Page 13 of Lady Knight and the Thief

“Neither. Torren. That is all.”

“Torren…?”

“If you must know, Torren Lefay…Blackthorne,” He said, squaring his shoulders.

“What was your mother’s name?”

“Rosalind Lefay. She was considered royal in her own right, among her people.”

“So you are double Prince’d.”

Torren snorted. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“But you’rejust Torren?” Cypress pressed again, looking over at him.

“Just Torren,” he confirmed.

Cypress didn’t respond or try to pry further. Instead, she said, “Lefay is a better name than Melvin, at least.”

Torren huffed a laugh. “Come on, we can camp down in the glen tonight,” he said. Then Torren directed his horse off the road and deeper into the valley at a slight trot.

Cypress followed, her horse easily keeping pace with his as they ducked around trees until gradually slowing to a walk.

Then, Torren led them into a sort of natural ring in the trees, protected and shrouded from the road. They were much further up the hill than she would have gone, but it was of no consequence.

Cypress dismounted, then set about removing the saddle and tack from Seren while Torren did the same. The pair quickly groomed and checked the horse's hooves while the edge of twilight swept over the land in a creeping shadow. The warmth of the sun faded as it set, but here in the circle of trees, it still felt as if the midday sun was overhead, not across the horizon.

Cypress finished brushing down her mare and slipped a nosebag over her head full of oats. Then, she rummaged through her saddlebags to determine what she would eat this evening while Torren collected firewood and a handful of small stones.

Tonight’s menu would be… salted pork, cheese, and a bit of bread. It wasn’t even close to her usual meals at the Keep, but it would do. The Mother knew she’d survived on far less andmuchworse.

Cypress collected her goods, then set about portioning them for herself and Torren.

Unfortunately, the male was key to the success of her mission. Cypress would not fail the King. Not in this. Despite her mistrustof him and his motives, Cypress would make do. She would learn what she could, and then report back once she witnessed whatever proof Torren provided.

If there was a threat somewhere in the Wylds, Cypress would put an end to it before any harm came to Cade. She owed her success, her stature,everythingto the Prince. And, he was her one and only friend.

Oswald… well, while he knew Cypress’s face, the subterfuge laid down by the crown meant there was a distance between them that could never be bridged. Oswald was a man of duty, and currently, his duty included hiding her identity. That was all. Cypress trusted her second, andyet.

No, Cypress would not fail, nor would she return home without determining if these whispers ofthe Old Oneswere true or false.

Torren glanced at her while he deftly lit a small fire among a ring of stones, shaking his head.

“What?” Cypress snapped, glaring at him.

“Do you not know how to hunt?” He asked, pointing toward the salted meat with his chin, warming his hands over the growing flames.

Cypress furrowed her brow. “Why hunt when we have provisions?”

“Would you not rather have fresh meat? Berries?”

“Of course, but hunting takes time. Skill.”

Torren rolled his eyes and rose to his full height. “Stay here, lass. Guard the horses. I’ll be back.”

“You think I’m so foolish as to let you wander off?”

“I never got what I came for, remember, Lass? Why would I abandon a horse and my ticket to the Scepter now, when back at the Keep they’ll have locked it up tight to keep me from it without your return?” Torren shot back as he dropped the heavysword next to his bedroll, then grabbed the small bow from the pile, strapping the quiver to his back.