Page 31 (1/2)

He scented the air A hu Briec up, he tossed hi not to s out, "Bastard!"

Then he smeared some of the blood from a cut on his head farther down his face and quickly sat on the floor He’d just rested his back against the hen the war rooaze finally resting on Éibhear She frowned, probably confused by his Ice Lander look

"Éibhear?" she finally asked

"Talaith," he said softly

She gasped and rushed to his side "Oh, Éibhear! What did they do to you?"

"Us?" Briec de "You’re bla us for this?"

"Quiet, lizard!" She studied the wound on Éibhear’s head "You poor thing I can’t believe your brothers did this to you"

"I’ht, Talaith," he saidweakly "Really"

"Let’s get you out of here" She took his arm and he let her help him off the floor With one hand on his forearh the door Although he did hus and Briec--not Gwenvael, since he was still out cold--and sht outside the door but ed towas in order for her sister because exercise always calotten that her sisternotLess than fiveto face her, Izzy asked, "Are you panting?"

"Think we can slon a bit?" Rhi asked, her hand pressed to her chest "Maybe you can carryto be soweak?"

"Could you say that with any more distaste?"

"Aye I could"

Izzy heard footsteps approaching--et behind a large boulder And, as she’d been trained, Rhi followed orders without co the arer men, and their unadorned shields told Izzy they were still in training In other words, they hadn’t yet left Garbhán Isle to be royal escorts

She also doubted they had any idea who she was because she didn’t recognize them at all

Plus, she didn’t have on her ht red surcoat with the Queen’s crest of two dragons Instead, Izzy only wore chain mail, worn leather boots, a dark brown cape, and every weapon she could fit on her body

It was the weapons that probably worried the young soldiers The one at the head of the s and the soldiers dropped their shields so they created a sort of wall

"Speak!" one of them demanded "State your purpose!"