Chapter 19

T rue to her words, Ro bathed as soon as she woke up, but she was quick about it. She was as eager to return to her son and aunt as she'd ever been. She didn't look forward to the trip, but she'd done what she'd come to do. The alliance with the Wyvern would happen. For that, she was pleased. For that, the trip had been worth it.

In fact, the visit here had been more successful than she could have imagined.

She put on her traveling clothes, which had been laundered by the palace staff, packed up her jewelry—except for her new crystal bracelet, which she kept on—and took a final look around to be sure she hadn't left anything.

She carried the saddlebags out to the sitting room. Gabriel was fixing coffee from a tray on the small table. "There's coffee?"

"A footman brought it just a few minutes ago." He handed her a cup, fixed the way she liked it. No spiced cocoa, but it would do nicely all the same.

"Thanks. How did you sleep? Were there any intruders to fend off? Any sword battles I missed?"

He shook his head, clearly amused. "It was a quiet night. Unless you need me, I'd like to return to my room to change and get ready to leave."

"Of course. I guess I'll head downstairs. I don't know if the king and queen will be up to see us off, but it's fine with me if they aren't. I know it's early."

"I would prefer you to wait until I return, so that I can go down with you."

Before she could answer, someone knocked on the door.

Gabriel opened it and found Uldamar, flanked by Ren and Flynn. The wizard smiled. "Good morning, your highness, Gabriel."

"Good morning, Uldamar. Come in. Did you remember to pack the ashes?"

"I'm here to collect them now," he said with a grin. "They never left this room."

"So sneaky." She laughed. "Very good." She looked out at the guards, standing in the hall. "Come on in, all of you." She tipped her head to see past them. "Where's Yvette?"

"Here," the woman said as she ran up to them. "Sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about," Ro said. "You're here now. Come in and have some coffee while we wait for Gabriel to get ready." It amused her that he was the only one they were waiting on.

With a soft sigh that told her he wasn't as amused, he bowed to her. "I shall return momentarily, my lady."

"We'll be here."

He gestured at Flynn. "Have your coffee then take the queen's saddlebags down and see that the horses are ready. We'll have breakfast at our first stop."

"Yes, sir. I can go now if you—"

"Have a cup of coffee first," Ro said. "We have a long day ahead of us."

Gabriel nodded. "The queen is right." He caught her eye. "I won't be long."

He wasn't, either, returning in about ten minutes, his saddlebags over his shoulder. Flynn had downed his coffee and left, so the rest of them went downstairs.

They found the king and queen awaiting them. Varyana approached Ro with a wide smile, her hands reaching for Ro. "My friend. I am sad to see you go, but grateful to have made your acquaintance."

Ro gave Varyana's hands a quick squeeze, then embraced her. "I am so grateful for that, too, and your wonderful hospitality." As she let Varyana go, she looked at King Ehlzar. "Soon, very soon, I want you both to come to Summerton so we can have a proper visit."

He nodded. "I have my council working on our requests for the alliance, as I'm sure you'll have yours doing the same thing. But we will make this happen. And we look forward to seeing Summerton."

"We wish you a safe trip back," Varyana said. "I took the liberty of having the kitchen prepare some food for your journey. There's an extra set of saddlebags on one of the horses."

"That was so kind," Ro said.

They said their goodbyes, then were escorted, once again by Hull, through the cavern and back outside.

Their horses awaited, the extra saddlebag there, just as Varyana had said. Ro mounted Indi, giving her horse a good scratch on the neck. Everyone else followed, and they were on their way. Ren led, with Ro behind and Gabriel at her side, then Uldamar, then Flynn and Yvette.

As they rode the same path they'd come in on, Ro spoke softly to Gabriel, keeping her eyes straight ahead despite the many Wyvern shapes she could see in the sky. "How many are there?"

He gave a little shake of his head. "I can't count them. A lot." He laughed softly. "I guess you made a big impression and they wanted to see you for themselves."

"You think it's okay if I wave?"

He snorted. "I think it's not only okay, I think you'll win some hearts."

"Well, isn't that what every queen wants?" She leaned back in the saddle and looked up, waving at the Wyvern soaring overhead. Quite a few dipped their wings at her, their own version of waving back.

They stayed overhead for a bit longer, then headed back to Hythe. Not long after that, Ro's stomach began to grumble.

"Hey," she said to Gabriel. "I know we haven't been moving that long, but I'm hungry. Bordering on hangry, to be honest, and you don't want to see me hangry."

Gabriel's brows rose. "Hangry?"

"It's a combination of hungry and angry."

His eyes widened. "By all means, we should stop and eat then."

"Great. But is it a good time? Is this an okay area for a break?"

"Let's get over the next ridge, then we'll stop. Maybe we can find a stream, too. I'm sure the horses wouldn't mind some water."

Not far over that ridge was a trickle of a stream that led to a small pond further below. Gabriel brought everyone to a stop and they all dismounted. While the guards watered the horses, Ro and Gabriel unpacked the saddlebag gifted to them by the king and queen.

Wrapped in waxed brown paper were fat round loaves of seeded bread stuffed with layers of meat, cheese, and roasted vegetables marinated in oil and spices. The sandwiches reminded Ro of the muffaletta she'd had in New Orleans years ago. In another package were yellow squares of corn cake dotted with crisp bits of meat and onion. Lastly, there was a muslin bag filled with the cookies they'd had last night. More than enough for all of them, probably with leftovers.

"This is a feast," Ro said. "I have never been happier to see food."

Uldamar nodded as he joined them. "I am quite hungry myself."

Gabriel chuckled. He unpacked the drinking cups and went to get water.

Ro spread out the blanket tied behind her saddle and laid the food on it like a picnic spread. What a sweet gift this was from Ehlzar and Varyana. She would have to make sure she sent a note of thanks to them once she got back.

Uldamar sat nearby on a good-sized rock. "The king and queen were gracious hosts."

"They were," Ro said. She went over to him and held out her wrist. "Is there any magic in this bracelet Varyana gave me? I should have asked you about it sooner."

He gave her a questioning look. "Has your dagger warmed? Do you suspect something?"

"No, nothing like that. Just curious." She unclasped the bracelet and handed it to him.

He held it briefly before returning it. "The crystals vibrate with the inherent song of the rock they were once part of but there is no dangerous magic attached to them. Merely the neutral magic all natural things hold."

Gabriel brought water back. Yvette was now on guard duty. Ro used her Silversmith dagger to slice the round loaves into wedges and handed them out, starting with Uldamar.

"You shouldn't be waiting on me, my lady."

"Hush," she said. "I'm the queen and I'll do what I like."

He smiled and bowed his head as he accepted the food. "Thank you."

Ren took Yvette a wedge where she stood guard. Soon they were all eating. The sandwiches were wonderful, the corn cakes savory and delicious, and the searzin cookies the perfect little dessert.

Ro wrapped up the food that was left, which wasn't much, figuring it could be part of their evening meal.

Uldamar helped her, opened one side of the saddlebag for her to fill. "This leather is fine quality, the workmanship meticulous. The bag is a gift in itself."

"I should have brought them more than I did, shouldn't I?" She shook her head. "Brandy, sugar, and chocolate wasn't much of a gift."

"Your highness, the gifts you brought were well-received. Have no regrets. You weren't even sure you'd be welcomed, so that you brought gifts at all was enough."

"You think?"

He nodded. "I do."

"Thanks."

They mounted up and got moving. She imagined it would be a long time before they stopped again, other than for a quick bathroom break.

They made it through the rockiest part of the journey, getting back into the more forested area. Ro liked that better. The shade and the birds and the smell of the greenness were all nicer.

Gabriel rode back with Uldamar for a while, the two men chatting about a subject she couldn't quite make out. Her mind wandered, thinking of what she needed to do when they got back to Willow Hall.

She'd have another meeting of the professors to tell them about the new alliance and to task them with writing up Summerton's side of it. She'd need to sit with Posey and draft a thank-you letter to the Wyvern king and queen. And figure out the best way to send it.

Then there was Anyka to consider. Ro let out a long sigh. A sudden heat warmed her calf muscle. She dug her heels in to stop her horse. "Gabriel."

He was beside her in no time. "What is it, my lady?"

"My dagger is warm. And getting warmer."

"Guards," he called out as he spun his own horse around. The guards were immediately on alert, searching the surrounding forest.

A hooded figure emerged from the trees ahead, the crossbow in his hands aimed directly at Ro. He was tall and rugged, a strip of cut-out leather over his eyes for a mask, making his face, already in shadow from the hood and the trees, impossible to make out. "Hello, your highness. Dismount and come to me, bringing Lady Cynzia's ashes with you."

Ro gasped. How did he know they had her ashes? Was he a rogue Wyvern come to get them back?

Gabriel was at her side. "She will do no such thing. We have no ashes." He inched forward.

"She will do as she's told, and I know you have the ashes." Something flashed in the highwayman's eyes, but Ro didn't have a clue what it was. Anger? Amusement?

She scowled at him, the dagger in her boot hot against her leg. "Really? You're going to shoot me if I don't? What will that accomplish?"

He lifted the bow, seemingly aiming it at her heart. "Bring me the ashes. I won't tell you again."

"Get off your horse," Gabriel said. Then he whispered, "And get behind me." Louder, he said, "Uldamar?"

"Right here, Professor Nightborne."

She didn't know what Gabriel had planned, but she trusted him. She threw her leg over and dismounted, ducking behind his horse's flank.

She couldn't see a lot, but a burst of blinding light came from Uldamar's direction, then Gabriel was off his horse and charging forward with one of the guards. A bolt from the crossbow whistled overhead. She crouched lower. A thump came next, followed by a soft cry.

"It's safe now, your highness," Uldamar said.

"I hope so, because I'm really tired of being shot at." She straightened. Gabriel was on top of their attacker, who was on his back. Gabriel quickly flipped him over, yanked his arms together, and went to work securing them. Flynn stood nearby, his sword pointed at the man.

Gabriel was binding the bandit's hands with a strip of leather. She walked over. The man's crossbow lay in the leaves nearby. Gabriel and Flynn hoisted the man to his feet.

The dagger in Ro's boot had begun to cool. She frowned at the man. "Who are you? Who sent you?"

The highwayman ground his teeth together, glaring at her through his mask. He raised his chin defiantly and said nothing.

"Fine, don't tell me. But we have ways of making you talk." She'd always wanted to say that, she'd just never had a reason. Not that she'd wanted it to be anything like this. She looked at Gabriel. "Do you have any idea who he is or where he came from?"

"I don't know who sent him, although I bet we could both guess. As far as who he is…" Gabriel yanked the mask off the man. Gabriel's eyes widened and he swore softly, glaring at the captive. "That much I can answer."

She blinked at him. "You can?"

Gabriel's eyes darkened and he shook the man. "Yes. He's Grym. And he's my brother."