Thalion sent his horse on alone with a soft whisper and a pat to its neck. "Dubhlainn will alert Her Majesty we are on foot."

I suppressed a grumble at having to walk, only because Shaylee seemed to think grumbling would be rude. If I was going to have to watch everything I said and did because she didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, this whole trip was going to be a colossal waste of time.

It triggered an understanding in me, though, as we strode along the stone ...