"You are . . . Those are . . ."
"Tatsu inkings," Moria said. "Imperial Prince Tyrus, son of Emperor Tatsu and First Concubine Maiko, commander of an expedition escorting the Seeker and Keeper of Edgewood. We came across your camp, and we were concerned by what we found."
"In other words, we're here to help you," Ronan said.
"Unless you're responsible for the disappearance of your traveling mates," Moria said. "In which case members of the imperial family are invested with the ability to mete out justice--"
"N-no. I did nothing. I was hiding in the forest. We were set on last night."
"By whom?" Tyrus said.
"I--I don't know. It seemed . . . No, I do not know."
"Explain."
The man said he'd woken in the night at a cry and he'd gone out to see his younger brothers leaving their tents, still in nightshirts and bare feet. They'd been walking toward the road. He'd called after them. One had turned and--
"His face. There was something wrong . . ." He swallowed. "I apologize, your highness. I know it sounds like the words of a madman and perhaps my mind tricked me, in the darkness and the confusion of waking so abruptly."
"Describe what you saw."
"It was my brother, yet it was not. His face was wrong, twisted. Ghastly. Like something from a nightmare."
"Then what happened?"
"I fell back in horror while he turned away and they both kept walking. There were figures on the road. Distant figures, walking. Fearing for my life, I fled into the forest. From the road, I heard marching footsteps. They did not stop. I don't know where my brothers went."
To join them, Ashyn thought. They went to join them.
At the tramp of feet, she jumped, turning so fast she forgot she was mounted and nearly slid off. It was only the rest of their group.
"Which way?" Moria asked the merchant. "Tell us which way they went."
Ashyn watched as the man lifted his finger and pointed in the direction they'd been traveling.
The road to Riverside.
Tyrus released the man. When the merchant saw where they were going, he decided to head out on his own--in the opposite direction. Ashyn didn't blame him.
Ashyn waited with Simeon while Tyrus and Moria told the counselors about the man. After the conference, Tyrus looked as if a lead-lined cloak had been lifted from his back.
"The counselors agree," Moria said as she rode to Ashyn. "Given what that merchant saw, we've made the proper choice in going to Riverside."
Ashyn exhaled in relief. The counselors openly supported Tyrus's decision. Which meant if anything went wrong, the blame would be shared, as he'd been acting with their counsel.
Tyrus allowed Ronan out of hiding, explaining that he was a scout Tyrus had brought along to help with exactly these situations. Ronan would need to keep his swords hidden, but otherwise, he could freely join them as they continued toward Riverside, and whatever awaited them there.
NINETEEN
It was nearly night again. They kept at the wagons' pace, knowing they didn't dare whip the horses into a lather, but it seemed frustratingly slow to all.
Ronan was scouting ahead. Ashyn hadn't seen him since they'd taken a brief break for a midday meal, stopping mostly to water and rest the horses. Moria was with Tyrus, not so much for camaraderie now as support. Simeon rode with Ashyn.
"Do you mind companionship, my lady?" Simeon asked.
Ashyn managed a weary smile for him. "We sometimes had scholars stop by Edgewood, wishing to see the Wastes and the Forest of the Dead. My father always found a chance for me to speak to them, but it was never enough. Truth be told, I don't think they took my interest seriously. There aren't many girls apprenticed to scholars, I presume?"
It took a moment for him to say, "No, not many," and even then the words came hesitantly, as if she'd not answered the question he asked. Which she had not.