Chapter 38

Within the hour, I had every soldier decked out in armor, chain mail, and weapons. Their steel helmets gleamed in the fading sunlight as they stood in perfectly formed lines just inside the main castle bailey.

Vienne had been furious when I’d reported everything the Far Shore soldier had told me about the reason for Anniston’s kidnapping.

“Clear rock?” she had shrieked, tucking her newly returned daughter protectively close to her. “My child was stolen because they were upset over the fucking price of clear rock? Those bastards.”

She rarely ever cursed. It was kind of hot when she did. Made me want to snatch her against my chest and kiss the fuck out of her.

But, yeah. A neighboring kingdom was about to invade, so… Maybe later. In only my dreams, of course.

Vienne and her baby were now inside the keep, safe and sound from all the activities that were about to take place out here. And I had an army to lead into fucking battle.

“Archers to the towers,” I shouted. “Swordsmen on the