Donnel's Promise by Anna Mackenzie Page B

risk?
    ‘My lady.’ Nolan had followed her.
    Risha turned to face him, her doubts clustering in her throat.
    ‘You must be prepared to ride hard. We have bought a chance, nothing more. They’ll be back.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Westlaw’s border lies three days’ ride to the north — longer, with Ciaran doing her best to slow them. Harbin cannot afford to have us raise the alarm before they reach it. He will send men back to kill us.’
    ‘Despite his assurances to Lyse?’
    ‘In his position I’d do the same.’
    Was it only this morning that they’d reached Bray, that Ciaran had reminisced about her childhood visits? Risha looked away along the stalls. Mica was stabled midway down the row of horses, still saddled but at least fed and a little rested.
    ‘My lady, something bothers me in this. It was no accident that Harbin’s men were here before us.’ He paused. ‘Who knew our destination?’
    ‘It was no secret we were riding north. I don’t—’
    ‘To Bray. Who knew this was where we planned to meet Talben?’
    ‘I spoke of it to Ciaran, Athan and Timon. But Athan would almost certainly have discussed it with Vormer and Thatton; perhaps with others.’
    He gave an unsatisfied grunt. ‘The Westlarns knew we were coming, knew even the size of our party: Harbin wouldn’t have been here if he wasn’t certain of what he’d find. My lady.’ He hesitated. ‘Do you trust Ciaran?’
    ‘I — yes. I think so.’
Trust me
. The words echoed in her head. ‘Surely she wouldn’t have gone with Lyse if—’ If Ciaran was the traitor, Lyse was as good as dead. Worse than dead. Risha shook her head. ‘It can’t be Ciaran.’
    ‘And Timon?’
    She frowned. ‘What has Timon to gain from this?’
    The sound he made was noncommittal. ‘Who made the arrangements? Contacted Talben?’
    ‘I … don’t know. Ciaran told me that Talben had proposed meeting at Bray. You don’t think that he—’
    ‘I’d trust Talben with my life,’ Nolan said. ‘But you didn’t see the message or the rider?’
    Doubt, once allowed, seeped coldly through her. She shook her head.
    ‘So either a message came confirming Bray for the rendezvous and the details were later passed to Goltoy, or no message came and it was a trap from the outset.’
    ‘But—’
    ‘There are ways, Risha. Couriers can be apprehended, messages replaced — either on the way north or the way back. Only one thing is certain.’ He held her eyes. ‘Thetraitor must be among those few, either in Havreport or Spire, who knew of your intention to visit Bray.’
    She shook her head, as much to clear it as to dispute his reasoning. ‘It could have been coincidence: Goltoy’s men might have waylaid the courier by chance. Ciaran told me there are border raids.’ She knew she was clutching for explanations. If there was a traitor, her first choice was Vormer, but they couldn’t even be certain that he had known of her plans. ‘We need to find Talben,’ she said.
    ‘Doing so would narrow the options,’ Nolan agreed. ‘But until we have answers, my lady, I don’t believe you are safe in Havreport.’
    His words chimed a chord: Muir had said something similar soon after they met, when he and Gorth and Harl had waylaid Fenn’s riverboat. At the time it had been the Elion guard who hunted them.
    ‘Nor will Lyse and Ciaran be safe if it became known that it is not me Harbin holds,’ she said. ‘May I know what you plan we should do, Captain Nolan?’
    There were voices behind them. Croft stood in the doorway flanked by Kahlen and Webb. ‘As you expected, Captain. About six is my guess.’
    ‘All right,’ Nolan said. ‘To answer your question, my lady, we split up. Webb, once we reach the trees, you ride south. Stay out of sight until you reach the Bracewater, then make for the El. When you get to Whitelaw, send a courier to Athan with the news that our ladies have been taken by Harbin. Just that.’
    ‘With a change of horses I could ride