"You're not seriously letting him go after riders in the dark without you," Petra said, hovering at the edge of Talia's chambers while the healer finished stitching the worst of the gash along Nessa's hairline.
"I don't have a choice," I said. "Doran split the party the moment the messenger reported those tracks near the eastern border. Half came back with us. Half went after the trail."
"And Rhys went with the second half."
"Rhys went with the second half," I confirmed, my voice tighter than I meant it to sound.
Nessa stirred slightly on the healer's table, eyes fluttering half open. "You should be with him," she murmured, voice still thick with exhaustion. "Not sitting here fussing over me."
"I'm exactly where I need to be," I said, taking her hand carefully. "You nearly died tonigh
