Forest Born by Shannon Hale Read Free Book Online Page B

erupted after the war. It could just be a bad tavern quarrel, for all I know. The message was oddly unclear.”
    “Come on, Isi,” Enna said. “You’re not going to cancel my wedding for a tavern brawl? Just send one of those those overeager cousins Geric seems to have by the dozens.”
    “The fact that it’s near Kel . . .” Isi glanced at her waiting women, and Rin wondered if she was thinking of Cilie, who was from a border town. “Something is going on in Kel. They sent our ambassador packing, explaining King Scandlan was feeling under the weather and wouldn’t be holding court for some time. But the dismissal was suspicious, and given that this new trouble is so near Kel, Geric wants to get there quickly and make sure all is well. He’s taking Bayern’s Own.”
    “Really? All of us?” Razo peeked up from where he’d been lounging on the carpet, fiddling with a loose nail on the underside of a table.
    Isi barked a surprised laugh. “How long have you been there, Razo? I guess I should know to check under rugs and tables for you. Yes, Geric wants all of Bayern’s Own who are currently in Bayern. No time to send for Talone and the rest in Tira, of course.”
    “Just as well,” said Razo. “I was getting bored. I mean”—he shot a glance at Enna, who was still draped in cloth—“not that Enna and Finn’s wedding preparations aren’t thrilling . I guess I’ve never had such a good time in my life as Enna’s discourse this morning on which style of slippers are most— ow! ”
    Razo was interrupted by the slap of Enna’s slipper against his head.
    “You’re not going anyway,” said Enna. “You’re the Tiran ambassador’s personal guard now, and that trumps your other duties.”
    “That’s right,” Razo said, knuckling his forehead. “Finn, promise me you’ll have an extremely boring time—no adventures whatsoever.”
    “None whatsoever,” Finn said.
    “That wasn’t convincing at all.” Razo turned to Isi with a pleading expression.
    “He’s subtle, isn’t he?” Isi said, looking over her shoulder at Rin.
    Rin nodded. “From birth. As a little boy, he was known to scream ‘Smell me!’ whenever he—”
    “That’ll do, baby sister,” said Razo. “No one wants to reminisce.”
    “You can go if you like, Razo,” said Isi. “I’m sure Geric would be grateful for your eyes and your sling, if the ambassador gives you leave.”
    “After some well-placed compliments, she’ll be clay in my fingers. Just wait and see.”
    “I’ll wait and see just how eager she is to have a break from you,” said Enna.
    “I should report to Captain Brynn,” said Finn. “He’ll want to leave in the morning.” He held out his hand to Enna, helping her stand, letting the cloth tumble to the floor.
    “Sorry,” he whispered.
    Enna shrugged, though Rin could see she cared quite a bit. “As long as you didn’t invent the trouble to get out of marrying me.”
    Both Isi and Razo made doubtful noises.
    Enna leaned back to look at Isi. “Am I going too?”
    Isi shook her head. “Don’t bother, Enna. It doesn’t sound dangerous. You may as well stay and get everything ready so you can marry that troublesome scoundrel the instant he gets back.”
    “He’s some trouble, it’s true, but he’s only a scoundrel when I ask him to be.”
    “And only when she asks nicely,” said Finn.
    Razo covered his head with his arms. “Ugh, save me from the sauce of their loveyness.”
    Isi laughed, but Rin frowned, still going over Isi’s words in her mind. She’d implied that if the situation had been more dangerous, then Enna would have been asked to go. Why? No one else in the room had seemed surprised by that exchange, except perhaps the other waiting women, their faces bowed over their darning, the window light at their backs hiding their expressions.
    Enna’s arms were around Finn’s neck. “You be careful. I’ve already had you fitted for your wedding clothes, and it’d be a nuisance if