“I wanted to see how the leg was holding up so far, given we’ve had a few challenging days.” Rowan pressed Jonas’s thigh flesh, pushing it back from where it disappeared into the large cup of the prosthetic.

  Jonas’s eyes flared and he focused somewhere into the recesses of the shed.

  “The prosthetic’s doing fine, but it’s rubbing, huh?” Rowan released Jonas’s thigh, pushed the trouser leg down and stood, looking down at Jonas who didn’t bother to meet his eye. “You’re not used to asking for help, are you?”

  “Llew helps me. It’s enough.”

  Rowan smiled kindly. It was probably best Jonas still didn’t look up at him. Llew suspected he would interpret that look as condescending. “She’s giving you blood to keep you alive. She wouldn’t have to give as much if you said the leg was rubbing and gave me the chance to adjust it.”

  Jonas flinched at those words, glancing apologetically at Llew, who had seen no signs of rubbing when she helped him remove the prosthetic at night. But, of course, she gave him blood right before bed.

  “There hasn’t been time.” Llew squeezed Jonas’s shoulder briefly. “But we do need to know what we’re dealing with.”

  “I wasn’t tryin’ to hide it from you. It just ain’t been a problem when we’ve had a moment to talk.”

  “We can add padding for now.” Rowan gestured for Jonas to sit on a tall stool by the workbench. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to grab my tools from my workshop, just managed to pack some basics from Ma’s place. But if our new friends managed to fulfill my entire order – and that mister— Lord Gaemil didn’t balk too much at the prices – I can mold you a new leg specifically for you.” Rowan had pushed Jonas’s trouser leg up again and unbuckled the prosthetic, exposing reddened skin, some threatening to blister. “Still, it’s going to do you even more good to take a break from wearing the leg. Probably most of the time.”

  “And when the next group of soldiers come?”

  Rowan gave Jonas a meaningful look. “Those who’ve joined us will give us more chance of settling things diplomatically than you standing before them on two feet. This isn’t Quaver. You’re not the hero here.”

  Jonas froze. He didn’t look angry. More like he’d been smacked in the face with his own worst self-belief.

  Llew gripped his shoulder. “Maybe not to most of those on the farm but you are mine.”

  “Oh, I didn’t—” Rowan looked between Jonas and Llew. “Sorry, I suppose that was the wrong thing to say. I didn’t realize …”

  Llew silenced him with a shake of her head. “We’re adjusting.” She gestured to Jonas’s stump. “And we need to heal that.” The syringes were back at the house, the Ajnais in the cartway. “You, stay.” She wouldn’t submit Jonas to hopping back to the trees, so she returned shortly after with Lyneth and Sam in tow, and they set about once more pressing Llew’s blood into Jonas’s vein. Sam drew Llew’s blood because he could always heal, even from injuries sustained when Llew accidentally healed off him, while Lyneth injected Jonas, neither of them posing a risk to each other. After only a couple of syringes, Jonas’s skin had cooled and smoothed. Still, Llew insisted on a few more to boost his energy for the afternoon. She headed back to the Ajnais with Sam, and returned to find Jonas standing again, insisting to Rowan his leg felt much better, thank you.

  Llew added her own thanks, which Rowan brushed off as unnecessary and turned back to the butter churn. “Now I need to figure out if I can gear it so anyone can spin it fast enough or if we’re going to have to ask Karlani …“

  Llew made a sound in the back of her throat. “Try to gear it for anyone. I’d rather not rely on Karlani for anything.”

  “Fair. I’ll see what I can come up with.”

  They thanked Rowan again and left him to his calculations.

  “I know he’s a good guy, but that stuff reminds me of Braph,” Llew said when they were out of earshot. She kept wanting to reach out with her hand that hung between them, but Jonas’s hands were occupied with his crutches. It it reminded her of the distance between them after Aris’s attack. No, touching Jonas wouldn’t kill him this time, but it would hinder his movement.

  Jonas responded with one of his non-committal grunts.

  They turned past the chicken shed and headed through a gate.

  Sheep stopped to watch them, alert but not running. A few had distended bellies, while most either had lambs at foot or playing in a group nearby. Llew hoped Ard had made good husbandry notes for the sheep. It seemed he’d kept more than he and Merrid were likely to eat in a year. Did he have a family somewhere expecting meat for next winter? Did they sell wool? There was so much to consider in terms of the farm, but Llew wouldn’t be putting much thought to it until Jonas’s life was assured. She almost laughed to think how nice it was of Turhmos to send them helping hands.

  They crested a low, broad hill and looked down upon a most inviting river, its bank dotted by trees; some towering, many stubby bushes providing minimal cover. That seemed not to bother Karlani and Alvaro at all, as they clung to each other, water most of the way up Alvaro’s thighs as he pressed Karlani against a boulder, her legs wrapped around him, barely getting wet.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Uhm. Can’t say I didn’t have much the same in mind, actually.” Llew smirked at Jonas.

  “I can’t do that anymore.” Jonas’s sense of humor seemed to have disappeared.

  “Well, no. I had slightly different …” Llew realized she hadn’t taken her eyes off the couple and turned her back to them, cleared her throat.

  Jonas watched her, deadpan, and turned back to the river.

  Karlani’s moans rose above the ambient cacophony of flowing water, bending leaves, baaing lambs and their mothers. Without looking back, Llew figured it meant Karlani, at least, knew they were there. She and Alvaro had been there when Edwyn gave Llew the directions. As her initial shock eased, Llew could think of a few choice words for the couple.

  “You save her life and this is how they show their gratitude?” Jonas looked at Llew again, though he kept his body facing the water, apparently not infected with the same awkwardness as Llew.

  “Well, it is Karlani. I never expected thanks. I’d rather she was gone. It’s just …”

  “She’s Syakaran.”

  Llew screwed up her face and met Jonas’s gaze. “Yeah.”

  Jonas held that gaze a few moments, then turned back to watch the now quietened couple. Llew fought the urge to look back. She had little doubt in their current state of undress. Sure, she’d seen Alvaro naked before, and Karlani wasn’t known for leaving much to the imagination. In that moment, Llew wished she didn’t have such a reliable mind’s eye image of the couple. With her thoughts already turning to the prospect of such activities with Jonas, her body had been cultivating the rest of the mood. It wasn’t a combination she relished.

  “I said we were planning to come here, didn’t I?”

  “You did.”

  “And they just …”

  “They have.” Jonas murmured, still watching the couple.

  Llew didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Crying was tempting. Certainly, her own plans were shattered. Just a bath, then. But, damn it. Karlani and Alvaro shouldn’t have had that kind of power over her. Besides, if Jonas was going to face Braph – and there was little reason to doubt he would – they needed Llew to carry his baby, if it was still possible. This wasn’t about a frivolous fling. This was a matter of life and death.

  “They’re comin’.”

  “It’s not even like we’re in a building. They could leave in any direction.” Still, Llew kept her back to them.

  Jonas barely had time to inhale before Karlani reached them, slowing to a normal walking pace in time to push between them, knocking Jonas. He flung a crutch out wide, catching himself to prevent toppling completely.

  Karlani turned to face Llew. “The water’s nice. Captain.” She flicked a hand by her head in a derogatory salute. “And, ah, the area’s safe.” She shrugged.

  “So, you came out here to check it was safe, that it?” Llew kept her chin raised. I am dangerous. Even to a super fast and super strong Syakaran. A large part of her trembled at the idea of actually having to fight Karlani – she knew how that would turn out – but she focused on projecting confidence. I am dangerous.

  “Sure. Yeah. Must be something in the air here.”

  Llew shared a look with Jonas. His held a glimmer of the anger he would’ve dished out, had he had the energy to spare.

  “What? It’s not like you own it.”

  “No. But—” Llew didn’t know how to put all her thoughts into words, or if they’d be worth wasting on Karlani if she did.

  In the absence of known heirs, Llew was confident Merrid and Ard would pass the farm to her, certainly out of everyone currently residing there. Regardless, Llew was supposed to be the leader here, however reluctant or out of her depth she was. They’d all agreed that, under the circumstances, it made sense. Karlani’s attitude felt like an unnecessary waste of energy to deal with and, without knowing why Karlani was behaving as she was, Llew couldn’t formulate a response.

  Finally, Alvaro approached the top of the hill at a trudge. “You didn’t have to make it look so easy.”

  Karlani rolled her eyes. “Did I unman you with my athletic prowess?”

  “No unmanning here, as you well know.”

  Llew was tempted to roll her own eyes, but Alvaro was drawing level with Jonas and she didn’t like the way Alvaro eyed him up and down. She took a breath to warn Alvaro not to do anything stupid. Jonas must’ve read something in Alvaro’s manner, too, as he lifted a crutch between them. It wasn’t enough. Alvaro shoved Jonas, sending the weakened Syakaran sprawling, one crutch flying from his grasp and out of reach.

  “Hey!” Llew took a step towards the smirking Alvaro. Karlani turned back to face Llew, her hands rising.

  Time slowed to a near standstill.

  Llew brought her own hands up. Against the Syakaran speed, she was far too slow to block. And yet, as Karlani’s hands grabbed Llew’s head, she was aware of her own hand gripping a forearm. Llew’s neck twisted, wrenched. Pain. There was nothing but pain. And a pop. And darkness.