After Ailith increased her pace, Ghost fell behind, but Ailith couldn’t worry about her now. Ghost was familiar with the forest, and if worse came to worse, the chit could run back to Sarlogne and find Terro.

  The main path was the width of a good-sized wagon, making it easy for Ailith to run despite it being the early part of the night. Unfortunately, about halfway through the forest, Sábria had turned her mare south onto a narrower riding path and Ailith had to pay more attention to where she was going or else risk tripping over raised roots or the occasional branch lying across the trail.

  It took her close to two candlemarks until the heavy forest began to thin and another half-candlemark to locate a herd of loose horses in a pasture. All of the candles were out inside the adjacent farmhouse, and Ailith snuck into the barn, grabbed a bridle, and hurried back out to the field. She had to make sure not to spook the horses since that would guarantee the farmer would come out looking for a fight.

  A coal-black gelding stared at her as she approached. She took her time with him, talking softly, easing up to his flank, and gently rubbing his hindquarters. He seemed to be an easy-going lad, and she made her way to his shoulder, talking nonsense the entire time. Slipping the bridle over his head, she eased the bit between his teeth, fastened the throat latch, and led him to a gate at the rear of the pasture. She quietly pushed it open, led him out, and then just as quietly shut it again.

  To her surprise, Ghost was waiting for her. “Well, I’m squintin’ at some ‘un as got a good pair a stilts on her, eh? Come on, then.” When Ghost approached, Ailith knelt and pointed to her back, “Clamber oop.” Once Ghost had her arms locked around Ailith’s neck and her legs around her waist, Ailith took hold of a fistful of mane and swung up onto the horse’s back.

  Without warning, the horse bolted down the path and completely ignored the bit as Ailith gripped his barrel with both legs and desperately hauled back on the reins. When the horse bolted, Ghost’s grip slipped, and her body slithered sideways, only barely snagging Ailith’s belt with a two-handed grip and catching her heel on the horse’s spine. Ailith reached back and managed to clinch Ghost’s other leg in a white-knuckled grip. She held on doggedly until Ghost shimmied up behind her. Grinning like a fool, Ailith glanced over her shoulder and yelled like the banshee she used to be.

  Ghost laughed and held onto Ailith’s waist with a rock-solid grip.

  Ailith had been on many green-broke horses during the time she’d ridden across Dreyutha with Lady Isobel. Once both hands were free, she hauled on one rein to bring the horse’s head around until his nose was practically resting on her knee. That way, he either had to come to a halt, turn in circles, or fall onto his side, something no horse ever wanted to do.

  This one chose to circle several times before giving up and coming to a stop. Ailith took a moment to catch her breath. When they’d taken off at an all-out gallop, her heart had leapt into her throat, and it seemed that even though the horse had slowed, her heart hadn’t yet realized it could do the same.

  She didn’t see Shadowfoot’s prints anywhere in her immediate vicinity, but since she’d last seen Sábria riding south, she pointed the gelding’s nose in the right direction and started him off at a more controlled canter. She had to pull the múgromin pounit in a circle whenever he thought he could get away with bolting again. When they topped a rise to a wide, grassy hill, Ailith was relieved to see a dirt road laid out before her.

  They trotted down the hill, and when they reached the road, Ailith jumped off and walked from one side to the other, studying the tracks of all the horses and oxen that had come that way. It wasn’t until her third pass that she was able to sort out enough of the hoofprints to finally recognize Shadowfoot’s distinctive tracks. With a sigh of relief, she remounted and kicked the horse she’d named Adaeyfur, which meant Eclipse in Dreyuthan, into a gallop and continued on her way.

  CHAPTER 10

  By the time darkness had fallen, Shirin’s worry and anxiety had ramped up to a whole new level. A knock sounded at the outer door, and she called, “Come.”

  The gate guard, Blade Larkin, stepped into the room. “Commander, there’s a sailor asking permission to speak to you. He’s waiting with Tanna at the outer gate.”

  Happy for the distraction, Shirin rose and indicated Larkin should precede her. “Do you know what he wants?”

  The two women hurried down the stairs. “No, Commander. He said he’d only give his message to you. Normally I’d tell him to return in the morning, but there was something about how anxious he was to talk to you that I thought I should run it past you.”

  At the hesitation in the Blade’s voice, Shirin put a hand on Larkin’s shoulder, “Trust your instincts, Larkin. I do.”

  When they reached the gate, Grady was nervously wringing his hat in front of his chest. He quickly stepped forward but was immediately blocked by Tanna stepping into his path.

  Shirin recognized him and wasn’t worried about him being a security risk. “Stand aside, Tanna. Thank you. The two of you can return to your posts.” She looked at the man and raised her brows. “Grady, isn’t it? Why don’t you step into the outer bailey, and we can chat.”

  Grady, a solidly built man somewhere in his late forties, pulled his forelock and nodded vigorously. “Oh, aye. I’ve got a message fer ya. I were told to give it to naught but you, Commander.”

  They stepped into the middle of the outer court, and Shirin settled into the habitual, ready stance of a trained warrior. “And?”

  He looked at the ground and pinched his eyes shut. “Well, the message were, ‘She’s ridin’ west through th’ forest and…oh fowk, what were her name…?”

  Shirin squinted at him. “Who’s riding through the forest?”

  He opened his eyes. “Don’t know, but…well, the one with th’ crazy good fightin’ skills, ya know, from th’ alley, is followin’.”

  Shirin cocked her head to the side, “Ailith? Ailith is following someone? By herself?” she turned away and muttered, “I’ll kill her. Tanna!”

  The gate guard came running. “Go find Terro and see if Ailith’s with her. They should be getting ready for weapons practice before their shift.” She took out a silver and held it up for Grady to see. That was much more coin than most people would receive for delivering a simple message to the Temple, but Grady had proven himself a reliable informant on two occasions now, and Shirin generously rewarded those she intended to keep as future allies for the Blades. “Is there any more to the message?”

  “Nai.” That was the equivalent of nope, and the glare Shirin bestowed on him had him taking a step back. “Oh, sorry. No, Commander. No more message.”

  Tossing the coin at him, she nodded, “Then you’re dismissed.

  Grady caught the coin in one hand and pulled on his bangs with the other. “Aye, Commander. Thank ya.”

  Shirin watched him hurry through the gate and then walked into the inner courtyard, where she met Terro and Tanna coming from the practice yard. With a quick jerk of her head, she indicated Tanna should return to her post. Her face hardened when she saw just how irritated Terro was. “Where is she?”

  “I’m not sure, Commander. I’ve looked in her rooms, and I’d just returned to th’ practice yard thinkin’ she might of shown up late when Tanna came looking fer me.”

  Just then, Kemi came hurrying out of the archway leading to the stables. When she saw Shirin, she ran over. “Commander. Shadowfoot’s gone!”

  Shirin’s eyes opened wide. “What?” Shadowfoot was ridden exclusively by Sábria, and without waiting for an explanation, she ran into the Citadel, raced up the stairs, and pounded on Sábria’s door. “My Lady? I know you said not to bother you, but something’s come up.” When she didn’t receive an answer, she pounded again. After another wait, she tried the handle. The door was locked, and not willing to waste another second, she ran to her desk and grabbed the key from the top drawer.

  Terro was waiting next to the door, and Shirin motioned her aside. “You wait out here.” She put the key in the lock and turned it, but before pushing it open, she decided to give Sábria one more chance to respond. “My Lady. If I don’t hear you tell me to leave, I’m coming in.”

  At the continued silence, Shirin pushed open the door and stepped inside. A cursory search of the rooms told her Sábria had somehow left without Shirin knowing. Racing out of the room, Shirin ran to the dormitory and burst into Isobel’s room.

  Isobel was seated in a wingback chair reading, and her companion was lying on a blanket on the floor resting. The startled woman sat up and stared at the intruder, her blue eyes wide with fright.

  Shirin stopped dead in her tracks.

  Terro was fast on her heels, and she, too, stopped and stared.

  Shirin spun around and held a stiff finger in Terro’s face. “Not a word to anyone. Go out and stand guard at the door. No one enters, do you hear me? No one.”

  Still in shock, Terro tore her gaze off the slave’s face and brought her fist to her chest. “Yes, Commander.” She stepped out and closed the door behind her.

  Shirin stood rooted in place, staring at what looked like her best friend, but her friend as she’d looked twenty turns in the past. She turned to Isobel, who was standing now.

  Isobel pursed her lips and nodded. “That’s what I thought when I first encountered her.”

  Shirin pulled in a breath. “Tell me everything.”

  Not wanting to betray Sábria’s trust, Isobel shook her head, “I don’t⁠—”

  She stopped when an enraged Shirin stepped up close and raised her hand as though to choke Isobel.

  Shirin caught herself and lowered her hand. “I’m sorry, but Sábria is gone, and I need to know where to find her.”

  “Gone? I…I don’t know where she’d go.” Isobel decided a missing Arch Priestess topped her need for discretion, so she quickly summarized all that had happened.

  When she finished, Shirin stared at the slave while she thought through her alternatives. She spoke to Isobel without taking her eyes off Sábria’s younger mirror image. “What’s going on, here, Isobel?” She repeated, “I need to know.”

  Isobel indicated the slave with an open palm, “I asked Sábria if she were an only child. She said she was and that her parents were both the only children in their respective families.”

  Shirin thought some more before pulling open the door to send Terro out to bring someone she knew would keep her head in an emergency. “Go tell Geller to ask Master Fiyori if she’ll come. Tell her to escort her directly here.”

  “The magistrate?”

  “Yes. Tell Geller nothing except that I need Master Fiyori here immediately.”

  Terro saluted and ran down the stairs.

  Isobel cocked her head, obviously confused. “You’re bringing the magistrate? Why?”

  “She was here a few turns before Sábria arrived. If anyone knows Sábria’s history, it’s her.”

  They waited in silence, with Shirin pacing the room and Isobel leaning against the wall, wondering exactly what box she’d opened.

  “What’s her name?”

  “Ty.”

  Ty, who’d retreated to a corner, straightened at the mention of her name. Isobel waved her off, and the woman relaxed.

  Shirin resumed her pacing. When she heard a knock, she pulled the door open far enough to slip out into the hallway. Terro, who’d found Geller and delivered the message, was standing by the door waiting for further instructions.

  Shirin had been planning her next few steps while waiting for her Prime. “Are Killian and Emlyn still in weapons practice?” Killian was another tenured Blade Shirin trusted to keep her mouth shut when necessary, and while Emlyn was still a shiv, she’d been trained in circumspection from her time in the cradle.

  “Aye”

  “I should have had you bring them as well. Find a Blade and have her bring them here. Then you’re to stand guard. No one except Master Fiyori comes in.”

  Terro nodded, “Aye, Commander.” She left to wake one of the sleeping Blades to send them to get Killian and her shiv.

  A half-candlemark later, Geller returned with the Master.

  When they arrived, Terro knocked, and Shirin opened the door just wide enough to admit the formidable older woman.

  Fiyori stepped inside, clearly not happy with being rousted out of bed in the middle of the night. “Well?”

  Shirin made the introductions. “Master Fiyori, may I introduce Lady Knight Isobel of Drethemere. Lady Knight Isobel, this is the Chief Magistrate in Elyon’s Hall of Justice, Master Fiyori.”

  Since Fiyori outranked Isobel, it was the latter who bowed and said, “My honor, Master Fiyori.”

  Fiyori inclined her head, “And mine as well, Lady Isobel.” She turned to Shirin and repeated, “Well?” Her tone was both irritated and perfunctory.

  While they’d been waiting for Geller and Fiyori to arrive, Shirin had ordered two more wing-backed chairs brought in, and she indicated that the other two should be seated. Once the three were settled, she leaned forward and rested her forearms on her thighs. “Master Fiyori⁠—”

  Fiyori held up a hand, “Let’s make this simple. For now, you may call me, Jestína.”

  “Of course, Jestína. I asked you here to try to get some background on Sábria’s past.”

  Fiyori sat up at that. “Shouldn’t you ask her for that?”

  “Yes, but something happened to upset her earlier, and she’s left the Temple…on her own…and I need information to try to find her.”

  “What would upset her enough to leave without her guards?”

  Shirin glanced at Isobel, pursed her lips, and nodded.

  Isobel spoke in her native tongue, “Ty. Come.”

  Ty, who was obviously well-versed in blending into the background, obediently came to stand in front of them.

  Fiyori stared at her, blinked several times, and then whispered, “Goddess have mercy.”

  Shirin went on to explain, “Ty was sold as a slave as an infant. She was taken to Dreyutha where, up to this point, she’s lived a rather, shall we say, harsh life as a slave. Lady Isobel⁠—”

  “Just Isobel, please, Commander.”

  “Isobel was visiting a merchant on Dreyutha’s far western border when she encountered Ty. She told me that, given the circumstances,” she raised a brow in Ty’s direction, “she felt she couldn’t leave her there. She brought her here and showed her to Sábria, who had a less-than-welcome reaction to seeing her. She, in fact, left without telling anyone.”

  Fiyori was one of the most intelligent women she’d ever met, and Shirin wasn’t the least surprised when the woman rubbed her Temple and said quietly, “And you want to know how this could have come to be.” Her brows drew together, and after a short time, she nodded. “I think, under the circumstances, the two of you need to know what happened. And I believe I can tell you where Sábria has gone.”

  Isobel motioned for Ty to return to her place in the corner.

  When she was far enough away, Fiyori leaned forward and whispered, “What was Ty’s reaction to seeing Sábria?”

  There hadn’t been any reaction, and Isobel thought she knew why. “None. I doubt she’s ever seen a reflection of herself, at least as an adult. There is nothing so decadent as mirrors in either of the places she’s lived as an adult. Ansham is a disgusting backwater town full of thieves and reprobates, and the merchant who owned her in Jilmore didn’t believe in such fripperies. She wasn’t allowed outside of the stables in any case.”

  Fiyori pursed her lips again and nodded, “I see. Well, what I’m about to tell you will go no further than this room. Are you both clear on that?”

  Isobel put her hand on her heart. “I swear it.”

  Shirin just nodded, and since Fiyori knew her absolute loyalty to Sábria, she accepted that as her bond. “Sábria was brought to the Temple as a fourteen-turn child, almost fifteen, by a merchant family who’d found her near death in her parent’s camp. As you probably know, her father traveled as an emissary, and quite often, his wife and daughter would accompany him. When the traders came across their tents, they discovered that her parents had been murdered, and she’d been raped repeatedly and left for dead. When they brought her to Sarlogne, the Temple healers discovered she was with child.”

  Shirin screwed her eyes shut, trying to contain the emotions flooding through her. To know that her best friend, mentor, and Priestess had suffered so badly was a punch to the gut. Sábria had never shared much about her life before she’d come to the Temple. Shirin knew nothing other than that her father had been an emissary who traveled to various kingdoms with trade delegations.

  Fiyori continued, “While she’d waited for Sábria to give birth, the Arch Priestess at the time, Lady Sandrin had prepared for the disposition of the child and had found a childless couple and an older woman, the man’s mother, I believe, who lived several candlemarks away, far enough that Sábria’s path and the child’s would most likely never cross. After the babe was born Sandrin brought her to me. I finalized the adoption, and we sent the new parents and their tiny daughter on their way. I never heard from them again.”

  Even though the slave didn’t speak Cibían, Isobel spoke softly enough that Ty wouldn’t overhear her question. “Did Sábria know her babe would be put up for adoption?”

  “Of course. Lady Sandrin was a loving woman who’d never rip a babe away from a mother without their permission. You have to remember the child’s father was one of the men who’d murdered Sábria’s parents. Sábria wanted nothing to do with the infant and refused to even look at her when she was born.”

  The whole point of having Master Fiyori come was so that Shirin would know where to find Sábria. Shaking the story out of the forefront of her mind, she got back to the point at hand. “Where do you think she went?”