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When did you last sleep? she thought to him.
His pale eyes came open and regarded her. He shrugged, and shook his head, and she knew it had been too long ago.
Who hurt you?
He shook his head again, and mouthed a word across the room. Bandits.
Were you riding alone?
"I had to," he said quietly, "or not get here in time."
I was not criticising you, she thought. I trust you to do what you must.
He opened a memory to her. He'd promised her, one green and gold day at the start of summer, not to wander alone at night. Yet he'd ridden last night alone, and most of today. It was within her right to criticise.
I wish, Fire began, and then stopped, because she could not think to him that she wished they did not have this task to do, she wished she could comfort him and help him to sleep. She wished this war away that he and Nash would fight, hacking with swords and fists on a frozen field against too many men. These brothers. How would they get out of such a thing alive?
Panic bunched inside her. Her tone grew tart. I've grown quite fond of your warhorse, Big. Will you give her to me?
He stared at her with about as much incredulity as such a question, posed to the army's commander on the eve of battle, rightly deserved. And now Fire was laughing, and the sudden, unexpected lightness soothed her aching brain. All right, all right. I was only testing that you were awake and in your right mind. The sight of you taking a nap against the bookshelf doesn't inspire confidence.
He was still looking at her as if she might be half-crazy, but he flexed his hand and rested it on his sword hilt, pushing himself upright, ready to go wherever she told him to. He cocked his head at the doorway leading to Nash's other rooms, where Fire's guard, a group of messengers, and a small army of soldiers were waiting to assist however they were needed.
Fire stood. The others stopped their chatter and looked to her.
"Levels seven and eight," she said to Brigan, "the far northern wing. The rooms overlooking the smallest courtyard. At this moment it's the emptiest part of the palace, and it has been all day, so that's where I'll take Gentian and Gu
Brigan nodded and went to the side rooms to collect his soldiers. Fire sat back down and dropped her head again into the palms of her hands. Every stage of this process required focus. Right now she must monitor Brigan and Clara and their soldiers and their tails and everyone who noticed any one of them. While keeping stock of Gentian, Gu
She breathed through a mild headache forming above her temples. She stretched out with her mind.
Fifteen minutes later, Clara, Brigan, and a number of soldiers had found their way to an unoccupied suite of rooms on level eight in the far northern wing. Three of Murgda's spies and three of Gentian's were with them also, several unconscious, and the conscious ones boiling with fury, presumably at the indignity of being bound and gagged and shoved into closets.
Brigan sent assurance that all was well. "All right," Fire said to Nash and Garan. All right, she thought to all those involved throughout the palace. I'm begi
She hunched in her chair and closed her eyes. She touched Gentian's mind and then entered it. She touched on Gu
Gu
Suspicion washed along the edges of his gladness, but Fire murmured at it, lulled it, and took harder hold. You must go where I direct you and tell no one, she told both him and Gentian. Now, leave the courtyard through the main arch and climb the central stairway to level three, as if you were returning to your rooms. I'll lead you to a place that's safe for all of us, far away from the king and his tiresome guards.
Gentian began to move, and then, more reluctantly, Gu
Three consciousnesses separated themselves casually from the dancing and fell in behind Gentian's guard. Fire recognised two as Murgda's spies and the other as a minor lord she'd identified earlier as a probable Murgda sympathiser. She touched their minds, tested, and decided that they were too guarded for her to enter without them noticing. She would have to lead the others and trust these three to follow.
Ten men. She thought she could handle that while holding the floor plan and thousands of moving figures in her mind.
How her power had grown, with practice. She could not have done this a year ago. Only last spring, the First Branch had utterly overwhelmed her.
Her party of ten ascended the steps to the third level. Now move down the hallway and turn into the corridor containing your rooms, Fire thought to Gentian and Gu
The hallway was still empty moments later when Gentian and Gu
Run! Fire screamed at Gentian and Gu
Gentian and Gu
The soldier communicated that all had gone well.
Thank you, Fire said. Well done. If you have any trouble, call for me. She took a long, steadying breath and returned to Gentian and Gu
I'm sorry, she murmured soothingly. Are you all right? I'm sorry. I'll take care of you.
Gu