The Reluctant Queen (The Queens of Renthia #2)(39)

"I can't," Erian whispered back.

"I know. But pretend, and maybe you'll fool yourself and actually fall asleep."

Llor snuggled closer, and she breathed in his sweet little-boy scent. It didn't seem to matter how many mud puddles he fell into, he exuded a smell that was better than baking. "Mama, I'm scared."

"That's good. Fear can be your friend. It tells you when to run and when to hide. The trick is that after you've run and hid, you have to tell your fear thank you very much, you're fine now, come back later."

"Will Champion Ven and Captain Alet be okay?" Erian asked, her voice small. Naelin held her tighter. It was easy to forget that Erian was still a child too. She was growing up so fast and wanted so badly to be an adult already.

"Yes," Naelin started to answer and then stopped as she saw a shadow move within the other shadows, a shift of gray. "Shhh."

They obediently quieted, knowing better than to ask why.

It didn't feel like a spirit. She couldn't sense any crinkling in the air, but she heard the nearest bushes rustle, and then Erian let out a tiny gasp and squeezed tighter. An animal? It sounded larger than a squirrel. Raccoon? Badger? 

Naelin saw a shape move again and heard a low rumble, a growl. Predator. She held still, feeling as if every muscle had locked. They'd tucked themselves into the crook of branches for safety, but now it felt more like a trap.

And she knew in that instant she'd use her power again. But not as a first resort. Not the way Champion Ven wanted. If she did this, she did it on her own terms.

Resolute, she held her children in the crook of the tree until their breathing slowed, becoming even, and their bodies relaxed, limp against her. Awake, she stared into the darkness.

Night was never just blackness in the woods. It was layers of colorlessness, shapelessness, and silence. Here, the silence was buoyed by the crickets, whose song melded into a steady hum in all directions.

She didn't intend to sleep at all, but somehow, despite the fear, despite her swirling thoughts, despite whatever lurked out there in the shadows, exhaustion overwhelmed her and she drifted into sleep, curled up with her children.



She woke at dawn, as light filtered, gray and dim, to the forest floor. Seated in front of her, back to her as if he were on guard, was a massive wolf. Naelin tensed, squeezing her children tighter, and she felt Erian and Llor shift, waking. She loosened her grip on them, wiggling one arm free. Her kitchen knife was in her pack . . . which she'd left up with the champion, of course. She cast around for anything that could be used as a weapon-a stout branch, a sharp rock.

Champion Ven spoke. "His name is Bayn."

She swallowed, not trusting herself to speak. He was here, and he knew the wolf. That was . . . good? Champion Ven was leaning against the trunk of the tree, arms crossed, face in shadows. A streak of blood stained the sleeve of his armor. In the dim dawn light, it looked like rust. He looked like he'd walked directly out of a heroic ballad, and she felt instantly safer. Not safe, but safer. Her heart kept thudding fast, though. "He seems to have taken a liking to you," he said.

In her arms, Erian woke and tried to stifle a scream-it came out as a shrill meep! The wolf turned his head to look at them. His yellow eyes fixed on Naelin. She didn't move.

"Doggie?" Llor said, his voice mushy with sleep.

"He's . . . tame?" Naelin's voice only cracked a little. She licked her lips and tried again. Show no fear. "He won't hurt us?"

"Why don't you ask him?"

Because he's a wolf, Naelin thought. "Don't mock me."

"Never."

She thought she detected a twinkle in his eye, but perhaps that was her imagination. Surely he didn't have a sense of humor. Erian took the champion literally and addressed the wolf, "Hello, Mr. Wolf, are you planning to eat us?"

As if her question were beneath his dignity, the wolf looked away, scanning the forest once more. Around them, leaves rustled, and above birds chattered at one another, calling as they flew unseen from branch to branch. The forest was awakening as dawn filtered through the leaves.

"Nice doggie," Llor murmured, and then yawned, as if it were perfectly normal to wake up next to a wolf.

After a few more minutes of no one being savaged by any wild animals, Naelin extradited herself from Erian and Llor and stood. Her muscles twinged, and her back ached. She hadn't slept outside in years, and never as unprotected as this. She stretched her back and tried to shake out her foot, which tingled from being tucked underneath a not-so-small child for so long. At Champion Ven's feet, nestled against the tree, were their packs-all the supplies that Naelin had left behind when she'd climbed with the children in the night. She didn't see Captain Alet and felt a rush of alarm. "Is the captain all right?" Naelin asked.