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Florence rested her weight on her staff. "Don't worry, Grace. We'll get Jacob back."
"I know, Mother," she said. Florence sighed. Grace, two years Florence's senior, had taken to calling
her "mother" almost a decade ago. Florence wasn't even sure Grace understood it was her grandson who
had been kidnapped.
"Why didn't we hitch a ride with that wine merchant's caravan?" Florence asked. "Wait, I remember.
Becausesomebodytried to seduce the driver."
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"How was I supposed to know his wife was one of the guards?" asked Millie. "Besides, I was only
trying to warm my hands."
Grace glanced back. "Do you need to borrow my mittens?"
Hoofbeats cut off Florence's retort. Millie looked at Florence, who listened for a moment, then said,
"Sounds like a single rider."
Both women took up protective positions in front of Grace. Florence relaxed slightly when she saw the
rider. The gold and green armor on the Appaloosa mare and her rider marked them as belonging to the
Viscount's Guard.
The rider's armor was skimpier than that of her horse. Aside from a few bits of steel and bronze to
protect her chest and nether regions, she wore only a long, green cape. Not the most practical uniform,
but tradition was tradition. Millie gave a whistle of sympathy. "Folks say Guardswomen don't feel pain.
Ha! You try donning cold breast-cups on a crisp midwinter morning and see if you feel anything else for
the rest of the day. I used to stuff wool into mine to keep warm."
"You stuffed to keep warm," Florence repeated. "Right."
The rider drew to a halt. Florence could see the goosebumps from here. "Out of the way. I've no time
for beggars and grandmothers today."
"Name and rank," Florence barked, loud enough to make Grace jump.
"Lissa, Scout Second Class." She drew her cape around herself. "Who are you, and what are you doing
on the road on a morning like this?"
"Wewereheading toward Blind Snake River," Florence snapped. "Now we're arguing with a girl who
can't bother to show her elders a bit of respect."
Lissa flushed. "The river is unsafe. Bandits have assailed travelers far better protected than yourselves.
There have been robberies, kidnappings. . . ."
"We know. We'll take our chances," said Florence.
Lissa nudged her mount, and the horse trotted past to block the road. "Part of my duty is to protect the
people of Adenkar. I'll take you back to town, where it's safe."
"Only if that wine merchant and his caravan have left," Millie muttered.
"We don't have time for this nonsense, girl. Who's your commanding officer?" Florence said.
"Baird Redbeard. And he'd be far less tolerant of your backtalk if he were here."
"Baird . . ." Florence glanced at Millie, who nodded.
"Stout fellow? Likes morning stars?"
"You know Baird?" she asked skeptically.
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Millie leered. "Who do you think got him into chains, girl? You run along home and tell Baird that if he
can't teach his Scouts manners, Millicent Redhand is going to give him the tongue-lashing of his life." She
winked. "I may do it anyway, for old times' sake."
Lissa slid smoothly from the saddle, landing on the balls of her feet. "I can't let you pass. For all I know
you could be spies for the bandits. I'd prefer not to fight, but I'll truss you up like hogs if that's what it
takes."
"I don't think so," Millie said. "I've got nothing against bondage, but you're a bit scrawny for my taste."
Grace crossed her arms. "Want me to take care of her, Mother?" she asked in a voice that might have
been threatening if it hadn't been so dry and hoarse.
Lissa patted her sword. "I don't want to use force."
Florence stepped forward, but her boot caught on a rock hidden in the snow. She stumbled, and Lissa
reached out to catch her.
Florence's staff jabbed Lissa's sternum. Lissa dropped, gasping. Florence pressed the staff against
Lissa's throat while Millie snatched her sword.
"Sorry about that, dear. But those bandits have my friend's grandson. We're going to get him back." She
smiled. "And you're going to help."
* * *
They put Grace on Lissa's horse, with Millie riding behind. Florence was a better rider, but her hands
weren't strong enough to catch Grace if she fell. Florence and Lissa walked alongside. A loop of rope
bound Lissa's hands and secured her to the horse's saddle.
"Kidnapping a Guardswoman is a capital crime," Lissa muttered.
"What should I do, send you running back to tell Baird?" Florence said. "He's been trying to catch this
band for months. He'd send an entire squad blundering to the river, and we'd never get Jacob back."
"If you were a Guardswoman, you swore an oath to the Viscount. You have a duty to obey Baird's
orders."
"I have a duty to save Jacob."
"The Viscount has forbidden anyone to pay ransom to the bandits."
"So you can execute me twice. Besides, I don't plan to pay any ransom."
"You plan to take him by force?" Lissa started to laugh.
Grace scowled and punched a withered fist into her other hand. This caused her to list sideways, and
Millie barely managed to keep her from tumbling out of the saddle.
Once Grace was stable, Millie leaned down and whispered, "Careful, girl. Florence whoopedyourpretty
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behind without breaking a sweat."
"Trickery and deceit." Lissa spat.
Florence shrugged. "And threatening old women is honorable?"
"Who are you calling old?" Grace snapped.
Lissa didn't say another word until they stopped for lunch. Millie gleefully raided the saddlebags, seizing
a skin of watered-down wine and a paper-wrapped package of trail rations. She tore off the paper, then
grimaced.
"Food hasn't changed since we were in the Guard." She rapped a biscuit against the saddle, then tossed
it to Lissa. "I'm not risking the teeth I've got left onthat."
Grace snatched a bit of jerky and began gumming the corner.
Millie grabbed a small copper pot from Lissa's saddlebags. "Come on, Grace." She snatched the jerky
from Grace's hands. "Let's go boil that and get it softened up before you starve."
"You're going to be slaughtered," Lissa said after they had gone. "Give up, and I won't report what you
did. The Guard can rescue your friend's grandson."
Florence just smiled as she sliced an apple into small enough pieces to chew. "The Guard couldn't find its
arse with a map these days. Don't you worry about us, dear. If all goes well, we'll rescue Jacob and be
gone before they know what happened."
"And if things go wrong?"
Florence's smile grew. "Then those bandits had better hope Grace goes easy on them." She took
another bite of apple and chewed slowly. "So are you going to help us, or do I have to retie that knot?
Don't think I haven't noticed you working it loose."
"If you're lucky, they'll just rob you and leave you to die."
"All the more reason for you to protect us, dear. The way I see it, you can help us, and maybe you'll
learn a thing or two in the process. Or you can go home and explain how a couple of grannies waylaid
you on the road." She reached into her cloak and pulled out a knife, which she used to cut Lissa's bonds.
"You're letting me go?"
"It would be a bit suspicious if we showed up dragging a bound Guardswoman, don't you think? Now
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