Kyle opened the door and announced Lady Vana to the room. Thea stood beside Marcus and they positioned themselves at the window as the Commander entered. Her expression was grim as she bowed a greeting to the Princess and nodded to the two Riders.
‘Good Morning, Lady Vana?’
‘Your Highness,’ Vana said, but she was looking at Thea who felt pale beneath scrutiny. Had her illicit affair with Ronin been discovered so quickly? ‘I am sorry to interrupt your breakfast. But I have come with a request, I'm afraid, for some of your company of soldiers if you could spare them?’
‘Whatever is the matter?’ Freya sat up straighter, alarmed whilst Marcus and Thea exchanged a surreptitious look.
‘A report has returned to the city, that there are bandits in the nearby forest.’
‘Unusual?’ Thea prompted a
