could only stare at

t of his face. The curved sword in his hand did not shake at all. He stood between

ou?" Sera

explain everything soon, I promise. But right now, Yo

t jump again. "Why do y

owing because you are afraid. If you can slow your breathing and

not kn

e. In, and out. I

lack cloak had recovered from his sho

he name as if it tasted bitter. "I

d one of his dogs," the stranger replied. "

the soldiers. "Take the girl

om Corvin to the burning girl and then to the man

s told to find a runaway. I was no

told to

Brannock said quietly. "And I d

nd turned toward the other soldiers. "Whoever brings me that girl w

oldiers. Three of them went pale. The o

o quickly that Sera c

rist, and twisted it until the weapon fell from his hand. In the same motion, he struck the

spun, and kicked the man's legs out from under him. The soldier crash

er said calmly. "I woul

ier stay

nto the ground between them. It burst with a loud cr

haze, she heard the clash of steel, the stamp

y! Run to yo

ce. The fire still clung to her skin, and it lit the smoke around her lik

" the stra

was tied to a low branch. It pawed the ground nervously as they approached,

if she weighed nothing and swung up behin

le," he said. "We ar

d back at the clearing. "Captain Bran

ped back. He was young, perhaps twenty-five, with dark brown hair and sharp, kind green eyes. A thin scar

he men who tried to chai

orders. And Captain Brann

ow them down." A faint smile touched his l

ke

answer. Corvin was stumbling out of the

tting away!

is heels into the hors

horse leap

past them like dark ghosts. Branches whipped at her face, and the cold wind tore at he

rank, then flickered, then pulled back beneath her skin until on

over her. Her arms felt

y. His arm tightened around her waist to keep her ste

ired," she

ody has just done something t

did

up," he sa

nger slowed the horse beside a quiet stream that glittered under the clouded moon. He dismounted a

e said. "

e her a canteen. She drank gratefully. The water wa

se snorted softly and drank from the stream

d at last. Her voice was thin and t

He placed his sword on the ground beside him, an

m a guardian of the Phoenix Guard. For eig

The Phoenix Guard? I h

d they were bright and steady. "Your Majesty, I swore an oath to your mother on the night you

her was a servant in the cast

," Rowan said gently. "But s

t down Sera's spine.

ad begun to tilt and blur around her. Her head fe

ard was Rowan's voice

jesty? S

rything