“Who is Allyn?”

“My younger brother. Did I shout his name, too?”

“Not tonight, but sometimes you mutter his name when you’re sleeping.”

Wonderful, I thought sourly.

“Did he survive the plague?” Kerrick asked.

“I don’t know. He disappeared with my sister and mother.”

“Do you have any other siblings?”

I caught on. “If you think you can use my family as a way to get me to agree to heal Ryne, it won’t work. I’ve been on the run for three years, and during that entire time I hadn’t discovered a single clue to where my family might be. Learning that my sister might be alive and in some training camp is astounding. But even that didn’t work for you, so I’d suggest you find another way.”

“You really have a low opinion of me, don’t you?”

“No one else has backhanded me, starved me, manacled me to a tree and let me freeze each night. Therefore, I don’t have anyone else to compare you to.”

“And what about the rescues from jail, the mercs and the lessons?”

“All for Prince Ryne. Not me. You made that perfectly clear. Ryne is your priority.”

“Fair enough. Consider this. It’s obvious you care for Noelle. What if she was sick, and I was the only one who could save her life? And you knew if she lived, she would do great things for thousands of people. What would you do after I refused to cure her because I heard she punched her brother?”

Hitting a sibling wasn’t quite the same. “I wouldn’t resort to violence or intimidation. But I understand your point and, yes, I would put every effort into changing your mind about Noelle. I don’t object to the stories, the lessons or being a prisoner—not like my life before was any better. What I don’t like is being treated as a means to an end. That what I think or feel doesn’t matter at all as long as I agree with you. That might work for your gentlemen who choose to be here, but it won’t for me.”

Kerrick gaze grew distant, and I wondered if he would finally understand. Which would complicate my life since his bully tactics only strengthened my resolve not to heal Ryne. But, as usual, he didn’t give me any indication that I had gotten through to him.

“Belen was whittling knives from branches tonight. He has a busy day planned for you tomorrow. Go back to sleep, Avry,” Kerrick said.

Shock rolled through me. Kerrick had said my name, and I suspected things between us would change. But would it be in a good way or bad?

Even warned, I didn’t think Belen would work me quite so hard. He had me repeat the knife throwing with both stationary and moving targets until he was satisfied. Then he drew smaller circles and asked me to aim for them. Once I managed to hit the smaller targets, we started with basic knife defense, using the wooden knives he had carved.

Bruised, sore and tired, I had no trouble falling into a deep sleep that night. No nightmares disturbed my rest, but Kerrick shook me awake, anyway. I blinked at him in confusion.

“Come on,” he said.

“Why? Did they discover our hiding spot?”

“No. But we need to leave now if we’re going to make it back by daylight.”

“Leave for where?” My thoughts felt as if they’d been dipped in honey.

“To visit your sister.”

Chapter 12

I snapped awake. Did Kerrick just say…? “Visit my sister?” I repeated.

“Yes.”

“And what do I have to promise you in exchange?”

“Nothing.”

I stared at him, seeking the real truth. But he returned my gaze with a rare open expression. Belen stood behind him with a wide smile on his face. Interesting. Not one to waste a golden opportunity, I threw back my covers, yanked on my boots and wrapped my cloak around my shoulders.

“You’re in charge until we get back,” Kerrick said to Belen.

“And if you don’t arrive by morning?”

“Come find Avry at the training camp. Don’t worry about me.”

“Yeah, right.”

Kerrick muttered under his breath.

I gave Belen a quick hug. “Thanks,” I whispered in his ear.

He tried to act innocent. “For what?”

“Belen, promise me you won’t ever play poker.”

“Too late. The monkeys cleaned me out months ago.”

“Oh, Belen.”

“It’s only money, Avry. Get moving or Kerrick’ll leave without you.” He waved me off.

Now it was my turn to mutter as I followed Kerrick from the cave and into the dark forest. No moon hung in the cloudless night sky.

Kerrick turned to me. “Do you want to…?” He held his hand out. “We can move faster if…”

I blinked a few times. Kerrick being shy? Normally, he would just grab my wrist and drag me along. Nice Kerrick was scarier than Mean Kerrick.

In answer to his unfinished question, I laced my cold fingers in his warm ones. Magic buzzed up my arm and the objects in the forest became clear as if the sun had just risen.

He set a quick pace. For the first time, keeping up was easy. Through his magic, I sensed we were alone in this part of the woods, and I had a number of questions. “How do you know she’s my sister?”

“I’ve been watching the camp.” He glanced at me. “She resembles you, and she fights with a familiar tenacity. I’ve seen her take on bigger opponents and win. If she isn’t your sister, then I’ll relinquish command to Flea.”