"Lower that blade before your shoulder gives out," Kael said, keeping his steel held steady between them. He did not step back, watching the dark blood drip down her torn leather sleeve onto the tiles."I will drop my steel only when I know why Alden's pet dog is standing in this room," the woman answered. Her knuckles were white on the grip of her weapon, and her eyes burned with fierce anger."Tell me how you know my father's name, or this conversation ends right now," Kael demanded, taking half a step forward. He did not raise his voice, but thecold edge in his tone made the woman's eyes narrow."Every honest scout in this province knew Captain Raith before the crown murdered him," she replied, refusing to lower the tip of her sword. "The real question is what his son is doing crawling through forgotten cellars with a stolen blade."Jared pushed himself up from the cot in the corner, leaning his chest against an old spear shaft. "Lower your sword, Tressa," the old soldier rasped, "T

"Drop the old soldier in the snow and put your hands on your head!" Brand shouted, taking another heavy step forward. "You brought royal hunting dogs to our mountain gate, boy, and you will answer for it with your life!""I set a false fire in the drainage ditch before we left," Kael answered, holding Jared upright against his ribs. "The hounds followed the bloody rags down to the eastern river marshes, far away from your hidden path.""Do not lie to me, boy!" Brand barked, pointing the tip of his heavy sword directly at Kael's throat. "You lived in Alden's high palace for thirteen years while our brothers died in the king's dark stone pits!""I do not care what you think of my past, soldier," Kael said in a low, cold voice that did not shake. "I am not here to beg for your mercy or ask for your love, but this old man is bleeding to death."Jared let out a weak groan, his knees buckling under his heavy wool cloak as he slipped toward the frozen dirt. Thick black fluid dripped from his

"Read the exact words written on that paper, Tobin," Kael said, stepping toward the messenger in the snow. "Tell me every word the Grand Regent told the people in the square.""The criers stood on platforms outside the royal gates," Tobin answered, catching his breath as he held the parchment. "They said you fell into the deep chasm beneath the palace vaults and died in the dark.""The Chasm?" Kira asked, stepping close to Kael's shoulder with her hand on her bow. "They did not mention the broken gates or the soldiers who chased you through the cellars?""Not a single word about an escape, Lady Kira," Tobin said, shaking his head. "They told the crowd that the son of Raith died trying to steal royal gold, and that the ceiling crushed his bones."Kael looked down, a smile touching the corners of his mouth. "Alden is hiding the truth because he is afraid of looking weak before the high court.""Why would the Grand Regent care about looking weak?" Brand asked, crossing his arms over his v

"Do not speak a single word of this to the Grand Regent, Vana," Seraphina said, keeping her voice very low. She pressed her thumb against the charred leather wrist cuff resting on the cherrywood desk."My lady, if the Regent learns we hid this from him, he will hang my brother," Vana whispered, her hands shaking under her white apron. "The palace guards are watching every servant who walks through the southern gate.""Alden will not hang your brother because Alden will never know you found it," Seraphina answered firmly, looking into the maid's frightened eyes. She picked up the golden ash with a silver knife, letting the glowing flakes drop into a clean glass jar."Why not show him the wolf crest on the buckle?" Vana asked, leaning over the polished table. "If you hand over the proof today, the Grand Regent will reward your family with gold and praise.""Alden does not want proof, Vana; Alden wants a dead body to bury in the dirt," Seraphina said, shaking her head with bitter certaint

"Do not draw your bow yet, Kira," Kael whispered, pressing his shoulder against the cold pine trunk. "Watch the two men by the wooden gatehouse instead of looking at the road.""The guards are leaning on their spears like they are half asleep, Kael," Kira replied in a low murmur, keeping her fingers near her quiver. "We could put two arrows in their necks and be inside the door before they hit the ground.""If you shoot them, the relief squad will see the blood in the snow twenty minutes from now," Kael said softly. "Look at the lantern hanging over the timber door; notice how the flame flickers every time the draft shifts.""The oil is burning low," Daren noted, lying flat on his belly in the brush beside them. "A servant has to come out and refill the glass reservoir before the third bell.""The guard on the left walks to the stable well every two hours to draw fresh water," Kael explained, his eyes fixed on the outpost. "When he walks away, the other guard steps inside the heat shac