Geller pointed to Maida, who’d just made it to the stream’s edge and was stripping off her tunic. “That’s Hunter Maida, and she’s th’ best archer I’ve ever had th’ privilege to work with. Maybe while we’re here, ya can ask her if she has some hints or suggestions fer ya.”

  Sábria listened to her Prime, who, as usual, had already figured out why she’d allowed Maida to go to the stream. Children often knew more than people gave them credit for, and by sending Robi to Maida, she was providing the Hunter with another way to glean information from the lesser members of the hunting party.

  The girl’s eyes grew round again, and she stared at the hunter just now diving into the water. “A Hunter? Here? Can I go talk to her?”

  “In a bit. Right now, I need you to serve Lady Sábria, Prime Geller, and me in the tent.”

  Robi stared at Maida as she swam towards the pool where most of the people were playing and talking.

  “Robi.” When the young page tore her eyes from Maida and glanced back at her aunt, Ada raised her brows and looked pointedly at the tent flap.

  “Oh!” Robi quickly stepped to the flap and pulled it aside. “After you, My Lady.” This time, she bowed low as Sábria nodded her thanks and entered the tent.

  Before Ada ducked inside, she pointed to the stream. “On second thought, please go tell Lord Ashden that Lady Sábria is here.”

  The child’s face lit with excitement, and before Ada could say anything else, Robi dropped the tent flap and raced towards the stream. Ada sighed and shook her head. She lifted the flap and held it open. “After you, Ursuna. It’s good to see you as well.”

  Ursuna grinned and ducked into the tent. “Looks like she’s a handful, that one, but I hope yer Lord father does allow her to become a Blade because I think she’ll make a good one.”

  “I don’t think Father could keep her out of the Blades if he tried. Her father died in a riding accident when she was only three, and her mother and sister were killed six turns ago. We don’t know who killed them. All we know is they were found lying in a field, and someone had slit their throats. Since then, all Robi has talked about is how she wants to become a Blade to protect women just like them.”

  The tent wasn’t one used for sleeping. The nicely appointed space was more of a central meeting place where the family could come together and enjoy one another’s company in style. A matching pair of padded maroon armchairs bearing the Ashden Crest sat in the middle of an ornately decorated, circular maroon and blue rug that covered nearly all of the tent’s open floor space. An assortment of comfortably shaped cushions were scattered about, providing a variety of comfortable options for anyone who might prefer lounging in a small group instead of in one of the more formal chairs.

  A low-to-the-floor card table had been pushed out of the way and stored at one side of the tent with three decks of playing cards neatly stacked at one end. A tray full of specialty dice used in the many different dicing games played throughout the realm had been placed in the middle of the table, as well.

  Next to that, a variety of musical instruments—two lutes, a vielle and even a cornett—were carefully resting in padded cradles or stands. On either side of the tent opening stood two weapons cradles, mostly empty, where warriors would leave their weapons when entering the tent.

  Ada indicated one of the chairs with a graceful wave of her hand. “Please have a seat, My Lady. Our chief steward is loath to have us go anywhere without proper furniture, and since my father adores music of all kinds, we, of course, had to bring instruments to enjoy in the evenings. Honestly, I don’t think our steward has ever slept or camped rough in his life. But he’s a good man who means well, so if that means we have a bit more comfort than is necessary on a family camping trip, then so be it.”

  Sábria was quietly amused by the ornately carved side table placed strategically on one side of the tent. It held several wine bottles and glasses and a silver tray laden with an enviable supply of cheeses, crackers, and various types of fruit. A child’s primer sat open next to one of the cushions reminding her of Ada’s niece. “How old is Robi?”

  “She’s small for her age. Eleven, if you can believe that. I was already up to my father’s chin by that age, but then, I’m taller than most of the men I meet. This will be her last turn as a page.” Ada walked to the wine table and chose three wine glasses from several that had been placed on one end, upside-down to keep out dust and other airborne impurities. She chose a bottle of Tafonti and poured two glasses before Geller stopped her on the third. “No, thank you. I have a long night ahead of me, and wine puts me to sleep.”

  “Tea then?”

  “If ya tell me where it is, I’ll get it.”

  Ada set the bottle down and picked up a covered pitcher, which she held up for Geller to see. “I have it right here. The herbal mixture is one of my favorites that we don’t often get down south. And it has a little bit of a kick to it. If you need to stay awake, this is the tea for you.” She poured it into the third wineglass.

  Geller took that one and one of the glasses of wine and returned to where Sábria stood looking at an array of swords set in one of the two multitiered cradles. She handed the wine to Sábria and kept the tea for herself.

  Sábria pointed to a red-edged sanguine sword cradled in the third tier down. “This is your mother’s sword, isn’t it?”

  Ada stepped beside her and ran a finger along the curved top edge of the beautiful weapon. “It is. It’s the one she was carrying when she was cut down. Even though my father has declared an end to mourning, he can’t seem to part with the sword. It was what brought them together in the first place so many turns ago. I don’t know if you realize they were squires together and became Knights on the same day. Just after their Trial of Ascension, Lord Clemins, the old man, not the current lord, challenged my mother’s right to be a Lady Knight.”

  She grinned at Sábria. “Well, my father thought it was up to him to protect her honor. He challenged Lord Clemins, and as he was stepping out onto the dueling floor, my mother stepped in front of him, put the tip of her sword beneath his chin, and told him if he took another step, he’d find the sword rammed up through his chin into his mouth, which he’d do well to keep shut.”

  The tent’s flap was pulled aside, and Lord Ashden strode in. “You can imagine what a kick to my ego that was. Remember, I was a seventeen-turn buck thinking I was defending a lady’s honor. What a fool I was.” He chuckled and shook his head. “She ran him around that floor with ten times more skill than I could’ve done. Ultimately, she disarmed him and had him kneeling at her feet, apologizing for the insult to her and her family.”

  He stepped to the middle of the room and bowed low. “My Lady Sábria, you’re the last person I expected to find traveling through the woods. But it is indeed a pleasure and an honor to see you again.”

  Sábria held out her hand.

  He took two steps forward and kissed her ring.

  This noble family had always been one of Sábria’s staunchest supporters. But more than that, Sábria genuinely enjoyed spending time at their estates whenever she could get away and trusted them to have the welfare of the Empire and of her Blades at heart. It had been for those reasons she’d felt it imperative she needed to visit them when Shirin had told her who was camping nearby. As large landowners and respected leaders among the nobility, they were well-placed to hear rumors of a rift developing within the Blades. “We have a camp a short distance downriver from you, and when Commander Shirin told me she’d seen your encampment, I knew I wanted to come pay you a visit.”

  Ashden absently noticed Geller standing to the side of the tent flap, and as was proper, the Prime bowed the requisite amount proscribed for an Earl of the realm. “My Lord.”

  Out of a lifelong habit, he unconsciously assessed the types of callouses and weapons she wore and then dismissed her presence as he would any servant. Turning his attention back to Sábria, he shrugged, “I must admit, when Robi ran over shouting that you were one of the visitors, I didn’t immediately believe her. It wasn’t until the Hunter introduced herself and said that yes, indeed, the Arch Priestess had come for a visit that I fully believed her.”

  Ada had retrieved a fourth glass when her father arrived. After filling it with wine, she picked up hers and delivered his with a slight bow. “Where is she, by the way? She’s supposed to be in here serving.”

  “She’s busy hero-worshipping the Hunter.” He motioned to the two chairs in the room. “Please, be seated.” Turning to Geller, he pointed to the tent flap. “Get a third chair for Lady Knight Ada.”

  Geller wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the nobility and she calmly and politely declined. “I don’t leave Lady Sábria’s side when Commander Shirin’s gone, Milord.”

  Ashden stiffened, but Ada put a calming hand on the small of his back. “They’re a military organization, Father. She has her orders, and they in no way imply that Lady Sábria isn’t safe in our company.”

  Sábria gracefully lowered herself into the chair and, after taking a moment to taste the wine, agreed. “Indeed, My Lord. Whenever I’m outside the Temple, I’m rarely without a bodyguard, and Prime Geller is hardly a servant. While it’s not a well-known fact, she’s the third-ranking Nyaki Master in the Empire and the seventh-highest-ranked Master in the known world. Her refusal has nothing to do with her fear for my safety and everything to do with her position within the Blades. When Commander Shirin isn’t at my side, quite often, even when I’m in a perfectly safe environment and have no need of protection, as is the case in these circumstances, Prime Geller assumes the role of protector.” Sábria knew perfectly well that the Earl studied the Nyaki arts and that Geller’s rank would impress him.

  Non-plussed, Ashden studied Geller more closely than when he’d first walked into the tent. This time he scrutinized the callouses on her hands with an eye to detail. When studied by someone familiar with various weapons, they spoke of turns of practice in several weapons systems. His shoulders relaxed. “My apologies, Prime Geller. Or perhaps, as a practitioner of the Nyaki discipline myself, I should refer to you as Master.” To everyone’s surprise, he handed Ada back the wine glass, put his fist into the palm of his hand, and bowed low.

  Geller set her glass on a table and returned the gesture. “No offense taken, Milord.”

  Ashden nodded, retrieved his glass, and turned to his daughter. “Since Robi and several others are getting a personal lesson in archery, would you mind fetching a third chair for yourself?”

  Ada smiled at Sábria and then winked at Geller as she exited the tent.

  Ashden sipped his wine and shrugged, “I wondered how you could be out here with only two people, but with a Nyaki master and a Hunter combined with your formidable skills, bandits would be hard-pressed to mount a successful attack.”

  Even though she knew the probable answer, Sábria pointed in the general direction of the other camp. “Are you aware of the bandit camp nearby?”

  “We are. Perhaps you were wondering about the late warning of your arrival. Most of my guards have gone to roust them out of the area, and I’m down to four sentries until they return. Two of the four are on the other side of the stream guarding the swimmers.”

  Ada returned with a camp stool she set between Sábria and her father before lowering her tall form down onto it.

  Her father let out a soft groan and shut his eyes. “It’s hardly dignified to have your knees bumping your chin, Ada. You’re a Lady Knight, for Goddess’s sake.”

  The Knight wrapped her arms around her knees and grinned at Sábria. “My dignity is still intact, Father. Lady Sábria understands the concept of rough camping, although we can hardly call what we’re doing rough.”

  Returning Ada’s smile, Sábria had to agree. “I’ve done my fair share of rough camping, and your daughter’s right. This isn’t it.” She shrugged. “Unless we happen to be talking about what some of the softer city nobles consider camping rough.”

  Both Ashdens laughed good-naturedly at the truth of her words.

  Bringing up the nobility would hopefully allow Sábria to segue into what she wanted to discuss. She took another small sip and moved into a topic he’d know intimately. “Speaking of the nobility, I’ve heard some rumblings that some of your peers are still vexed about the outcome of the Festival riots. I realize no one would overtly bring talk of sedition to your ears, but have you heard any whisperings about discontent among the nobility?”

  Ashden exchanged looks with his daughter. “As a matter of fact, Ada returned from our southern border with news I hesitate to bring to your attention. Not about the Festival riots, and not outright sedition, mind you, but perhaps something more insidious. I didn’t want you to think we were in any way disloyal. At times, the Emperor feels…well, he’s mentioned on occasion that if someone knows about talk of disloyalty to the realm, it logically follows they must be disloyal themselves.”

  With the exception of Isobel and Gwe, Sábria never spoke of her feelings about the Emperor with anyone outside of the Temple. She looked at Ada and raised her brows, silently asking for a report.

  Ada stood and paced to the other side of the tent. “It’s nothing I can put my finger on, My Lady, and that’s why Father said perhaps we should keep it to ourselves until we have something solid to pass along.” She returned and nervously fingered the wineglass, rolling the stem back and forth in her fingers while she considered the best way to frame what might be nothing more than gossip-mongering. Her lips thinned as though she wasn’t sure she wanted to open her mouth to speak. She glanced at Geller, then back to Sábria, and finally said, “I’m glad to see a Hunter traveling with you, My Lady. I’ve heard…rumors…of a rift between them and the rest of the Blades.”

  “Rumors?” Sábria wanted to hear what she had to say without giving away just how upset she was to hear others had known about the rift while she’d been kept in the dark. And she wondered just how intentional that had been. Were the perpetrators so well organized that they could keep something like that from her? She’d assumed her ignorance was because there hadn’t been any Hunters needed in Sarlogne for several turns, but what if the conspiracy to divide the Blades went deeper than that?

  Ada’s brows were as blonde as her hair, and while they didn’t look as menacing as, say, Geller’s black arches that so eloquently conveyed irritation or amusement depending on the circumstances, the way Ada’s plummeted and creased the Lady Knight’s otherwise smooth forehead spoke of disquiet and apprehension. “More like whispers, really. Overheard conversations around a campfire after we’ve chased off raiders and even some who say they’ve heard—” she grinned and shrugged, “Well, it’s silly, really.”

  “What is?”

  “Nothing. It doesn’t bear repeating, just stupid camp talk.”

  Sábria felt Ada’s resolve to repeat the rumors wavering. While she couldn’t force a Lady Knight to tell her something she’d heard, she could at least wax the surface to help her slide into the topic. “Ada, even if you’re hearing false rumors, if they pertain to my Blades, I’d rather you tell me and let me decide whether to discount them or not.”

  Ada and her father glanced at one another again, and Lord Ashden nodded. “She’s right, Lass. It’s what you’d want if the same were being said about your troops on the southern border.”

  Blushing was so uncharacteristic of this charismatic Lady Knight that when it happened, Sábria sat forward and indicated the stool Ada had earlier vacated. “Please, sit.” When Ada reluctantly lowered herself down, Sábria put a hand on her knee to reassure her. There’s no need to be embarrassed, Ada. I’ve been in my position long enough to know when a person is speaking out of genuine concern and not simply repeating a nasty rumor.”

  “You’re mistaking my blush for embarrassment, My Lady, when I’m actually reacting out of anger. We, by that, I mean our entire family and all those who answer to us, worship the Goddess and believe you’re Her Voice among the people. We’re all warriors here and have studied tactics and warfare. If what’s being said is true, I think there are those who’d want nothing better than to bring down the Blades and their Temples around the Cibían Empire.”

  Ashden leaned toward his daughter. “Ada. You’re getting ahead of yourself. No one wants to bring down the Daughters.” He shot an apologetic look at Sábria. “Sometimes my daughter⁠—”

  Sábria held up her hand. “Please, Lord Ashden. In our discussions over the turns, I’ve come to appreciate and respect your daughter’s grasp of tactics and warfare. I’d like to hear what she has to say.”

  Ashden sat back and with a slight lift of one shoulder in a resigned shrug, indicated it was up to Ada whether she should continue or not.

  Ada studied her father, obviously respectful of his opinions and concerns.

  Catching Geller’s eye while the two Ashdens communicated silently, like any two people who’ve worked and fought extensively alongside one another would do, Sábria minutely lifted her glass and then glanced at Ada’s nearly empty one.

  Geller immediately walked to the side table, where she picked up the Tafonti and brought it over to where the other three were seated. Without asking, she filled Ada’s glass first and then topped off her father’s wine, too. Since Sábria had been judiciously taking tiny sips, she covered her glass with her palm, telling her Prime she didn’t intend to drink any more wine than was necessary to satisfy social expectation.

  The two Ashden’s had been so focused on one another that Ada looked surprised to see her previously empty glass full again. Raising her brows, she took a large swallow and faced Sábria once again. “You need to know, My Lady, that this family stands firmly behind you and your Blades. That being said, it’s being whispered about that someone heard someone say…you know how that goes…” She paused when Sábria rolled her eyes and smiled. “Anyway, someone claims to have heard two Hunters saying they were no longer part of the Blades and that all of them should simply leave the Empire. Although we all know that’s not an option. In the same way that I’ll be a Lady Knight until the day I die, all Blades will be in the Goddess’s service until she takes them into her arms.”