Free The Dragonprince's Heir by Aaron Pogue Page B

I almost turned to him. I stopped when I saw the expression on the first officer's face.
    His eyes opened wide. His mouth set in a tight line, but small muscles twitched on his cheek and jaw. His hand fell to his sword. Behind me, I heard our three escorts draw their blades. Those three ahead of us whirled as one, stopping in their tracks, and bared their blades as well.
    Caleb raised a fist and we stopped, too. I could not tear my eyes from the sharp weapons of the guards facing us. I reached across my body, scrabbling frantically at my new sword's hilt, but Caleb released his own to slap my hand away with a casual backhand.
    He took one slow breath and let it out. I recognized the action from my training and forced myself to do the same, relaxing my shoulders and stilling my mind.
    Caleb spoke with quiet, undisturbed authority. "What is the meaning of this?"
    The officer on my right answered him. "A misunderstanding," he said. "Or perhaps a precaution." He spurred his horse forward, so he sat facing the four of us. His hands were nowhere near his weapons, but there was calm authority in his eyes. "You are Caleb Drake and Taryn Eliade, yes?"
    Caleb's chin moved up a quarter inch. "Yes."
    The officer nodded. "Yes. The king has given instruction concerning your party. He'll be relieved to know you've joined us but regrets to inform you there is no position for you among his retinue."
    "But my mother is with them!" I shouted.
    Caleb dropped a restraining hand on my arm without breaking the officer's gaze. "We are the personal retinue of Isabelle Eliade. Under invitation from the king."
    "I understand. Yes." The officer gave a sympathetic frown, as careful and deliberate as his words. "But you see the contingent around us. There is a great journey ahead of us, and many bodies to coordinate. It is a delicate matter, and the king's retinue has no more accommodations for you."
    "That suits me well enough," Caleb said. "We'll settle for a place among your tent."
    "I regret that isn't possible, either."
    Caleb shrugged. "Any of the cavalry camps will do. How about yours, Pollix?"
    Caleb didn't even glance that way, but the man on his left went livid. Before Pollix could scream his rage, the officer in front of us shook his head. "You have been prepared a place among Souward's Seventh. That is the king's order."
    Caleb's lip curled in a sneer. "Ardain Foot. I see."
    The officer's face remained carefully impassive, but he still did not meet Caleb's eyes. Caleb took another deep breath—this one considerably less calm—but after a moment he shook his head like an angry dog. "So be it."
    I gaped. "No. We're not riding at the middle of the train! We're joining Mother."
    Caleb said, "Hush, Taryn."
    I turned to the officer and drew myself up tall. "Do with them as you will. I shall join the Lady Isabelle."
    He shook his head, irritation in his eyes. "There is no room."
    "She is my mother!"
    He turned up one palm in a contemptuous shrug. "The order has been given. The king made no exception."
    "I don't care!" I shouted and kicked my horse forward. I was ready to push right past him, but Caleb caught my reins and hauled back hard enough that my horse reared, and it was everything I could do to keep my seat.
    While I was still fighting to regain control, he spoke to the officer. "Where is Souward's Seventh?"
    "Left flank rearguard," the officer said. "Your escorts know the way."
    "Ah," he said. I settled my horse at last, and Caleb caught my reins before I could move. He spoke to the officer. "Go and tell your king we've arrived, then. Tell him we've gone along quietly. I think he'll want to know."
    The officer's lips compressed into a line, but Caleb turned his back on them. Caleb dragged me along with him, and my knights fell in beside us. The three cavalrymen who had lined up behind us had their eyes fixed over our shoulders, but they must have received some silent signal, because they nodded together, wheeled in place, and led us back the