Free Green Wild (Thrones of the Firstborn Book 2) by Chrysoula Tzavelas Page A

the river, but the bridges have been destabilized by the mud. I’ve stationed guards along the crossing points to turn them back, but we’ve already lost at least one idiot. I’m sure this is what you want, yes?” Alanah was entirely outside the command structure of the Royal Guard, but her unique position made most of the Guard treat her suggestions like the orders they’d almost certainly become.
    “Yes,” said Jerya slowly. “Thank you. It’s far too dangerous to return yet.”
    Alanah quirked a grin that made Jerya feel like a little girl in lessons again, eager to please her teachers. She’d have to check that reaction, because she suspected she was going to make decisions they wouldn’t like.
    An odd rushing whisper announced Twist’s magical arrival. Jerya looked around as he appeared beside the Tabernacle. He stepped lightly down to sit beside her. “Hello. I hope I didn’t break your heart too badly when I didn’t report in last night. I was... tired.”
    “You and Shanasee are the heroes of the disaster,” Jerya told him. “You’ll get a medal eventually.”
    “Oooh, will it be shiny? I’ve always wanted a shiny medal.” He sounded almost the same as he always did, but his blue eyes were dark with some distraction.
    “Where did you sleep? At the Citadel? Did you see my sister?”
    He tapped his nose. “Exactly so. I’ve just come from her. Would you like my report here?” He glanced around at the growing crowd. “There are some things we should talk about privately. You may not like the rest of it.”
    Jerya hesitated. “Is it urgent?” She felt torn between hearing about what her sister had done on the mountain, and her desire to show the people of Lor Seleni that she wasn’t going to hide from them.
    “That depends on whether you want me to rush back to the Citadel and try to stop Tiana from following a dream across the countryside.” He yawned. “Mind, I don’t think I could actually stop her, but we could probably manage to make her feel really bad about it.”
    Jerya stared at Twist before drawing her hands across her face. Standing up, she announced, “I’ll be back this afternoon.” Then she addressed her favorite cousin. “Seandri, would you remain here this morning?”
    In response, he came over and took her hand. She wanted to run her fingers through his curly hair, but she refrained, letting him hold her fingers lightly, her chin lifted like she was a queen. After all, she all but was.
    “What do you want me to do?” he asked her, his voice low.
    “Be here,” she told him. She could trust him. He was steady and gentle and she loved him for it. “Listen. Be kind. Don’t give anybody permission to cross the river, no matter how they beg. Tell them I’ll be back soon. It’s just for a while, until we can get something better organized. They have to know we’re here, Seandri. We haven’t abandoned them.”
    He squeezed her fingers. “Are you afraid they think that?”
    Shaking her head, she said, “I’m afraid they think it’s our fault.”
    She walked back to the Red Plume, aware of how the crowds opened around her. It wasn’t much; it wasn’t enough to allow her to move quickly, but people pushed out of her way with whispers and murmurs. Impromptu markets assembled as some enterprising citizens realized they could sell all sorts of things to people who had lost almost everything. Twist walked beside her. Once, he flickered, as if he’d jumped somewhere and back again, very quickly. She didn’t ask; it was hard to talk in the noise of the streets.
    In the Red Plume, she made her way directly to the room they’d set aside for Shanasee and Iriss. Gisen sat between them, looking at a picture book aimed at much younger children, while Yevonne dozed with her head on Gisen’s knee.
    “No change?” Jerya asked. Gisen shook her head and closed her book, looking attentively at Jerya.
    Cara, Shanasee’s Regent, emerged from an adjoining room. She hadn’t