"They won't be if you promise to rise without running."
"Agreed," the girl said. "You've caught me fair and square, and I'll cede victory to you, young Keeper."
"Tell her to set aside her sling first," Tyrus's voice called behind them.
"Ah, the little prince," the girl said as she rose. "I thought that was you. Not quite so little these days."
"Lay down your sling, Sabre," Tyrus said, moving up beside them. "I know better than to be distracted by your chatter."
The girl only laughed, and set aside her sling. As she stood, she pushed back her hood. She had called Moria "young" but she couldn't be more than a couple of summers older. She had the regional look of the warlord's men--wild black hair, high cheekbones, bronze skin, and eyes that seemed somewhere between blue and gray.
"You know each other, I presume," Moria said.
"I met the little prince when he was training under Lord Okami," Sabre said. "And when he was half a head shorter than me."
"Which I no longer am," Tyrus said. "So you can stop calling me that."
"At least I still call you prince, which is more than most would." When he opened his mouth, she said, "You don't need to defend yourself to me. I know you wouldn't run from battle. You trained too long under Dalain, and you're as stupidly honor bound as he. You'd both stand in the face of a charging army rather than give ground." She rolled her eyes at Moria. "Warriors."
"Despite your insult," Tyrus said, "I appreciate that you didn't doubt my bravery."
"More stupidity than bravery. I will admit I was somewhat swayed by the rumor that you'd been tricked by a girl. But I see now I was mistaken, and I congratulate you on how much your taste has improved. I'll wager this one doesn't call you to slay mice in her quarters."
Sabre looked at Moria. "Some distant relative of Lord Okami brought his daughter once--the most vacant-headed, timid child you could imagine, though she knew how to catch a boy's attention. She'd run from her quarters shrieking of mice and insist the valiant prince slay them for her. Which Tyrus fell for. Repeatedly. But she was terribly pretty."
"Did your father send you to interrupt our travels, Sabre?" one of Lord Okami's men called as they arrived.
"Her father is the local bandit leader," Tyrus said to Moria.
Sabre bristled. "My father is a nomadic tribal chieftain--"
"--who accepts generous offerings from travelers for safe passage through these treacherous hills." Tyrus leaned toward Moria. "He's a bandit. A powerful one, though."
"I believe I've heard the exact same said about your father."
"Sabre . . ." a voice called as a rider rode up. "Waylaying my guests on the roadside?"
The newcomer was a young man, perhaps twenty summers of age. Tall and well-formed, with gray eyes and unruly black hair. On his arms, Moria could see the tattoos of the Okami clan: dark wolves with yellow eyes.
"Tyrus." He slid from his horse and thumped the prince on the back. "It is good to see you safe." He bowed to Moria. "Dalain Okami, my lady. Son of Lord Okami."
"Youngest son," Sabre cut in, with a tone that said that barely qualified him for kinship at all.
He shook his head. "As soon as I heard the sounds of trouble, I knew who it was. Now, off with you, Sabre. You've delayed my guests quite enough."
The young woman's eyes flashed. "I was not bothering your guests, Dalain. I was helping them." She turned her attention and her words to Moria. "I spotted your party when you rode through the valley. Then I realized that I wasn't the only one who had noticed you."
"Bandits, I presume?" Dalain said.
She gave him a withering look. "Go hunt something, Dalain. The pursuit suits you much better than thinking."
"Actually, I was hunting something. Or someone. And it's rather urgent, so if you could be quicker with this story, that would be appreciated."
She scowled at him, then turned to Moria again. "There were three riders following you. They were dressed as simple travelers, but I could see blades under their cloaks, and while their steeds were not fine, the men rode exceedingly well. I tried to get closer, but when you paused at a stream, they went on ahead. That's when I noticed that Tyrus was with you, which meant this was no hostage situation. I was getting closer to warn him when you caught me."
"She caught you?" Dalain said. "Truly?"
"I admitted it, didn't I? The Keeper of Edgewood is very skilled with her blade and her wildcat, and I am not so arrogant that I can't admit defeat."