“Why do you ask?”

That Tildy had answered the question with a question gave Kham all the answer she needed. “You can send messages. Good. Because, I’ve got one for him.”

Khamsin stayed up with Tildy the rest of the night, ostensibly to assist with tending Wynter but really to make sure her nurse didn’t sneak off before Valik and the others roused. Her motives left her feeling guilty and a bit vile—Tildy was the closest thing to a mother Kham had, not some enemy—but Kham kept an eye on her all the same.

Her message to Falcon had been short and sweet: Verdan gone mad. I am safe with Wynter. Stay away. We will defend Wintercraig. Storm.

Falcon and his Calbernan allies might have already invaded Summerlea, but hopefully the realization that Wintercraig had not one but two powerful weathermages to defend it would convince them to turn back.

It was something of a relief when Valik woke. He stirred groggily at first, then jerked full awake, bolting upright in his chair and scanning the room with agitated swiftness when he realized he’d dozed off. Finding nothing amiss, his golden cheeks flushed a dusky red. He didn’t appear to suspect he’d been drugged, and Kham wasn’t about to tell him. Wrong or right, Tildy was family. Unless she directly threatened the safety of Wintercraig, its people, or its king, Kham wouldn’t betray her.

Valik cleared his throat, checked on Wynter, then went round the room kicking the other guards awake. “I was just resting my eyes,” he declared gruffly when he made his way back to the hearth.

“The last weeks have been wearisome,” she agreed without rancor.

Valik rubbed the back of his head, grimaced, and muttered, “Much as I hate to admit it, you were right to send for your Summerlea nurse. She has worked a miracle.”

The admission startled a smile from Khamsin. “Miracles are her forte,” she said. “And I don’t blame you for your suspicions. You love him. You want to protect him from harm.” She glanced down at Wynter and caressed his lean, golden cheek with her fingertips, brushing the snowy hair back from his temple. “I can understand that.”

Her voice trailed off, and in the ensuing silence, she felt the weight of Valik’s gaze. Old instincts kicked in, and she pulled her hand back, burying her softer emotions so they could not be used against her. She took a step away from the cot where Wynter lay. “Of course, he’s not out of the woods yet. The slightest infection could destroy all our progress in a heartbeat. But Tildy says she’s never seen a man so determined to live.”

“He is Wynter of the Craig,” Valik said as if that said it all. And perhaps it did.

A huge yawn came upon her without warning. “Sorry. Clearly, I didn’t get enough sleep last night.”

“Then you should return to your bed.” For the first time, Valik spoke almost warmly.

“Maybe later. First, there’s something I need to discuss with you and Laci. In private.” Falcon had sent birds to follow Tildy. That’s how she’d been able to signal him. But that also meant Falcon knew where to find Tildy—and, more importantly, where to find Wynter. Kham had thought about it all night long and realized there was no way she could keep that information a secret.

Before Valik could answer, one of the White Guard entered the cabin. “Eagle approaching.”

Valik nodded. “Excuse me for a moment.” He took his leave of Khamsin and headed for the door.

While Valik headed out to receive whatever report the eagle was bringing, Tildy called Khamsin to help her with the lengthy process of changing Wynter’s poultices.

“He’s progressing nicely,” she announced when they were done. “He’s not quite so rapid a healer as you, dearly, but if I can keep the king still and free of infection for another week, his chances for survival increase tenfold.”

“That is indeed unfortunate, Nurse Greenleaf.”

Tildy and Khamsin turned in unison to find Valik standing in the lodge doorway. He crossed the threshold and approached the hearth where Wynter lay. His expression was grim, his eyes bleak.

“Like it or not, the king must wake, and we don’t have the luxury of another week to wait.”

CHAPTER 23

Trust and Treasures

“Guards, protect the king. Do not allow Nurse Greenleaf to administer anything to him until I return.” Valik turned to Khamsin. “Walk with me.”

Not waiting for an answer, the White Sword strode out of the lodge.

Kham gaped after him. She turned to Tildy in surprise. “What’s going on?” Suspicion hit hard. “What have you done?”

Tildy help up her hands. “You have my word, I’ve done nothing more than you already know. Now, go, quickly. See what your Lord Valik has to say.”

Khamsin clamped her mouth shut and hurried after Valik. He and Laci were waiting in the clearing outside the cabin. “Come with us.” They turned and walked into the woods.

Valik’s and Galacia’s long legs covered quite a bit of ground in a single stride, and Kham had to run to catch up to them. They strode through the snow-covered forest and ducked inside a cave a good distance from the cabin. Valik pulled a candle from his pocket and lit it while Laci turned to the mouth of the cave and sketched a design in the air. When she blew on her palm, a layer of ice grew from the rock surface inward until the entire mouth of the cave was sealed by a thick ice wall.

“What in Wyrn’s name is going on?”

Galacia spun abruptly around. She clutched Kham’s shoulders in a painful grip, her blue nails like talons. “Tell me true, Summerlander, where do your loyalties lie? And I warn you, I will know if your words are false.”