If they were any closer to Robyn, they showed no signs. “Could we have passed them?” Cordis called on her right. He was dressed in black clothes and a long brown cloak that was tucked around his legs. The clothes were her son’s, and the cloak was hers since no one had made a Mage cloak for Cordis yet. Prince Balien had come to them in the dark of night with distressing news. Balien generously left out the details of her son’s flogging, but enough stable boys talked about it as they saddled the horses. “They could have veered off the road—but I wager they are heading to Jaden as fast as they can,” she called. Balien had brought her the words from Gabriel’s lips, Robyn was injured badly and headed for Jaden. They did not know if she had a party with her, but Aisling wagered General Calsifer was still with her, and the General was skilled in evasion. If the Princess was as wounded as Gabriel whispered, it was possible the whole palace could fall that very night, and Balien would be in grave danger.
