Night had fallen by the time Nastasia came across a few of the other Knights. Each bore cuts and bruises similar to the scratches on her forearm, leading her to believe that she hadn't been the only one faced with a strangely real apparition.

And it seemed like the others had struggled much longer and harder than she had. As more Knights emerged from the dunes, the amount of injuries she saw swelled. But it was those missing who held the majority of her attention.

Almost half of the Knights who had entered the dunes were missing. Nobody claimed to have seen them since arriving, and Nastasia feared they wouldn't be seen before the rest of them left. She recalled the Queen's warning about the sands dragging them down, but she hadn't believed it in a literal sense until now.

As she walked, Nastasia began to make a mental record about who was still missing. Sir Arlov, Sir Gareth, Vadik, and Volya were among them. Would it be wrong of me to wish that Sir Kamenev would remain among the missing? Nastasia wondered.

If he's one of the tournament's finalists, that puts me directly in Andrian's grasp and I don't doubt for a moment that Emperor Kazimir would find a way to put me under his thumb using Vadik. If it did come to that, she had no idea what she was going to do.

In fact, she hadn't given much thought to the end of the tournament at all, but now that Jalil's challenge was over, that only left the Andrian's before they returned to Nyctoli. Would it be wise to reveal herself when they reached Dimesa? Nastasia pursed her lips at the thought.

Mother and Father still believe Nikolai and I must've run off together. Will they call off the tournament if I haven't been found by then? She couldn't help but shake her head. No, they wouldn't risk the wrath of the other rulers by revealing how long I've been missing. They'll keep the tournament going as long as they can until they've tracked me down.

Guilt nipped at the corners of her mind as she puzzled. She hadn't really thought of the consequences her actions could have on her parents, but it was too late for that now.

I could try to tell them the truth as soon as we get to Dimesa, but if I reveal myself to them, they won't hesitate to put me under guard until the end of the tournament. If I want to make them listen to me, I'll have to remain hidden as a Knight for now.

Nastasia gave a resigned sigh and fixed her gaze on the land that was gradually leveling out before them. They were almost to the place where they'd first entered the dunes and still, there was no sign of Sir Arlov or the other missing Knights.

Nastasia perked up when a faint nicker reached her ears. The horses were still there! The other Knights took up delighted exclamations when they noticed their mounts too. Nastasia reached Moxie and greeted her with a friendly pat.

"It's good to see you," she whispered. The mare snorted, her pelt quivering beneath Nastasia's palm. "I don't like it here either."

"What should we do with the other horses?" Someone called, catching her attention. Nastasia turned to the Knights as they mounted their horses.

"We should leave them in case the others are just further behind," another Knight suggested.

"No," someone else protested. "We should take them back to Jalil. There's no guarantee the other Knights even made it and there's no need to leave horses behind for the dead."

"We can't just give up on them."

"Sir Hedwyn was sucked under the sand right in front of me. If that happened to the others, trust me, they aren't coming back."

"Enough," one of the older Knights interrupted. "We'll decide what to do with them amongst ourselves. Eldons, Blodians, Andrians, Seenanites, and Nyctolians, the mounts of your comrades are yours to handle."

Quickly, Nastasia checked that her scarf was still secure before making her way over to the gathering Nyctolians. She hung near the outskirts of the small group but was still able to hear the discussion. A heavy weight sank in the pit of her stomach when it was decided they'd take the Nyctolian horses with them.

She didn't want to believe that Sir Arlov or Volya hadn't made it, but what could she do? She didn't have a voice to fight with right now. When the group dispersed, Nastasia made her way over to Sir Arlov's stallion. She cautiously took him by the reins and guided him over to Moxie.

As she was securing him to Moxie's saddle using a length rope, another Knight rode up to her. "You sure you got that?" He asked. "Temnota is a spirited boy, and loyal to his rider. He won't want to leave without Arlov."

Nastasia simply nodded and the Knight shrugged. "All right. Better you than me I guess. Too bad that Yensev boy isn't here to help. He can handle Temnota better than anyone."

Nastasia knit her brows as the Knight rode off. She finished securing Temnota's rope, then swung onto Moxie's saddle. Sir Arlov has helped me, she thought. And Volya was once my friend. I can't leave without at least trying to find them.

She glanced back into the dunes and, sensing her movement, Moxie's head swiveled. The mare shifted until she was looking straight into the dunes, but this time she didn't balk as she had when they first arrived.

Nastasia didn't bother to question the horse's actions. If Moxie and Temnota were willing to enter the dunes now, she wasn't going to waste any time looking for Sir Arlov and Volya. Silver light flared around Nastasia's palms as she laid a path of starlight directly beneath the sand under the horses' hooves.

That would give them a solid surface to walk on and the thin layer of sand would hide her magic if they did come across the two men. With a click of Nastasia's tongue and nudge from her heels, Moxie walked into the dunes and Temnota trailed behind.

•༻᯽༺•

"The other Knights must've returned to Jalil by now," Nikolai muttered as he and Volya picked their way across the dunes.

Judging by the stars, they were headed back east to the place where they'd first entered the dunes. He guessed they'd arrive within another hour or two, but he didn't expect the other Knights to have waited for them.

"Probably," his brother agreed. "I wonder if they took our horses."

"If they did, it'll be a long walk back to the city."

Nikolai sensed Volya's gaze shift to him but didn't meet it. He kept his weight balanced on Toska as he walked, also ignoring the lingering ache in his back. It had made walking rather painful and difficult, but he wasn't going to stop or ask for help now.

"You didn't have to help me, you know," Volya said. "If our places had been switched..."

"You would've helped me too," Nikolai cut in before Volya could finish. "Don't say you wouldn't have."

"Believe what you like, but if we're faced with a situation like that, don't hold your breath."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I'm in this tournament to win it, and at the end of the day, you're part of the opposition."

Nikolai couldn't stop the disgusted huff that left him. "Do you really care that much about winning this tournament?"

Volya paused and faced him, a warning look in his copper eyes. "If I don't win it, someone else will. Someone who shouldn't be anywhere near the Princess. At least if I win, I could keep her away from him."

"And what if I win? You think I wouldn't do the same?"

"I think I have more stakes in this than you."

"How?" He spat. Volya's eyes narrowed and Nikolai abruptly looked away. The minutes dragged on, each more silent than the last.

Finally, Volya answered. "If I tell you this, you must swear that you won't reveal it to anyone."

Nikolai's brow creased but he nodded. "All right? I swear."

Volya sighed and combed his fingers back through his hair, sending a few particles of sand falling. "My brother is in love with the Princess, and she loves him. They both hate me for doing this, but I thought that at least if I marry Nastasia, it will excuse their closeness to those who don't know them and they wouldn't have to abandon each other completely."

"But you would still be married to her," Nikolai pointed out, swallowing the bitter note that threatened to seep into his voice. "There would be...expectations, and your marriage wouldn't stop them from loving each other."

Volya gave a wry laugh. "I know. At least our marriage would explain any resemblance her children would have to my brother. It would protect them, and him, even if he's an idiot."

"You would let them go behind your back?"

"It's not really behind my back if I'm aware it's happening."

Nikolai began to reply, then broke off as horses neighed up ahead. He squinted into the darkness and could just make out a faintly gleaming light. Slowly three figures came into view. "Is that..." Volya began.

"It's the Silent Knight," Nikolai realized, recognizing the mare the Knight was seated on. And following close behind was Temnota. He didn't bother to question how the horses were safely walking on the sand. Nikolai hobbled towards them with Volya on his heels.

"We thought everyone had left," Nikolai remarked, pausing beside the Silent Knight. She shook her head and gestured to Temnota.

Volya lightly rested a hand on his shoulder. "You should ride with one of us. Your wounds will hurt like shit when we start to move and we don't need you to pass out on your own mount."

"Then you take Temnota and I'll ride with you." Nikolai glanced at the Silent Knight as she nodded. She offered him a hand and he allowed her to help him onto Moxie after he sheathed his sword. Once he was settled, Volya freed Temnota and swung onto his back.

They turned and set off across the sand, riding at a slow but even pace. Just as Volya had warned, Nikolai's back screamed at the bouncing movement of the saddle. He kept an arm wrapped around the Silent Knight and gritted his teeth, swallowing tightly.

"Thanks for coming back for us," he managed to say once Volya was out of hearing. The Silent Knight just nodded. "Are you all right?" She nodded again, then lifted her arm and pushed up her sleeve, revealing five long scratches from her forearm down to her wrist. "Damn, those are deep." She peered back at him. "I'm all right. Don't worry."

Her eyes narrowed above her scarf and she slowed Moxie to a halt. Nikolai frowned as the Silent Knight swung down, then remounted behind him. She placed the reins in his hands and gestured for him to ride forward.

"All right, but what are you..." he broke off as she pushed his tunic up to his neck, exposing his back. He heard the sharp breath she inhaled. "It's fine," Nikolai insisted. "I'll be all right until we're back to Jalil."

The Silent Knight ignored him. He couldn't suppress a shiver as her fingers lightly touched his back near one of the wounds. But her touch didn't move closer. Not yet. Instead, it felt like she was tracing something.

Nikolai's heart skipped a beat. Had his glamour faded? Could she feel his scars? He craned his head back and for just a breath, the Silent Knight met his gaze before pushing his cheek away.

He felt her palms press flat against his back and Nikolai shuddered at the spike of pain. But slowly, it began to fade, replaced instead by a cool numbness. Nikolai stared straight ahead, his shoulders tensed as the numbness spread to the rest of his back.

The only other time he'd felt something like this was when Nastasia used her magic to soothe his wounds. Could the Silent Knight know his suspicions? Was she giving him, or rather, giving Sir Arlov, a chance to recognize them and ask his questions?

Or did she know the truth about who he was? Could she be trying to reveal herself? Only a few days ago, he would've leapt at the opportunity, but now...

His voice was faint as he said, "It's cool tonight, and I think the moonlight plays strange tricks here." Nikolai didn't let himself look at the pale silvery stars dancing near his shoulders, and the Knight remained silent.