It was easier to walk than ride in the wagon.

  As a prince, some would think it undignified to walk, but I’d known about that title for just over a month. Then the rest of my life I’d been Sectum Irongut, the adopted son of the Dwarf smuggler Garm Irongut. We’d sailed the seas, sneaking goods the Elves deemed illegal to various races who needed medicine or items for their species’ rituals or traditions.

  I looked over at my traveling companions. The four-armed, black-furred, seven-foot-tall feline man was wrestling with a drake the size of a horse. Dwarves preferred Ibex as mounts, and Humans and Elves preferred horses, which left a small demand for the rideable reptiles. It had been our only mount to survive the Basilisk attack on Bollilundr and Vin had decided to use part of his reward money to buy the stubborn thing.

  “Why YOU!” My brother managed to scream before the two of them started wrestling again, tumbling on the dirty road.

  Starna let out a chuckle from behind the wagon. “I’d bite you too if I had to carry you in this heat.”

  The tanned Elf woman was our party’s Mage. The brunette had been my cousin’s companion, growing up next to her with the charge of using her magic to protect the princess. Except Starna Shellock had used those lessons to help get Alessa to us. We almost got away, but everything worked out in the end, with Alessa on the throne and her enemies expelled from the city.

  “I think they’re both bored.” I sped up a little so I could walk alongside the open wagon. They were transporting bricks to Crylus, the port town where, in the morning, we were supposed to meet Storbeck, the Minotaur Captain of the Wind’s Shadow, a ship we’d captured from pirates while fleeing with Alessa.

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  There wasn’t much risk of bandits attacking a wagon train full of bricks, but even so, I was trying to stay alert. There were plenty of monsters in the world that would love the chance at an easy meal. I had a feeling Vin would love to educate them on how wrong that assessment would be.

  “Plus, he’s going to be in a bad mood once we get there. Storbeck is NEVER going to let that thing—”

  “NIPPER!” My brother cut me off as he shouted out the mount’s name from the dust cloud that somehow was keeping up with the slow wagons.

  “You know you’re going to have to stable her!” I yelled at the cloud. Every so often I’d see some black fur or green scales. The laughter coming out of the cloud made it hard to be concerned for either of them.

  I shook my head and turned back to the beautiful woman that had the grace to put up with me considering it included my brother’s antics. “Since we’re not being chased by pirates and bounty hunters this time, I’d like to show you around. I’ve been to Crylus enough that I know where a pretty good theater is.

  Before she could say anything, the dust cloud vanished, with Nipper pinned under my brother. He was breathing hard enough that he had to pause before he could speak. “Hey! That’s a couples-only place tonight!”

  The deep blue blush in Starna’s cheeks moved up to the tips of her ears.

  I shrugged. “So?”

  “So what am I going to do?” He smirked. “Maestra Holly goes on a six on Fridays. That gives me less than an hour to get cleaned up and find a date!”

  I shook my head. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.” I turned to the blushing Elf. “So what do you think? We go get you a nice dress, then have a nice and quiet meal while listening to the best Siren this side of the Naledzar Mountains?”

  I expected a positive or embarrassed reaction out of her, but instead her squeal turned into a scream as she pointed behind me. “SECTUM!! WOLVES!”

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