"Wren." Leo's voice was soft. He had caught my stiff walk. "How bad are you hurt?"
"The rapids tenderized me," I admitted under my breath. "I was busy keeping his head above water. I did not protect my own."
"Cuts?"
"Almost certainly."
"Those need looking at."
"Would you like me to take my shirt off so you can look?"
His whole face went red, and I laughed in spite of myself.
"I'll be fine. I need a hot bath."
"Wren. We have a long ride to Specter before that hot bath."
"Stubborn will." I shrugged. "If Darien can ride, I can ride. I am not giving them another chance to say men are better."
"That is not what they were doing. Alec is just—"
"I know what Alec is."
He studied me sideways. "Would you treat another soldier this way?"
"Exactly."
"Fair," he admitted. "But Wren. If a m
