The bed curtain on the other side flicked open as someone slipped in, letting it fall behind them. Blinded by the darkness, they felt for Byren.
He lunged forwards, caught their arm and pulled them flat across the bed, pinning them with his body, feeling the firm curves of a woman's body, smelling the scent of… 'Florin?'
'Get off me.' She thrust at his chest with all her strength. It was not enough. And Byren realised she might be trained, she might be fast but, if a warrior got past her weapons, she had the strength of a lad. He wouldn't send a boy into battle, not if he could help it.
Florin thumped him, annoyed by her inability to make him budge. 'Off me, you great lump.'
Orrade chuckled.
Florin went still.
'Orrie had a vision,' Byren explained. 'Why are you here?'
She shoved and Byren pulled back. There was rustling as she sat up. 'The Lady Cinna's bird returned with a message. It must have been important because she ran right back to Feid's bed and they were whispering madly under the canopy. I heard something about betrayal.'
'So the warlord's pretty new wife is an Ostronite spy after all,' Orrade whispered.
'And Feid,' Florin added.
'But that does not mean Feid intends to betray me,' Byren said.
There was a knock at the chamber door. All three of them froze. Winterfall answered. Someone asked for Byren.
Before Winterfall could discover Orrade and Florin in his bed, Byren thrust open the canopy and stepped out. 'What is it?'
'The warlord's sent for you.' Winterfall kept his voice low. 'Do you want me to come too?'
'No.' He wanted Orrade with him. Anything was better than leaving him in a warm bed with Florin. But he could hardly ask Orrade to step out from his bed canopy now. 'I'll be right there. Wait here.'
He threw on breeches, a shirt and boots. The stone floor was cold as he followed the servant down the passage. The pool of golden lamplight illuminated just enough to see where to place his feet.
At the warlord's chamber Feid sent the servant off and invited Byren in. A lamp burned, illuminating a chamber much like his own. The fire had been lit and Lady Cinna waited, wrapped in a blanket on the floor by the fire. She scrambled to her feet as Byren entered.
'What is this?' Byren asked, wondering if half a dozen of Feid's honour guard waited in the next chamber with their swords drawn, but he did not think Feid would risk his pregnant wife in a brawl.
'We've had news,' Feid said. Like Byren, his breeches and shirt looked as if they'd been thrown on in haste. 'Leogryf's warlord has taken his men over the Divide. We need to strike now, before he can unite with Cobalt.'
'How do you know this?'
Feid deliberately did not glance to Cinna. 'A spy told me.'
'Do you trust this spy?'
'With my life.'
Byren let his breath out slowly as Cinna came to stand behind Feid, slipping her hand into his. Clearly, Cinna was more than a kitchen maid become lady. Yet, just as clearly, she adored Feid.
'Byren?' Feid pressed.
'You're right. Send word to Unistag Spar.'
Back in his chamber he found his honour guard awake and Orrade with them. He didn't dare ask how his friend had slipped out of the bed without being seen.
Enough pale dawn light filtered in for him to see his honour guard's faces. They all turned expectantly, as he entered.
'I've sent a message to Unistag Spar. We leave today.' His last words were drowned by their cheers.
Orrade sent him a wry look.
At Byren's signal the others fell silent. 'It's lucky Corvel is here with his warriors. Without the women and children we'll move fast. I'll lead Corvel's men and the majority of my men over the secret pass and across the foothills. The Rolencian side of the fort won't be as heavily defended. Orrie?'
His friend nodded.
'You wait here for Unistag's warriors. Lead an attack on the fort, at dawn on the fifth day. Don't waste lives, but make it look like you mean it. I want the fort's defenders firmly focused on the threat from Foenix Spar when we attack the other gate.'
Orrade smiled. 'Understood.'
Byren looked into their expectant faces. 'Right. Let's get ready.'
Byren's honour guard had already rolled up their sleeping mats, now they filed out, eager for breakfast and a chance to reclaim Rolencia. Last out was Orrade, who glanced once to the bed before shutting the door behind him.
Heart thudding, Byren pulled the bed curtain back to find Florin kneeling, head cocked to one side, listening intently. There was nothing wanton in her pose, but his body thought otherwise.
'They're gone?' she said.
He nodded.
'Good.' She thrust past him, tantalisingly close. 'I can be ready to leave in a few moments.'
Byren's heart sank. He already had Garzik and Elina's deaths on his conscience. He stared at her. How could he convince her to stay in the Foenix stronghold?
He couldn't. Short of locking her up, and that was just insulting. But he didn't have to put her in harm's way.
Thinking they were done, she turned to leave.
He caught her arm. 'You stay with Orrie.'
She brushed his hand off. 'I'd rather go with you. If Orrie's not with you, someone has to watch your back.'
'I watched my own back for years before you came along, Mountain-girl.'
She sniffed, then a thought occurred to her. 'Did Cinna admit to being the elector's spy?'
'No. Feid admitted only that someone spies for him, someone he trusts. That's why I need you here, for now. I need you to keep your eyes open.' I need to keep you safe.
'Of course.' She glanced up to him. 'What is it?'
The words were on the tip of his tongue but he could not ask it of her. He would be denying who Florin was. Sylion take her, why did she have to be so stubborn?
'Be off. And keep out of trouble.' It was no more than he'd say to any of the lads.
She grinned. 'I'll serve under Orrie's command, but we'd better catch up with you in time to take Rolenhold!'
With that she was gone.
By mid-morning they were ready to leave. Men milled about in the stronghold courtyards, double-checking their travelling kits. Word of Leogryf's betrayal had spread, leaving a bad taste in everyone's mouths.
Byren caught Orrade's eye and led him into the shadows of the stable. It was quiet here. 'There's something I need you to do for me, Orrie.'
'Name it.'
But Byren hesitated. If he asked Orrade to watch over Florin, Orrade would know how he felt and Byren knew she loved one of his men. It might just be Orrade. In fact, it probably was, they'd spent enough time in each other's company. He didn't want his friend to hold back. Orrade enjoyed Florin's company and admired her. Let him marry Florin and settle the whispers once and for all.
It would be so much simpler if Orrade wed the mountain girl and made his wife available to his king. It wouldn't be the first time a king had come to such an arrangement with one of his loyal lords.
But Byren was not going to be that kind of king.
He cleared his throat, aware that he had taken too long to answer. 'Make it look like a concerted effort to take the fort, but don't waste lives.'
Orrade nodded, a half-smile lightening his sharp eyes. 'And?'
And nothing. If Florin wanted to be a shield-maiden, she had to face death just as his warriors did. 'It's Winterfall. I overheard him giving Florin a hard time — '
'So that's why you arranged for her to sleep in Lady Cinna's chambers.' Orrade grinned. 'Don't worry. I'll keep her close by me.'
Byren swallowed. This was not the outcome he wanted, but it would be for the best. So he nodded.
'By the way, I told Catillum you wanted him and his monks to march with me,' Orrade said.
Byren cursed. He had forgotten the monks in his preoccupation with Florin. 'I thought you'd want the mystics master as far from you as possible, Orrie.'