan tensed, drawing his gelding to a halt.

Aliya brought her horse up beside him. “What’s wrong?”

The corners of his lips were hard. Several heartbeats passed until he whispered, “It’s too quiet.”

Aliya frowned as she studied the scene, then focused her attention on the sky. Leaning closer to him, she murmured, “Are you sure? It’s still hours from dawn. Most people are sleeping right now.”

Elessan shook his head. “The guards should be out on patrol at least. That’s their job, no matter what the mages are doing.”

Blinking, she turned back to the house. Nothing moved except the grass, dancing in the breeze.

The wind shifted, carrying the soft smell of copper.

“Valek!” Elessan slid from his seat, his swords drawn as his feet hit the ground. “Stay here.” He was gone before she could open her mouth to object.

Aliya grabbed the other horse’s reins as she searched the area in front of her for signs of his movement. Her stomach rolled as if it were filled with a giant ball of serpents. “El!” She wouldn’t hide with the horses like some child who couldn’t protect herself. She was a grown woman with passable self-defense skills and powerful magic. She could help!

His leaving her behind like this made her feel weak, useless, and a lot of other unpleasant adjectives that had her clenching her jaw.

Leading their mounts to a small copse of trees, she tied off their reins so they wouldn’t wander. Studying the area between her and the barn for movement, she waited several seconds. Finding none, she bent at the waist and slunk into the tall grass, keeping her steps even and measured. Her hand drifted to the dagger at her belt.

Aim for the throat. That was what Elessan had said. Tightening her fingers around the handle, she pulled it free, holding it in front of her like a shield. She’d take full advantage of his lesson.