***

 

At dinner, I thought about my family. Over the past few weeks I found myself getting homesick at strange times, sparked by a familiar scent, the cast of certain shadows, or the sweet rolls at dinner that tasted just like the kind Cook Mumphrey made. Those thoughts usually turned to Rory and wondering how he was doing.

After the first time, I didn't feel the urge to see him through Rush's memories. It was hard enough to hear how Rory's health went up and down between each letter. Mother told me that after she read him my letter, he seemed to get noticeably better. I took that as encouragement and started to write him every day. But after the first improvement, he went downhill again. I found it harder after every letter to keep positive, but I forced myself to write about the activities we were doing, even though Mother expressed her concern when I mentioned the duel I was helping to train the girls for.

Father asked questions about the animals, and I tried to explain the relationship between the animals and Antorans the best that I could, knowing that it might also help me later on. I could tell when I was done that he still didn't understand, but he tried and that was something at least.

The other Crowns spent most of their time at the castle. The girls did crafts and I participated in those I wouldn’t mess up too horribly, we all practiced our swordsmanship, and the boys entertained themselves by dueling and racing. Though the twins were still angry about being in Antor, they finally accepted the fact that they really didn't have a choice at this point. There was still a lot of grumbling and complaining between Nyssa and Brynna, but they enjoyed the dances that took place once week after the dinner with the citizens.

Both girls whispered about which of the boys would ask them to dance. Brynna liked Danyen, which wouldn't be a horrible thing if Danyen didn't mind going to Eskand and leaving Kenyen to rule Tyn. Nyssa and Kaerdra danced with whoever asked, as long as it was a Crown. Landis and Tisha spent as much time as they could together. They seemed happy no matter what they did, and minded our confinement in Antor the least because it was an excuse for them to spend all of their free time together.

Dinner was just winding down one evening when the doors to the banquet hall opened and a woman came in. Those eating grew silent with shock when they saw the fox that she carried was wrapped in bloody rags. The woman shook as she made her way toward the table where we sat with Andric. He rose and hurried around the table toward her, his wolves flanking either side.

“He's up there somewhere, Honorable Prince,” the woman said in a quavering voice when she reached Andric.

Everyone had risen to their feet, and several citizens came forward to comfort the distraught woman.

“Who's up there?” Andric asked, his eyes on the bleeding fox. The animal shuddered, its eyes half-open and glossy.

“My husband. He was hunting and didn't come back last night. Sleek made his way home in this condition, though I don't even know how he made it at all.” She hugged the fox, tears rolling down her cheeks. “They must have been attacked.”

“I'll lead a search party for your husband,” Andric told her. “But the fox is in no condition to go back up the mountain. He needs care right away.”

Two servants exited discreetly out of one of the side doors and I knew they would be back with Jesson.

“We've got to find him,” the woman said. “Sleek wouldn't leave him unless it was the only way to get help.”

Andric nodded, visibly troubled. Then it seemed he and I had the same thought. He lifted his eyes to mine questioningly. I hesitated and glanced at the other Crowns, but it no longer mattered when someone's life hung in the balance. I nodded.

Andric smiled gratefully. “Mrs. Voise, I have someone who can talk to Sleek and find out where your husband is. Is that alright with you?”

Her eyes widened and she nodded quickly. “Oh yes, please hurry.”

“Crown Princess Kit?”

Silence followed my name, and as I walked over to them, I could feel every eye on me. I imagined how horrified the Crowns would be, and I tried not to care. I chased the thoughts away and cleared my mind, then set a hand on the fox's blood-soaked back.

Pain coursed through my body. I gasped in surprise and took my hand away; my back tingled where it had been filled with pain moments before. I could hear whispers spreading around the banquet hall and tried to shut them out.

Andric caught my arm. “Are you alright?” he asked quietly.

I nodded, shut my eyes, and touched the fox again. This time, he seemed to understand what I was doing. Instead of projecting his pain, Sleek forced it to go into the background. It was still there coursing through both of us, but it was clouded by the images in his mind.

The fox showed me a man that I guessed to be Mrs. Voise's husband. The image came with a myriad of scents, sounds, and an overall feeling of belonging. It was the same feeling I got from Andric's wolves when they showed me either him or other members of their pack.

The image turned to a memory of the man trudging through the snow as the fox walked lightly by his side. The sun was setting and shadows colored the air in gray and black. Sleek saw as much with his nose as his eyes, and took the lead through the twisted trees and large boulders. He and the man touched minds often, searching for large game that would be settling down at this time of the evening.

It wasn't until the animals were almost on them that Sleek scented the mountain lions. The big black and gold streaked creatures the size of small bears had outdistanced them and climbed into the trees to wait for them to catch up. Sleek cried out a warning to Bown Voise, but one of the lions sprang out of the trees above them and landed on Bown.

The man yelled, twisted out of his backpack, and rolled away, leaving the huge mountain lion to worry the cloth to shreds. A second mountain lion pounced, knocking Bown against a tree. Sleek jumped between them and nipped at the lion in an effort to drive it back. The animal swiped out a paw faster than the fox could dodge. Sleek yelped as the claws caught him across the back and one side, slamming him against a boulder.

He heard Bown yell and forced himself to his feet again. The man had his back to the tree and was now fending off both lions with a knife. His head bled from where it had struck the trunk; he held one hand against his side and grimaced in pain. Sleek could smell the dark blood oozing from the hidden wound.

“Run, Sleek,” Bown growled.

Sleek refused, turning instead to dart around the boulder in an effort to find an escape for Bown. He found small opening where two boulders rested against each other and would just fit the man, though if he didn't have his knife he would be easy prey.

Sleek sent the image to Bown and the man understood. He made his way backwards slowly through the trees, the knife darting out to keep the spitting, hissing mountain lions at bay. Sleek darted to each side of Bown, heedless of the blood that poured from the lacerations along his body. If a lion got too close, he flew at it nipping and tearing with his sharp teeth, then dodged back before another lucky swipe could catch him.

Finally, Bown fell back into the opening between the boulders. The back of it was closed by a rise in the earth, and he still had his knife to fend the creatures off from the front. Sleek ran past the opening, chasing the mountain lions back as far as they would go. They stopped by the trees and hissed, ears flat against their skulls and bright white teeth bared like brilliant daggers.

Suddenly, both lions looked over their shoulders. They shifted their paws uncertainly, looked back at Sleek, and then vanished into the rapidly growing darkness. I could feel Sleek's split second of relief before the wind shifted and brought him the scent that had chased off their attackers.

The smell of carnage and hate was unmistakable. Terror filled Sleek as he sent the image to Bown. He heard the man's sharp intake of breath. “Breizans,” he breathed.

I jerked my hand back from the fox; my body trembled. I could see the animals they wore, faces frozen in angry snarls and stained with the blood of the prey the men ate.

“What is it?” Mrs. Voise asked, clutching Sleek to her. “Can you find him?”

The fox met my eyes, his own bright with pain and fear. Andric took a step closer to me, and I realized that most of the people in the banquet hall had gathered tightly around us, waiting for my answer. No one spoke.

“Yes,” I said, forcing my voice to remain firm. “But we've got to go now.”

“Oh, thank goodness! You're an angel,” Mrs. Voise replied. Fresh tears streamed down her face. She pulled me close and hugged me as tight as she could with Sleek between us. The fox reached up and grabbed one of my hands gently between his needle sharp teeth. The image of Bown crouched between the boulders came to my mind again with urgency in the fox's thoughts.

“I know,” I promised. “I'll find him.”

Sleek let my hand go and his eyes closed with a shudder of pain.

“Where's the animal?” Jesson's familiar voice rang out. The crowd gave way and he hurried up to us. The healer gathered Sleek up in his arms and spoke quietly to Mrs. Voise. He nodded once to Andric and me, then disappeared through the onlookers.

“I'm coming with you,” Mrs. Voise told me, her voice determined.

I nodded, knowing that if I was in her situation, I would be going as well.

“Right,” Andric said. He turned to address the Antorans. His voice carried easily over the crowd with the tone of one accustomed to giving orders in crisis situations. “We leave in fifteen minutes. Anyone coming along meet us at the southern gates and bring your weapons. There might be more than mountain lions waiting for us.”

I hadn't said anything about the Breizans, but somehow he had guessed. Andric came with me to our hallway; the rest of the Crowns followed. I heard them speaking quietly among themselves, but I didn’t want to hear what they said. Andric turned and faced them. “This’ll be dangerous. Anyone who doesn't want to come, please don't feel forced. In fact, I'd prefer it if you stayed here.”

He looked directly at me, but I shook my head. “I'm the only one who knows where he is.”

“You could tell Bayn and Freis. They'll find it.”

This time, Tisha and Kaerdra's mouths fell open and Kenyen and Danyen exchanged glances, but I ignored them. “No. I told Sleek I would find him, and I keep my word. You’d do the same.”

Andric opened his mouth to argue, then realized we had an audience. He closed it again, nodded without a word, and walked back down the hall.

“You talk to them?” Nyssa asked breathlessly.

“Not now,” I cut her off. Did no one else comprehend what danger Bown was in? Then I realized that they didn't. No one but Andric knew. At her hurt expression, I put a hand on Nyssa's shoulder. “I'm sorry. It's just that Mr. Voise doesn't have much time. There are Breizans up there, and he's surrounded. It'll be chance if we find him before they do.”

“Breizans!” Kaerdra said in horror. Tisha turned white.

Trevin spoke firmly to his sister. “You should stay. You don't want to get in the middle of another Breizan attack.”

“You, too,” Landis put in, grabbing Tisha up in a hug as if she was already in danger. “If you go, I'll be too worried about you and won't be able to protect anyone else.”

Tisha nodded, and when he released her, she grabbed Kaerdra's hand.

“Nyssa, Brynna?” I asked. Both girls shook their heads, and I was relieved. After spending a month training them, I knew their weaknesses in battle, and neither acted well under pressure. I couldn't think of a situation more pressured than an attack by a Breizan horde.

I ran to my room, pulled on thick riding pants and a woolen shirt, then fastened the cloak Andric had given me around my neck. I was already sweating and slightly dizzy from the contact with Sleek, but I ignored it and pulled on my boots. I hurried to the stable thinking that I would be early, but I was surprised to see at least twenty-five Antoran men and women ready to ride out. Andric addressed them, and I couldn't help but wonder how he had managed to put on his black and green riding gear, organize the departure, and be composed enough to prepare his people for a harsh ride.

I felt anxious eyes on me as I made my way to Andric's side. He nodded in welcome, but his eyes were tight with worry. Knowing perhaps more than the others what to expect, I couldn't leave this ride up to chance. I dropped to one knee in the snow and, putting a hand on both Bayn and Freis, showed them the images the fox had given me. If something did happen on our journey, I wanted to be sure they found Bown as quickly as possible.

When I stood up, I could feel Andric watching me and knew he guessed my intentions. He opened his mouth, I assumed to tell me to stay, when Drade appeared. “Princess Kit,” he said, motioning me to one side. I followed him to his horse Sorn. “I need to stay,” he said quietly.

At my look, he frowned with anxiety. “Sleek's not doing well and Jesson needs my assistance. Sorn will protect you on this trip and bring you back safely.”

The horse whickered quietly and took the corner of my cloak in his teeth.

“Thank you,” I told the Horsemaster. I ran a hand through Sorn's shaggy hair. “We'll be careful, I promise.”

Drade shook his head. “Don't promise what you can't guarantee. Fighting Breizans is no joke, but Sorn is experienced and can handle himself. It'll be dangerous, but he's the best protection you can get.”

A shiver ran down my spine, but I thanked him again and swung onto Sorn's back. Without guidance, the horse made his way to where Andric had mounted Tereg. The other Crown Princes were already on their horses and accepted swords that Smithy Hensas handed out. He stopped next to Sorn, his eyes apologetic.

“Your sword isn't ready yet, Princess, but I've got one that should do you well.” He handed me a plain but strong short sword about the size of the one he was making for me. “It's held up under worse circumstances, and should defend you well with the skills you’ve shown at practice.”

“Thank you, Master Smith,” I told him, touched. I strapped the sheath’s belt around my waist and my heart started to pound with the impact of what we were about to do. The ghost of an eerie wail echoed in my head. I clenched my jaw and pushed it away.

“You'll be alright,” the Smithy said. He reached up a beefy hand to pat my shoulder. His eyes were reassuring, but his brow creased with worry. “We'll see you back here soon.”

“Fall in,” Andric commanded. His voice rang through the crisp evening air.

The sound of horse hooves on snow, creaking leather, and the chink of metal on metal answered his command. At the Prince's motion, I took up position just behind he and Jashe. The Captain nodded to me in welcome, his expression calm. The sight of him reassured me, though my anxiety made Sorn jittery. He sidestepped and pawed at the ground. I forced my whirlwind of thoughts to slow and smoothed the fur on his neck.