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“What request?”

“I want you to release the Móndyalítko men from their contracts and pay them their full year’s wage now. By my count, it’s only six or seven men, not enough to matter to the workforce. I’ve sent word to Prince Anton to send an escort here to take us home once your replacement has arrived and we’re ready to leave. In my letter, I also asked him to send four extra horses. You’ll let me pick four horses from your barn, for a total of eight, to pull the Móndyalítko wagons.”

Keegan’s mouth fell open. If Jaromir had just made an offer of marriage, the man could not have been more stunned. “Pay them their full . . . four horses? Are you mad? No! We need every worker back in the mines. Those gypsies aren’t going anywhere.”

Jaromir raised an eyebrow. “Truly? Then I’ll be forced to let it slip to Prince Lieven that you had a spy of Prince Damek’s at your side for a year, and you never suspected a thing. I’ll let it slip that your incompetence is the reason so many of your men are dead and the silver stopped flowing.”

Keegan glared at him in open hatred. “That’s a pointless threat. Once your prince learns the truth, he’ll be only too glad to tell his father.”

“You don’t know Prince Anton. While I may not always agree, he feels strongly about never tattling on his brother even when deaths are involved or on the few occasions when Damek has tried to assassinate him.” Jaromir shrugged. “Perhaps he’s right. As I mentioned . . . Prince Lieven is not normally interested in details, just results.” He leaned forward. “But unless you agree to my small request, I’ll find a way to make sure a few of those details reach his ears.”

“Take the horses,” Keegan spat. “And those filthy gypsies. But keep in mind, they’ve got no place to go.”

“You let me worry about that.” Jaromir stood up. “I think we’re done here.”

* * *

That afternoon, Amelie and Céline walked over to the miners’ encampment to see Mercedes.

After knocking on the door of the largest wagon, they both went inside to find Mercedes at home and Marcus stretched out on one of the back beds. Mariah was nowhere to be seen.

“Leave the door open,” Marcus said. “I like the air.”

Amelie thought he looked a little pale, but that was probably to be expected. Céline had been up late tending to his wounds, including stitching up his shoulder.

Mercedes was studying Céline. “So . . . you’ll be leaving soon?” She sounded regretful.

“That’s what we came to talk to you about,” Céline responded, and then she turned to Amelie. “Maybe you should . . . ?”

Amelie gathered her thoughts and positioned herself so that she could speak to both Mercedes and Marcus. “You have been very helpful to us these past few days, and Jaromir sent us with an offer.” She thought it might sound less like charity if it came from him. “There’s a plot of land outside the walls of Castle Sèone that has gone untended for several years. The tenants decamped to try their luck with a vendor’s cart in Enêmûsk. It has a cottage and a small barn. If your family would like . . . you can live there and work the land. Half the crops will go to Prince Anton, and you’ll keep the other half to sell or use for your own purposes.” For a moment, she kept her focus on Mercedes. “I know it would be a different way of life for you, but some of Prince Anton’s tenants have become quite prosperous, depending on which crops they grow.”

Mercedes stood with her eyes shifting back and forth as if she was trying to follow something she didn’t quite understand.

“But we couldn’t make the journey until late autumn, when the men’s contracts are finished. And what about our wagons?” she said. “How would we get there?”

“That’s all been taken care of. Jaromir has spoken with Captain Keegan. Your men have been released from their contracts and will be paid their year’s wage. You’ll be supplied with eight horses, so you can drive the wagons out of here. All of your people have been given leave, including the wives of your younger men. You needn’t leave anyone behind.”

Mercedes sank onto the bed beside Marcus.

“But you don’t have to accept the land,” Céline put in quickly. “If you’d rather not turn to farming, you’ll still be released from your contracts, you’ll be paid, and you can keep the horses.”

“If you do decide to take Jaromir’s offer of the land,” Amelie said, “you can come with us when we leave. We’ll take you into Sèone Village first to get you supplied. But there’s no rush on a decision. We’re stuck here until Keegan’s replacement arrives. You have time to think.”

Mercedes turned to Marcus, and they locked eyes. Then she turned back to Amelie. “We don’t need time to think. None of our people will. We’re coming with you.”

Footsteps sounded in the open doorway, and Mariah appeared . . . with young Graham standing behind her.

“Coming where?” Mariah asked.

“Home,” Amelie answered. “You’re coming home with us.”

Chapter Sixteen

Just over three weeks later, in the late afternoon, Jaromir led a contingent of seventeen of his own men, two seers, and four Móndyalítko wagons back inside the inner gates of Sèone.

He’d never been so glad to see the familiar village.

Without stopping, he led the wagons to an open area out behind the smithy where there was enough room for the families to make camp. He figured they’d need some time to rest and buy supplies for winter, and then he could take them out and show them the homestead.

Once the wagons were pulling into position, he dismissed his men, and he watched Céline slide down from her saddle and hand her mare off to one of the guards. Amelie was already on the ground, helping Mercedes to back her team of horses into place.

Jaromir dismounted as well, standing beside Céline and watching Amelie work. They were both quiet for a while, and then Céline looked up at him.

“I know the prince is waiting for a more detailed report . . . but could I give mine tomorrow? I want to go and check on the shop and see my own things and sleep in my own bed.”

He paused. He knew Anton would be waiting for a full report, but this was the first thing Céline had asked of him since Ryazan. He owed her at least one night’s rest.

“Of course. I’ll give him my report tonight, and that should be sufficient for now.”

“Thank you.”

Amelie was now helping to unharness a team of horses and talking with Mercedes. Then Mariah and Graham came around the side of the wagon to help. Back in Ryazan, young Graham had asked to be permanently released from duty so he could travel here with Mariah, and it hadn’t taken Jaromir long to get Keegan to agree.

“You’ve done a good thing here,” Céline said.

“It was Amelie’s idea. When I asked her what she wanted, this was it.”

“Yes, but you agreed. You made it happen.”

He had, hadn’t he?

“Well, it looks like Amelie is going to be here awhile,” he said. “Can I give you a ride home?”

“No.” She smiled weakly and put both hands to her back. “I’d much rather walk.”

He nodded and watched her leave. She was an astonishing woman, much stronger than she looked.

Then his gaze shifted back to Amelie as she climbed up on top of a wagon, unlashed a wooden box, and dropped it down into Mercedes’s waiting arms.

Amelie.

She’d borrowed some spare clothes and was now back in breeches—with the pant legs rolled up—and a man’s shirt, and she appeared much more comfortable. He’d never known anyone like her, all fire and flint and softness at the same time. She could be incredibly selfish in one moment and astoundingly giving in the next.