Even as I said the words, I could feel my heart speeding up. It was as if deep down inside me, something was waking up, reaching for the surface at the promise of a coming battle with the Denai.

Bearen sat still on his horse. He stroked his long black beard which hid his lips and he spoke again only to me. “It’s not working, Thalia. We must leave now, before we are trapped.”

“We can’t. If the Septori take Sinnendor, there’s no stopping them. They’ll capture more Sirens. Create better warriors. It will be our doom. No one will be safe. Not even Calandry.”

King Tieren danced up to the wall again, and I seized my chance. “Tieren,” I called out. “I’m tired and wish to come inside where it’s warmer. Your army is getting hungry and cold too. It’s bad form to not take care of your own men.” Tieren’s forehead puckered as he looked down at me in confusion. He turned to Gideon for explanation.

“She’s right, your highness. We can’t leave our men out there unprotected.” Gideon spoke slowly. I could hear his unease.

Tieren turned and waved at me. “All right. Bring them in, but make sure that they are ready tomorrow. I think I shall send a message to my brother-in-law Bearen. I would like to visit my niece. I wish to know if she looks anything like you, Thelonia.” He stepped down and disappeared.

Bearen turned to me, his dark eyebrow arched so high in surprise it got lost in his messy mane.

I shrugged my shoulders and turned to watch the gate. It was another five minutes before Gideon was able to convince the soldiers to let us in. Thankfully, Bearen had stayed quiet during the exchange.

There wasn’t enough room for all of our clan, so Bearen and Odin split our army into three divisions. Two would head north and take a wide berth around Merchantstown, keeping to the outskirts. They would be part of the army that would pin the Septori, once the attack had begun. Valdyrstal’s main clan quickly fell into line with Sinnendor’s Elite. When men of battle came together for a cause, it didn’t take long to put differences aside. Especially when they all knew that they were truly brethren.

I heard the whispers that spread like wildfire about Bearen. The true descendent of King Branccynall, the king that was banished. They were amazed at Bearen’s size and his apparent sanity. I could tell that it wouldn’t take long for the two lost families to merge into one.

I had even seen Bearen speaking with Gideon. Gideon bowed in respect and moved to obey, not Tieren’s orders but my father’s. If we won this upcoming war, Bearen might not even have to fight for the throne of Sinnendor. It might just be thrust upon him, by Sinnendor’s people.

But I was running out of time. I needed Xiven and Sevril to help my cousin. As soon as I entered the palace, I called out for a servant to prepare a room for Siobhan.

Syrani followed me into the dark main hall and looked around and whistled. “It could use a female touch.”

“The danger is not only outside the castle, but it’s inside as well. Stay far away from the two princes,” I warned.

I thought Syrani would make some sort of snide remark about handsome princes, but Fenri distracted her. His face was pale, which made his reddish hair take on an even darker hue. He entered the hall with an unconscious Siobhan in his arms. I knew he was probably still physically weak from his attack, but this seemed to be a matter of pride. A servant came and pointed to a room upstairs, and he quickly followed. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Syrani, since she couldn’t pull her eyes away from him.

“You know he kissed me,” she whispered delicately to me. Her eyes took on a soft, vulnerable look.

“I figured he might have,” I answered.

She turned and shot me an angry look, and I felt I needed to explain. “It’s not like that…I can just tell he really likes you.”

The resentment dropped from her eyes and she moved closer to the stairs as if she were going to follow him up. “I’ve never felt like this before. At first I hated him. I mean, I really, really hated him, because he humiliated me. He wasn’t much nicer when I went to stay with his family. I tried, I really did, to do what his mother asked of me, but I couldn’t do anything without making a mess of it. I burned the bread, served them raw meat, and I even put more holes in the sock instead of mending them. I threw the biggest fit of my life. I was terrible, I said nasty things, and do you know what he did?”

I could easily picture everything Syrani was saying, even down to her temper tantrum. “What did he do?”

Syrani tucked a strand of stray blonde hair behind her ear and her cheeks turned red as she continued, “He laughed at me. I showed him my worst and he laughed at me and told me that my bark was worse than my bite. Then he sat down and showed me how to darn socks. Can you believe it? A strong warrior knew how to sew and I didn’t. I was mortified and humiliated.”

There was a time I’d have cheered at her misfortune, but I found it surprisingly pleasant that we were beginning a tentative friendship “What did you do?” I asked.

“I did everything I could to get back at him after that. I put too much pepper in his bowl of soup. I put wood glue in the bottom of his boots. I even went so far as to cut more holes into every pair of socks he had.”

I started to chuckle at her and she just shrugged her shoulders. “But he didn’t tell his mother or demand I leave their home. Instead, he cornered me in the stable. I thought he was going to yell at me or beat me.” She brushed her fingers across her lips in memory. “He said he knew a cry for attention when he saw it. And then he kissed me! It was the most mind blowing kiss ever and now…” Her eyes flew to the stairs.

The sound of footsteps proceeded Fenri’s walk down the stairs. At the bottom, he halted and looked at Syrani. Confusion and guilt laced his green eyes, and he quickly turned his attention to me.

“Uh, Siobhan’s still sedated. You said that there was someone who may be able to help?”

“Yes, we need Xiven. Ask for the man named Xiven and see if he’ll take a look at her.”

Fenri looked down at the ground and then back at me—ignoring Syrani completely. “What do you think the chances are she’ll come out of this unscathed?”

“We’ll all bear scars when this is through. I held up my forearms to show him. But only time will tell. Fenri, what happened between you two after I left?”

Fenri looked horrified at my question, but he saw my stubborn gaze and glanced over at Syrani apologetically. “Your father told me about your betrothal to Kael, since he won the Kragh Aru. I knew then that I would have no chance with you. When it was obvious that you were taken, Siobhan started to show interest toward me. But she quickly left under the pressure of her father’s traitorous actions, before either of us could ascertain our feelings. I swore to myself that, if she returned, I would find out if she truly loved me and if I returned those feelings.”

Syrani sucked in her breath and took a step back from Fenri. It looked like she was going to try and make a dignified exit before hearing anymore. I felt ill for her, because I was the one who’d started this.

“No wait!” Fenri turned and grabbed for Syrani’s hand, but she pulled away from him hard. Tears ran down her cheeks.

“Let me go!” she cried out. “I stayed because of you. I was willing to give up my whole family and heritage because of you.” She yanked hard but was she was no physical match for the warrior Fenri. I knew how strong he was. She raked her nails across his hands, but he refused to let her go. “I was so stupid,” she seethed.