Free Forest Born by Shannon Hale Page A

triply sneaky if you puffed your hair just to be taller than me.” He patted her head, testing for unnecessary puffiness.
    “Please, Razo. You’re more experienced with children than half of these soldiers combined and far better at keeping someone safe than I am. Just promise you’ll watch Tusken.”
    “Uh-huh, and if I do that, you’re bound to do something silly like go chasing after Isi, aren’t you?”
    She looked at him sharply. He picked dirt from under his fingernail.
    “If you’re not going to talk I’ll have to figure it out myself, and I’m not half as slow as our brothers would make you think. Not half. Only about a quarter as slow and twice as charming.”
    He smiled at her. She smiled back against her will.
    “So why would you be following those girls? You just miss Dasha, do you? Or wait, you’ve been hired by our enemies to kill the queen.”
    She snorted.
    “Yes, I’m afraid that’s it. My sister is an assassin. That’s why she’s so tall. She’s hiding a sword in her boots and poisoned darts in her hair. Look, I’d like to go too, but Isi thinks they’ll do best alone, and maybe she’s right. Besides, Ma would scalp me clean if you got hurt.”
    “And then you’d be even shorter.”
    He glared in an attempt not to smile. “You might want to rethink your plan anyway. No chance you’ll catch up now, seeing as how they’re riding.”
    Horses. Rin had not considered they’d use those cursed beasts. How was she going to keep up on foot?
    “Rin, what’s going on?”
    Rin sighed. “Cilie, the waiting woman that was? She and Brynn knew each other, though she was from the east and rarely talked to anyone. I saw them alone by the stables, arguing. I don’t know what it means, but I think Isi will want to know. And you should tell Geric.” Razo rubbed his chin. “That is too suspicious to ignore. Why don’t you tell Geric, and I’ll run and tell Isi?”
    “No! I need to go. It’s not just the telling that matters. I need to keep moving . . . I need to stay with those girls.” She shuddered, feeling helpless, but pulled all her energy together to make one last plea. “Razo, please? Will you watch Tusken for me and let me go?”
    He stared for a moment before grabbing her and hugging hard.
    “Rinna-girl taking after her brother, sneaking around and making plans that’ll get her into trouble? I’m so proud of my little Rinny . . . no, that nickname doesn’t work. How about Rinna-minna?”
    “Razo, they’re already gone. I need to go quickly.”
    Razo stared at the black and exhaled loudly. “Fine. Just be careful. I can’t afford to lose my scalp.”
    Rin blinked, her face tingling with the heat of surprise. She had not expected him to agree.
    He jogged off toward the line of horses and came back so quickly she’d only had time to stare at the wood and sigh.
    He was leading a dappled horse, still saddled.
    “This is Gladden. She’s nice and easy and was only ridden this past hour, so she’s fresh. I put her brushes and stuff in the saddlebag. You know how to brush down a horse? And saddle her?”
    Rin nodded impatiently. She had no idea, but she’d figure it out later. She had to go now. Fear was seizing her, and she was sure she would die if she did not stay with those girls. Irrational, unfounded, but the fear still felt as real as the night. Razo helped Rin mount and tossed up her pack.
    “You’ll watch over Tusken?” she said.
    “Not a problem. Children are easier than frogs. I had a frog in Tira, and I had to keep pouring water on it all the time and finding worms, and if I didn’t it would make these noises all night, like graaak, graaak, graaak —”
    “Razo . . .” The fear in her turned icy, the heat in her cheeks replaced by gray cold. She leaned down, grabbed his arm, and spoke with all the urgency she felt. “Keep Tusken safe, here and at home, until his mother returns. Promise me?”
    Razo’s eyes widened, surprised by her tone. “Of course I