"Don't be too hard on him," Tyrus said, lowering his voice further. "He truly thought he was helping. But he was correct when he said that the people of this land are forthright. They do not always pause to consider their actions, and they are ill accustomed to subtlety and subterfuge." He smiled her way. "Perhaps you can sympathize a little?"
He was right, of course, but she was in no mood to acknowledge it. Since meeting Sabre, she felt unsettled and out of her depth, an outsider here, as if she were back in court. Now, discovering Ashyn had been here only increased both her worry and her sense of alienation.
I want my family. I want my home. I want a place that's familiar and mine. And I'll never have them again.
Daigo growled softly, sensing her change of mood. He rubbed against her foot, and she longed to climb off the horse and walk beside him, to have at least that comfort.
Everything has changed, and it'll never be the same again.
"Moria?"
Tyrus moved his horse closer, until their legs brushed, and she could feel his gaze on her, troubled.
"We'll find Ashyn," he said.
"I know."
They continued riding. When she kept her gaze forward, he whispered, "Is it something more?"
She shook her head.
"Let me rephrase that," he said. "I can tell there's something more. Is it Dalain? Sabre?" He paused. "No, it's everything. This place, these people . . . Normally, you'd barrel in and make yourself at home, but you've spent nearly a fortnight in captivity, had a harrowing escape, and now you find yourself in another strange place, surrounded by other strange people, and your sister is not waiting. You want to tell me to go on ahead, partake of the lord's hospitality, and leave you to hunt for Ashyn with Daigo."
When she glanced over, he said, "Am I close?"
"If you were any closer, I'd accuse you of being able to read minds."
He smiled. "No, I'm just good at reading you." He glanced forward at Dalain, then back to her. "If that is what you truly want, Moria, I'll only ask that you take a couple of his men until I can join you. Sabre's talk of someone following us concerns me. I'd set out with you now and send others to fetch clothing and supplies--"
"But that would be rude. You must pay your respects to Lord Okami before presuming on his hospitality and tramping through his lands. My manners may need polish, but I understand what I do not practice."
"I know you do. So is that what you'd like? Take two of the lord's men and set out?"
It was exactly what she wanted. But it also was impulsive and immature. More important, Tyrus had an imperial bounty on his head and Okami was an imperial warlord. After spending almost a fortnight thinking Tyrus was dead, she was not letting him set foot past those compound walls alone.
"I want to search for Ashyn as soon as we can," she said. "But I'll not leave your side to do it."
His smile seemed almost shy, certainly pleased. "Thank you. I'll keep the hospitalities brief, and we'll find Ashyn before sundown."
They took a path to the compound through the forested foothills, avoiding the road and the inn. Dalain led them around to a secondary entrance. As Moria's mood lifted, the young lord fell back to ride with them. His people might be rough, but Dalain seemed to sense that she'd not wanted his company earlier and had left her alone. Now, as they rode together, he avoided talk of the situation, instead regaling Moria with humorous and affectionate tales of Tyrus's time with them.
"How long ago did you last see each other?" she asked as the compound walls came into view.
"Too long," Dalain said. "Almost two summers now. He seemed happy enough in these hills, but apparently, the court holds more attractions."
"More pretty girls?" she said with a sly smile.
Dalain laughed. "Oh, I suspect so, though he'd hardly dare admit it in front of you, my lady."
"Actually, I would," Tyrus said. "Moria finds my past dalliances very amusing."
"Not amusing so much as understandable," Moria said. "Even desirable, given that it implies practice, and practice improves skill."
Dalain laughed louder now. "Very true, my lady. I like the way you think."
"Just don't like it too well," Tyrus said.
"I won't. I can tell that would land me on the wrong end of your blade, and I've heard you've much improved since you trained under me. Of course, it would have been difficult to do worse."