Raylynn was a good soldier. No, she was a protégé of weaponry. It was small wonder that Baldair appreciated the woman on a multitude of levels. But her natural aptitude with killing tools made her lazy and she was the first to be missing from patrols or drills.
“You don’t seem too upset.” Craig had lingered long enough that Daniel knew his friend had something more to be said, so he shrugged and waited for him to say it. “Are you still thinking about the dopple’s death?”
Daniel sighed, there wasn’t any point in denying it. “She didn’t need to die.”
“Neither did Sam, or Jon, or Celeste.” Craig clasped a palm over Daniel’s shoulder and shook him gently. “Good people die needlessly; it’s not like you to linger.”
Daniel nodded half-heartedly.
“You saw her, didn’t you?”
“What?”
“In the dopple, you saw Vhalla Yarl.” Craig’s hand slipped from Daniel’s person.
“I worry about her.” It wasn’t a secret fact, especially not to Craig, so it was surprising how difficult it was to say aloud. “If our doppelganger died then who knows what’s happened to her.”
“If there’s one woman I don’t think you need to worry about, it’s Vhalla Yarl, the girl can take care of herself.” Craig threw an arm around Daniel’s shoulders, giving him an encouraging shake. It was a lighthearted motion that contrasted starkly with his shift in verbal tone. “Plus, she has someone worrying enough for her already.”
“I’ve told you it’s not – “
“Oh come on.” Craig rolled his eyes. “The feelings are not like that for her, but they are for you, and you’re going to get yourself in trouble with this one.”
“I’d never make it something she didn’t want it to be herself,” Daniel said defensively. If Erion and Jax began warning him as much as the rest of the Golden Guard did about Vhalla he was in for a long winter. How could he be expected to sort out his feelings for anyone ever again if his romantic life was being decided by committee?
“Are you sure you haven’t already?” Craig held up his hands defensively at Daniel’s look. “I mean on your end.”
“I have rounds to do,” Daniel muttered.
“Brother.” Craig stopped him. “The girl is surrounded by fire. You’re setting yourself up to get burned.”
BALDAIR
“Erion, Jax.” Baldair clasped the forearms of each of the men in turn. They were two of the most competent leaders and skilled fighters the world had ever known, but nothing put a bigger smile on Baldair’s facet than to return to the front and see his brothers well.
The prince held out the reins of his mount to Raylynn who stared at them incredulously. “What do you want me to do with them?”
“I’d like to hear their reports; will you take my horse with yours?” Baldair flashed the woman a dazzling smile. She simply snorted in reply, blissfully unaffected by his charms. It only made Baldair want to work harder to get a rise out of her.
“I’m not your errand girl.”
“Maybe I just enjoy seeing you walk away?” Baldair cooed.
With a sigh that carried the hint of a laugh Raylynn snatched the reins. She started behind Craig and Daniel for the makeshift stables and horse ties.
“I’ll make it up to you Ray!” he called.
“We’ll see.” The girl didn’t even turn to wave him off.
Baldair stared in appreciation of his female guard. She was a dagger coated in honey. Tempting to the eye, but would cut the tongue for taking just one lick. If he had been the settling type, he would’ve long since made her his bride. Luckily, Raylynn felt much the same as he on that front.
“Good to see things between you and Raylynn are as inappropriate as ever,” Erion drawled, summoning back Baldair’s attention.
“Would you expect anything less?” he chuckled and threw his arm around Erion’s shoulders. The Westener was sturdier than he looked and didn’t stumble at Baldair’s weight. The prince appreciated being around people who he didn’t have to hold back his strength with. “So! Have you two ended the war for me as I ordered while I was gone?”
“Progress, yes, but not yet victory,” Erion squirmed free.
“Well, what have you been doing then?”
“Clearly not enough, Erion has been utterly useless.” The other Western man adjusted the high bun on his head as he spoke. “Not that it’s a surprise.”
Erion rolled his eyes, not taking the slightest offense. “The only surprise is that Jax finally found someone to dictate his reports to so that they’re actually legible for the other majors. That’s really been the source of half the progress.”
“And who did you have to threaten or bribe to help you with that?” Jax’s antics never failed to amuse Baldair and this promised to be an interesting story.
“The mystery woman from the forest,” Erion answered before Jax could speak.
“Mystery woman from the forest?” Baldair had a little voice that lived in his gut and told him when things weren’t quite right. Generally speaking, so long as he listened to that voice, he stayed alive. The look Jax had about him made that little voice start screaming.
“We need to speak,” Jax confirmed Baldair’s suspicion.
Baldair waited a long moment. “Well?”