“I’m surprised she left Selium at all,” Karigan said, “much less came here of all places.”

“We’ve . . . we’ve enjoyed the music,” Alton replied, not ready to admit more.

They fell silent again and Karigan gazed at him as if she expected more from him. He tried to come up with something, anything, but only got warm beneath the collar. Fortunately Dale rescued him by coming over and plopping herself on the bench next to Karigan.

“My, aren’t we the maudlin ones,” she commented. “Everyone else is having a grand old time and you two look ready to cast your lot with beggars and undertakers.”

“We’ve been catching up,” Alton said.

“Speaking of which,” Dale turned to face Karigan directly, “what’s this I hear about the king’s masquerade ball and you being Mad Queen Oddacious? That was one of my favorite plays. ‘Mad Queen Oddacious has twenty-one cats, each named Precious and wears a hat—’ ”

“Auuugh!” Karigan wailed putting her head in her hands. “Even here, next to the wall I can’t escape it!”

“I’m afraid not,” Dale said, all chipper. “Tell me everything.”

As Karigan told the story of the masquerade, Alton glanced covertly at Estral. The Riders sat in a semicircle around her as she told them some tale. He became lost in a reverie as he watched her until Dale let go a high-pitched, “Assassination attempt?”

Now Alton paid rapt attention while Karigan recounted the attempt on King Zachary’s life. It sounded ill-conceived and inept. If the Weapons had not stopped the would-be assassin, Alton was certain the king could have done so himself blindfolded and one-handed, and yet the color drained from Karigan’s face as she told the tale.

“The king could have taken down that fool with a glance if need be,” Dale said dismissively. “He’s as well trained as any Weapon.”

“I know, I know,” Karigan replied. “He’s our king and I ... I don’t want him hurt is all.”

Alton scrunched his eyebrows together. There was more being left unspoken in that statement.

“Well, Queen Oddacious,” Dale said, “why don’t we go join the singing?”

Karigan groaned and Dale laughed. Dale took her friend’s hand and led her toward the others.

Alton could only breathe a sigh of relief that he’d gotten away without having to confess the truth about his affection for Estral.

DARK MIRROR

When the evening wound down, a few Riders excusing themselves to go to bed, Dale sat with Karigan explaining to her what had happened to her shoulder in Tower of the Earth. Alton had already told Karigan about it, but now she got Dale’s version of events and it was frightening.

“So Merdigen is now consulting with the other tower mages about what to do?” Karigan asked.

Dale nodded. “We don’t know what happened to Haurris or his tower, and we don’t know what that creature in there is or how it got there in the first place.” She shuddered.

“And whatever it is could pose a danger to the rest of the wall,” Karigan murmured.

“Exactly, and there may not be a thing we can do about it. As if the breach wasn’t enough to worry about.”

When Estral finished playing and punctuated it with a huge yawn, the party truly broke up. She hugged Karigan on her way out and said, “It’s so good to see you. I want to talk more, but now I’m about to fall asleep on my feet.”

Alton was right behind her with his good nights, the last of the partiers dispersing after him, leaving Dale and Karigan alone in the tent.

“How is he?” Karigan asked. “How is he really?”

“Alton? Much better,” Dale replied. “There were some rough moments, but he’s come around very well.”

“I’m glad,” Karigan said. It was hard to discern Alton’s well-being for he was quieter than she remembered, and when they talked, it was as two acquaintances, not as friends who’d been much closer. His letters had been more personal. In fact, the Alton who had written about how anxious he was for her to join him at the wall seemed a different person than the Alton she’d seen today, almost aloof. Maybe all that time apart had turned them into strangers. If there was anything he wanted to say to her, he’d better overcome his aloofness and hurry up. She’d be departing the day after tomorrow.

And what should she say to him? That she was open to the possibilities?

“Well I’m done in,” Dale said. “Think you can find your way to your tent, or do you need a guide?”

“You’d probably better help me,” Karigan said. “I’ll never find the right one in the dark.”

And so Dale led her to the tent she was to share with Trace. Karigan hugged her friend once more.

“It is good to see you, Dale,” she said. “We’ve missed you.”

“And good to see you, too, Sir Karigan.” Dale snorted in laughter. “Sorry, sorry,” she said, still laughing. “Can’t help it. Don’t know which is funnier, Sir Karigan or Queen Oddacious. Good night.”

Karigan watched her friend stroll away with the lantern, sputtering with laughter as she went. If Karigan had any illusions of her recently bestowed title ever eliciting respect from her fellow Riders, they were now thoroughly crushed.

She smiled and ducked into her tent.

After Karigan’s late night, and with no duties assigned her, she slept well into the morning, the simple cot a luxury after all those nights on the ground. She’d have one more night on the cot and then it was into Blackveil, and she didn’t even want to think about what nights sleeping in the forest would be like.