Barin lingered at his father’s table early in the morning, pressing a poultice packed in wet linen against his aching forehead. The skirmish against skura in the northern plains of Prasa Potama the day before had not only been a surprise but had been taxing. Still, his army returned whole after they had eliminated most of the enemy. That his sister had disappeared bothered him more than the sore on his head, or the weariness caused by a grueling confrontation with the enemy. He had no time to find her before Father discovered her absence. Neal waited with him, slowly swirling his cup of mulled wine.

“He’s going to kill me,” Barin groaned.

Neal grunted. “Royal Prince Barin and hero of the clamor! He who slays a thousand skura with one sweep of a blade and tackles mountain giants with his bare hands—who reclaims fertile valleys for the Crown and makes peace with the dark lord! But alas! Prince Barin, heir to the Potamian kingdom, dies at the hand of his father for not keeping track of a rebellious sister?”

“Making peace with the dark lord?”

Neal shrugged. “Seemed like a good rumor to spread.”

“I had no idea Erika would sneak away.”

“How could you? You brought her home from Tellwater in hopes she’d stay. She’s a grown woman. She does what she wants.”

“No, she’s not a grown woman, she’s a child.”

“But she claims adulthood, and so how are you going to convince her otherwise? Your father’s the king and even he can’t make her obey.”

The poultice had numbed his head. He set the rag on the table.

Neal gave him a sympathetic frown. “Listen, Barin, you have plenty to boast about to your father. Our mission has ended. In the last month we’ve brought a small army to Felix, and he can hold his own until spring. We vanquished a threat in Kevshire, and we returned home with no casualties while killing several skura as a gratuity. Concentrate on that. King Tobias will be proud of you.”

At that moment, a page opened the door and announced the monarch. Barin and Neal stood, bowing as King Tobias stormed into the hall.

“How did she get away?” The king’s voice echoed off the walls.

Barin bowed again and stuttered.

“Oh, disregard my ranting, it’s probably not your fault. The woman is impudent. I know where she is, and now she’s in danger.”

“You found her? How?” Barin should have guessed his father would be two steps ahead of him. King Tobias had a way of discovering the indiscoverable. That’s what made him such a great king.

“Fishers, Barin. Fishers came to my door just now. On horseback. On our horses, mind you. The ones she gave them. She promised I’d pay them for their trouble. For their boat! Which she took!” King Tobias’ face burned red. He paced the floor.

“What? She did what?”

“She traded our horses for a fish-harvester boat and directed the owners of the boat here with a message. Do you know what she told them to tell me?”

Barin shook his head. He couldn’t imagine. His father’s face swelled with rage, his eyes red. “She said she’s going to claim the throne of Cho Nisi!”

“She’s a fool! They’ll kill her.”

“That’s what I said. And they just might. What happened with you?”

“An attack on Upper Potama. I lead a charge.”

King Tobias took a breath and closed his eyes momentarily. When he opened them, a little calmer, he laid his hands on Barin’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, son. I should have given you a father’s welcome. I’m glad you made it home safely. You as well, Neal. We shouldn’t let Erika’s foolishness destroy this family.”

Rhea appeared at the door, and both Barin and Neal acknowledged her with a bow.

“How could you be so inhumane as to let the man I love run off with our sister?”

“She took Kairos?” Barin shot a quick glance at Neal. He needed Kairos on their next journey to Tellwater.

“You ruined my life!”

“Rhea,” the king interrupted as he hurried to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I’m sure your fears are unjustified. There’s nothing romantic between those two.”

“No, there isn’t,” Barin interjected. “Erika cares for no one but herself. If she took Kairos, it would be simply for his spells. But I need Kairos. There’s a war happening.”

“She’s a spoiled little horror,” Rhea interrupted. “Why do you let her wear armor or carry a sword? She’s proven herself unqualified.”

A brother to three sisters, Barin spent many years teaching himself the art of family neutrality. Well-mannered Rhea caused a minor problem unless anger got the best of her. Then she could be a cannon ball. Better for him not to engage. Instead, even though his cheeks flushed, and a mild rage at her accusations stirred in his gut, he cleared his throat.

“I’ve no time for mulling over Erika. Father and I must discuss our plans for Tellwater.” He would have to find Kairos before he returned to the valley, but he preferred not to chase after Erika.

“Rhea, please. Let your brother and I discuss affairs of the kingdom for now,” King Tobias escorted her to the door. Rhea pulled away from him and left the room in a storm.

Barin’s temperature had risen during the discourse, and he steamed as his father walked back to the table and poured a flask of wine. With a coaxing touch from Neal, Barin settled with him at the table.

“You’ll be happy to know, Barin, that Kairos has had a breakthrough while you were away. He informed me—rather hesitantly—that he’s ready for battle.”

“I’m pleased with the news, and livid that he’s not available. We can’t return to Tellwater without him.”

“I agree!” The king grimaced. He took another drink with shaking hands. “We leave Lord Garion to wrestle with Skotádi on his own, then?”

“Until Kairos returns. It’s just as well. We can concentrate on securing other regions of our kingdom for now. We defeated the skura in Kevshire, but rumor is Fairmistle has been a target. Terror runs rampant, and no one had expected the skura attack in north Potama.”

Barin tried to make eye contact with his father, but Tobias stared into his mug. “I hate leaving the valley,” the king said. “It’s the most fertile region of our kingdom. And Lord Garion is a good friend.”

Barin sighed. “Temporarily, Father. We can prepare now, but we can’t leave until we have Kairos. Lord Garion has experienced and well-armed men. They’ll be training the serfs in technique, and they’ll be recruiting the locals. There’s not much more we can do for Lord Garion at the moment. The trip over the mountain is risky, and it’s a long and dusty ride around the mountain. Winter will be here soon and when it comes, snow will bury the passes, if not already. It’s a long journey and we need to make it worth our while. Once we have Kairos, and his apprentices, we can bring supplies and workers to build a keep. Supplies will take time to gather, regardless.”

“And now we have Cho Nisi to worry over. No telling what they’ll do to Erika. Does Lord Garion know we won’t be returning right away?”

“I’m sure he knows it will take time.”

King Tobias nodded again and drank his wine in huge gulps. “And you mean what you said about your sister?”

“Don’t ask me to go chase her down. Please, Father. She does nothing that I ask, but only devises ways to defy me. I’ve had enough. Her antics distract me.”

“She loves you.”

“Well, she has an astonishing way of exhibiting her affection. Just a short while ago, she sought my forgiveness. I see now she will not change. I cannot be around her.”

The king set his chalice on the table. “Very well, I won’t ask you.”

King Tobias rose, and Neal and Barin stood as a courtesy. “I leave you in command of stratagem, son. I trust your decisions.”

As he walked away Barin bowed, saddened to watch his father depart not as a regal and proud king, but as a tired old man.