"So you have a wide variety of training."
"I do." Vrell searched for a more impressive feat. "I also learned some battle healing from Jax mi Katt."
Ressa's lips curved into a small smile. "A giant?"
"Yes. Jax's guidance enabled me to remove three arrows from the prince. He does manage to get hurt a lot."
Achan's dark eyelashes fell thick against the tops of his cheeks. Tiny cuts and smudges of dirt seasoned his skin. Dried blood caked the slice Esek had made on his left cheek. More blood pasted his greasy hair to his scalp in several places.
"This is the prince?" Ressa sat back on her heels and stared. "He's so young."
"Sixteen," Vrell said. "He is called Achan."
Ressa grabbed the candle and scooted to the foot of the pallet. She set the jar beside her and started to remove the bandages on Achan's right foot. "Why don't you unwrap his left foot and tell me what I'm looking at?"
Vrell crawled to the end of the bed and tugged at the bandage on Achan's other foot. "I'm not certain what happened. When I got to him, his feet were covered in dirt and quite cut up. He also had iron cuffs on his wrists."
"And you didn't ask?"
"Sir Gavin bid us not speak. By the time we made camp, Achan was asleep. Sir Caleb didn't want me to wake him."
"This happened last night?"
"Or the day before. It is difficult to measure time here."
Ressa lifted Achan's foot into her lap, examining it with narrowed eyes. She sniffed. "You put yarrow on it?"
"Yes, ma'am. It was all I had."
"You've done fine. They're shallow cuts and should heal quickly." She lowered Achan's foot. "His head wounds seem to be healing on their own. We'll let him sleep it off."
Vrell seized the moment to ask about supplies. "I would like to redress his feet, but I have used all my linen."
"I have some we can use. And I'll take you to the apothecary to restock your bag. When he wakes, I'll make him a nice hot bath so he can soak those feet a bit. Sound good?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She smiled at Vrell and her eyes sparkled in the torchlight. "Now let me see what I might have to feed all you men."
*
Vrell followed Ressa back to the main room and found the men at the table, deep in a heated discussion. Vrell sat on the bench beside Sir Caleb.
He smiled at her and turned back to the men. "But who sent the black knights?"
Sir Gavin spoke from the head of the table. "Esek or Lord Falkson."
"I'm not liking it, Gavin," Inko said. "We are being far too vulnerable on this journey. I'm being afraid we won't be making it all the way to Tsaftown."
Sir Caleb shot a disapproving glare Inko's way. "Your fear is proof you don't trust Arman."
"I am trusting Arman, but I am not thinking it is wisest to go this route with so few men."
"Then you don't trust Gavin."
"You are pulling words from my mouth that I am not saying. We need-"
Sir Gavin slapped his palm on the table. "The smaller the party, the easier to hide, blend in. We are safest small and in Darkness."
"But twice already the prince's life has been-"
"Shh." Ressa held a bowl under one arm and stirred its contents. "The prince will feel better if he wakes on his own. And I'd rather you not wake the children."
Children? Just how many children did they have?
Sir Gavin pushed back from the table. "We'll discuss this further when Achan wakes."
Trajen gave a verbal tour. Three chambers lined the back hallway. The knights would sleep in the first-one man on guard-Achan in the second, and the back chamber belonged to Trajen and Ressa and their children. Vrell would sleep on the couch in the front room.
Vrell sat at the table, watching Ressa dart about the home. Vrell liked her more by the minute. The woman created a feast for seven with black beans and rice, set water heating for Achan's bath, fed her babies-for she had twins! — answered Trajen's call's, and still looked like she had energy for more.
Achan stepped through the curtain, looking around with sleepy eyes. Vrell's heart raced. She hoped he had forgiven her.
Sir Gavin jumped up and made introductions. "Trajen Yorbride, meet King Axel's son. He goes by Achan."
Trajen bowed his head, took Achan by the shoulders, and kissed his forehead. "A great honor, Your Majesty."
Achan's posture stiffened. "Thank you."
Trajen motioned to Ressa on the pile of pillows holding a sleeping babe in each arm. "My wife, Ressa, and our children, Romal and Roma."
"You're welcome here, Your Majesty," Ressa whispered.
Achan nodded once and rubbed his cheek, staring at the lady of the house with a puzzled expression.
"Trajen, if you'll take Romal, I can make the prince a bowl," Ressa said.
"Never you mind, my love. You rest. I can serve the prince." Trajen dished a bowl of beans and rice and set it at the head of the table. "It's not much, but Arman does provide."
"Thank you." Achan claimed the stool, moving slowly. "It's not dried meat or porridge, so to me, it's a feast."
Sir Gavin sat beside Inko. "We must hear the story of what happened when you were taken from camp. If you're up to telling the tale. Prince Oren told Gavin some."
"To the point when you returned," Vrell added, not wanting any detail left out.
"Aye," Sir Gavin said. "Vrell and Ressa would like to know how you were injured and if you're injured elsewhere.
Achan set his bowl down. Vrell didn't like the looks of the rings edging his eyes. She hoped he would sleep again soon.
Achan stared at the table with glassy eyes. "I woke alone on the sandbar. I called out but no one answered. I still don't understand why I could only reach Prince Oren."
"Locto spiked our drinking water with aleh and mint," Sir Caleb said. "He knocked you out, dragged you away, and conjured the illusion while we slept."
"Explain that," Achan said. "This illusion actually looked like me?"
"Aye," Sir Gavin said. "Just as black knights are able to duplicate themselves, they duplicated you."
Achan nodded. "They surrounded me when I woke. Prince Oren stormed two, but I ended up inside Silvo Hamartano's head and left my body empty for attack."
Vrell's insides coiled. Silvo Hamartano was a black knight?
"Needless to say, I lost. I must learn to do this right before someone kills me." Achan glanced at Sir Gavin. "Please?"
"We'll work on it tonight if you're up for it." Sir Gavin sighed through his nose. "But I wish you'd stop experimenting. It's not safe for you or us. That's likely how Esek's men found us. Kenton or Khai could be tracking your bloodvoice."
Achan hung his head. He combed his fingers through his tangled hair and yanked them free. "I woke with my head in a water trough. They had taken my clothes."
Achan went on to name Sir Nongo as Silvo's accomplice, and how Arman had restored his bloodvoices. He'd been thrown in a pit, met some crazy man called Hadad, was attacked by gowzals, then strung up on some sort of spikes as an offering to Barthos. It mortified Vrell to discover Achan had been hung there when she had knocked repeatedly. He kindly skipped over her intrusion.
Eyelids heavy, Achan turned his gaze to Sir Gavin. "What do those words mean? The ones you all said to Barthos?"
"Arman hu elohim, Arman hu echad, Arman hu shlosha be-echad. Hatzileni, beshem Caan, ben Arman." Sir Gavin's weathered face relaxed as if the mere act of speaking those words calmed him. "It's the old language for Arman is God, Arman is One, Arman is Three in One. Deliver me in the name of Caan."
"Ah." Achan yawned. "How is it you speak the old language?"
"I've learned it from the Book of Life. You'll learn it too."
Ressa left to pour Achan's bath in his room while the men continued to talk out front.