Firebrand

“North is not friendly to representatives of the king,” Karigan said, “like me.”

“I know the story of what it was like when you traveled through North five years ago,” Estral replied, “but this time you don’t have brigands or Shawdell the Eletian pursuing you.”

“We have him.” Karigan pointed accusingly at Enver. He looked ever more uncomfortable.

“He hasn’t tried to kill you, has he?”

“Not yet,” Karigan muttered.

“Now you’re just being ridiculous.” When Karigan didn’t respond, Estral continued, “It’s not like we have to stay. In fact, you won’t even have to go into town with me. I just want to ask around to see if my father’s been through there.”

Karigan snorted and stood by the fireplace with her hands on her hips, no longer interested in her porridge. “As if the people of North like being questioned. You’ve never been there, so you don’t know what it’s like. You’d be prey by yourself.”

“Maybe you could disguise yourself,” Estral suggested. “Conceal that you’re a Green Rider.”

“I can’t,” Karigan said. “Not without good reason.”

“But you did last time.”

“I wasn’t a Green Rider back then. Not that I knew of, in any case.”

Estral’s brightness looked to be waning. “Then I’ll go alone.”

“No.”

“Sometimes you are just so pig-headed!”

“You’re the one who brought the whole thing up.”

“Look,” Estral said, “I know there is usually a minstrel assigned to North. He or she might know something of my father.”

Karigan, as much as she hated to admit it, knew Estral was right, for she’d met a Selium minstrel there herself, who had known what was going on in the town. She also hated that she felt so intimidated, but the experience of having a mob of angry townsfolk turn against her was not easily forgotten. The Anti-Monarchy Society had been quiet for years, so at least they would not be stirring the pot to boiling. Still, the townsfolk would not take kindly to her presence as a representative of the king.

“What does Enver think?” Estral asked.

He put up his hands as though to deflect her question. “I am not meddling.”

Karigan laughed in dark amusement.

Estral raised an eyebrow at her. “Did I miss something last night?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Well, then,” Estral said, “it is just between you and me.”

Karigan frowned.

“North is not far from our path,” Enver ventured.

“I thought you weren’t meddling,” Karigan shot back.

He shrugged. “I believed it was worth mentioning.”

“If the king told you to go to North,” Estral said, “would you hesitate?”

“You are not the king,” Karigan replied.

“I know, but would you?”

“No, of course I would not hesitate. Not for my king. I can’t refuse.”

“If you were going at the king’s behest, would you be afraid?”

Karigan clenched her teeth. “I wouldn’t like it, but I would do it. Without question.”

Estral sipped her tea, the intensity gone from her. “Karigan, I’ve got to go into North with or without you.”

“You won’t get far if I wrap you up in your bedroll and tie you to Coda’s back.”

“You’re being ridiculous again.”

“Am I?”

“Lady Estral,” Enver said, “I’ll go with you.”

“You’re meddling,” Karigan accused.

“Not with you,” Estral pointed out. “Enver and I will go into North while you sulk somewhere else.”

Karigan treated them to a round of swearing, concluding they were the asses of donkeys, and worse, before stomping out of the cabin and slamming the door behind her. The sound echoed through the woods. Mara, were she there, would call her crotchety.

She also knew Estral was right. They needed to go to North to find out if Lord Fiori had passed that way. If there was in fact a Selium minstrel assigned to one of the inns there and Lord Fiori had traveled through, there was little question he’d have been marked by the minstrel.

As much as Karigan disliked the idea of going into North, she had been instructed to assist Estral as she could. By the king. So in a way, it was an order from him to go into North. She sighed in resignation. It wasn’t like she didn’t want Estral to find her father; she absolutely did. And she certainly would never allow her to go into North alone. Not even with Enver. She couldn’t imagine the reception the folk of North would give an Eletian. She loosed another long, drawn-out sigh.

“Meep.”

“What?” She looked around to see what creature had made so unexpected a noise.

“Prrrt.”

Down at the bottom of the steps, an orange tabby cat sat on his haunches with his tail wrapped around his feet.

“Hello,” Karigan said. “What are you doing out in these woods?”

The cat cocked his head as he stared at her. She crouched and put her hand out, and he climbed the steps to rub against it, purring loudly.

“Friendly,” she murmured. “Do you live near here?”

The cat, of course, did not answer. He wended around her legs and scratched on the door. Surprised, she opened it. Inside she found Estral and Enver going over a map, no doubt planning their route into North. The cat immediately trotted to Estral, who occupied the chair, and jumped onto the table and the map spread upon it.