Page 109 of Lady Knight and the Thief

Cypress couldn’t even fathom it.

“How could the rulers of Faerie allow it? I can’t imagine anyone there being pleased with the prospect of the forest shrinking.”

Torren cracked a sad smile. “We are true to our word, Lass. The humans needed more space for farming, they’d say. Or they’d claim a wildfire burned down a copse of trees. Faerie would relinquish a bit of space here and there to keep relations between our people amicable. Over time, they’d ask for more and more.”

“And no one realized what was happening until it was too late?”

“Unfortunately. Or, at the very least, did not want to admit what was happening, even to themselves.”

“What will you do?”

Torren didn’t answer right away. In fact, they’d reached an inn and dismounted their horses before he said anything at all.

“Hopefully, with the Wyld Hunt back under control, the Humans will be more open-minded to the prospect of giving us some of our home back.”

There was an edge to Torren’s deep voice that hadn’t been there only moments before, unmistakable bitterness lacing his words. Cypress’s stomach sank, and she didn’t have to ask him why.

A pair of wanted posters hung neatly on the board near the entrance to the inn.

Torren shook his head before tugging her into the stables, where he chatted with the stablemaster.

“Hello there, have room for a pair of beauties?” Torren asked, waving his free hand toward the two horses.

The stablemaster cracked a grin. Rising, he shook Torren’s outstretched hand. “There’s always room in my stables for beautiful horses,” he responded. "How are ya?"

“Road weary, my friend.”

The stablemaster nodded his head. “Well, go on inside then. Maggie will take care of ye, and get you right as rain.”

Torren smiled at the man and said, “We’ll do that, thank you. ” Then, he draped his arm across Cypress’s shoulder and led her through the open doorway.

She tried to shrug out from under his arm, but Torren put it right back across her shoulders.

“What are you-"

“Remember the last time we were at an inn, Lass?” Torren's lips were so close to the shell of her ear that Cypress had to repress a shiver of delight.

“What about it?”

“You’re a smart woman. Do you truly feel like Dorne Towne was alone in its… distasteful ideas about gorgeous women?”

Cypress snapped her teeth shut. “No. Of course not.”

Behavior like that was also common throughout the noble families of Grethnah.

“Then be quiet and let me lead you around, perhaps we’ll have a quiet evening, and I won’t have to kill anyone else to save your honor.”

She grit her teeth. “I can kill them fine enough on my own, thank you.”

“Oh, I’m aware. But if you think I wouldn’t defend you,again, you are incorrect.”

Cypress sighed. “Fine. Here’s to a quiet evening,” she said. Then, she looped her arm around Torren’s waist and threaded her fingers through his, where they lay on her shoulder.

“Is this better?” She asked, looking up at him.

His heavy-lidded eyes fell across her cheeks, the line of her mouth, before he rasped, “Yes, Lass. Much.”

They reached the bar, where presumably Maggie stood drying glassware. Torren plastered a smile across his face and greeted the woman.