Child of Flame (Crown of Stars #4)

Lady Waltharia dismounted to examine the child, although she was careful not to wake her. “Handsome little thing. Although I suppose she’d be so, with the prince for a father. Who are you?”

“I am Brother Heribert, my lady. Brother Zacharias and I constitute Prince Sanglant’s schola.”

She had a good laugh, friendly and open. “A schola, an Eagle, a brat, and this nut-brown creature.”

“I am called Anna, my lady,” said Anna stoutly.

“So you are, if you say so, but why on earth does a girl of your tender years ride with Sanglant’s war band?”

“I am the nursemaid, my lady.”

“Ah. A good thing, too, for the prince to provide his child with a nursemaid if he insists on dragging her about with his war band. Are you practical? Do you scare easily? Can you endure the pace of his army?”

“That’s a lot of questions, my lady.”

“Nor should you answer them, if you’re wise. Here’s a few likely looking youths as well,” she added, marking Matto and the other five soldiers with a comprehensive glance. She was perhaps thirty years of age, a tall woman made imposing by her mail and swagger, with ruddy cheeks and light brown hair pulled tightly back in a braid. Sweat beaded on her forehead. One of her ears was missing the tip of its lobe, and her easy grin revealed a missing tooth. She beckoned to Wolfhere, who stepped forward respectfully. “So, Eagle, I hear a rumor that you’ve been banished again. Or that you deserted the king. It’s so difficult to sort out rumor from truth, is it not? Ought I to send you on your way with the flat of my sword, or imprison you?”

Wolfhere smiled. To Anna’s amazement, she could see that he genuinely liked this woman. He was always so reserved that it was remarkable to see a real spark of emotion in his face. “I am pledged to aid the prince, my lady. I throw myself on his mercy in this case.”

She snorted, delighted by his reply. “On the mercy of the prince! Whom you tried to murder when he was but a mewling infant, if the old story is indeed true, and certainly my dear father believes it true, since he’s the one who told it to me.”

A sharp whistle, repeated three times, sounded from the trees.

“But I trust we can ask him ourselves,” she finished, turning at the sound of riders approaching up the track.

Blessing woke up abruptly, lifting her head and squirming so determinedly that Heribert gave up in disgust and let her wriggle out of his grasp. “Dada!” she yelped ecstatically as streaming gold banners appeared among the trees. A moment later the prince himself rode into view, quite splendid in his gold tabard, scarlet cloak, gleaming armor, and the intimidating dragon helm, gold dragon plating sculpted onto the helmet in such a way that it looked as if the dragon was about to launch itself into attack.

He pulled up his horse and dismounted at once, had barely gotten his helm off before Blessing was on him, clamoring to be picked up. “Hush, Daughter,” he said, laughing as he picked her up. He looked at Waltharia, who was admiring the fine figure he made. “It worked.”

“It always does.” She smiled as at an old memory, meeting his gaze straight on.

“Dada, look at me!” scolded Blessing, then shrieked with glee when he tweaked her nose.

“How is Hedwig?” asked Wolfhere.

Waltharia chuckled. “Hates you as much as ever, or so I assume from the stream of oaths she let fly when she realized last night that it was you who had arrived in the train of the prince.”

“I shall endeavor to keep out of her way,” murmured Wolfhere mildly.

“So you had better, if you value all your limbs.” She turned back to Sanglant. “A timely visit, my lord prince. The Quman invested Walburg only six days ago. You saw what they did to the fields and orchards. There are a dozen farmers unaccounted for from the estates.” She walked boldly up to him and fingered the hem of Blessing’s tunic, smudged and ragged from play. The little girl eyed her suspiciously. “I am surprised, though, that you expose the child to so much danger, riding on campaign with you.”

“Less danger with me than with any caretaker.” Anna knew how fiercely he loved his daughter. She could see it in his expression now as he glared defiantly at Lady Waltharia, as if her good opinion mattered to him. “Better she die if I die than that she live without my protection.”

“And her mother—? Ah. Best we leave that subject for another time, I see. I’ll personally escort your schola and your nursery to the safety of my fortress.”

“I thank you,” he said stiffly, still looking irritated. He kissed Blessing. “You go with Anna, little one. Nay, no arguments now.” Nor did he wait for arguments. He handed Blessing over to Anna’s care and left again with his war band, thundering down toward the plain, no doubt to track down and kill as many fleeing Quman as he could.