"We have to get inside Lady Seraphina's private estate," Kael said, pointing his finger at the faded mark on the table. "Chief Physician Orin was taken there, and he is the only man who knows what happened to Jared's daughter.""Are you completely out of your mind, Kael?" Kira asked, stepping between him and the wooden table with her arms crossed. "Sneaking into an outpost is simple, but breaking into a royal estate is suicide.""The records were scraped for a reason, Kira," Kael answered, his voice firm as he met her fierce eyes. "The palace is hiding high-value prisoners outside the official dungeons, and this doctor is the key to all of it."Brand slammed his wooden cup onto the rough table, the bitter cider splashing over the parchment. "I do not give a damn about a royal doctor, boy, and I will not risk my fighters for a nobleman's daughter.""Lily is not a nobleman's daughter, Brand," Kael replied, leaning over the table toward the scarred commander. "She is the daughter of Jared

"She saw my tracks in the snow, Kira," Kael said, standing beside the cold wooden railing of the upper watch platform. He looked down at his rough hands, feeling the bitter mountain wind whip against his woolen coat."If Lady Seraphina knows you are breathing, she will send word to the palace within hours," Kira answered, her eyes full of sharp worry. She tightened the leather grip on her hunting bow, watching the dark tree line below."She will not send word to Alden," Kael replied in a calm, steady voice. "If she wanted me dead, her guards would have shot me while I climbed the terrace wall.""You are trusting a royal princess who locks healers in secret rooms, Kael," Kira warned, shaking her head. "That kind of trust will put your neck inside an iron noose before the week ends.""I do not trust her promises, Kira; I trust her self-interest," Kael said, turning toward the ladder. "She hates the Grand Regent as much as we do, and she will not throw away a weapon she can use."Brand’s

By the time the five wagons reached the hidden mountain stockade, night had fallen over the crags. The sight of five full loads of grain and dried meat brought loud cheers from the hungry refugees, who crowded around the tailgates with wooden bowls."Two hundred people will eat hot bread tonight because of you, boy," Ren said, clapping his heavy hand against Kael's shoulder as they unloaded the flour. "You proved your worth to every fighter in this camp.""Save your praise, Ren," Brand grunted, stepping out of the dark shadow of the gatehouse. "We need to talk inside the command lodge right now; bring Kira, Daren, and the boy.""Now tell us the truth without any clever words, Kael," Brand said, his voice hard and demanding. "Are you the son of a common soldier, or did you lie to us while hiding a claim to the throne of Valoria?""I have never lied to you, Brand," Kael answered steadily, taking off his wet traveling cloak and tossing it over an empty bench. "My father was Captain Raith

"And are you going to take the bait like a foolish fish?" Brand asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you going to run off into the dark because a phantom gave you a scrap of calfskin?""I am not a fool, Brand," Kael replied, his voice hardening with resolve. "I know how a trap works, and I will not run blindly into an open pit.""Good," Brand grunted, turning toward the barracks with a tired sigh. "Keep four sentries on the upper walkway, Daren; I do not want any more ghost riders leaving trash at my gate."Brand and the scouts walked away into the warm barracks, leaving Kael and Kira standing alone beneath the falling snow. Kira did not move, her gaze fixed on Kael's coat."Show me the letter, Kael," Kira demanded, her voice leaving no room for argument. "You told Brand it was personal, but you and I share the same road; do not treat me like a stranger."Kael looked at her for a second before reaching inside his coat and pulling out the folded vellum. He handed the cold paper

"She knows you will come for the girl," Kira said, looking at him with deep worry in her eyes. "She is keeping Jared's daughter alive because an alive hostage controls a man far better than a dead body.""Then she is playing a dangerous game with innocent lives," Kael said, backing away from the ledge into the pine shadows. "We know where she sleeps; now we wait for the right moment to pull her out."Far away from the quiet orchard, inside the stone fortress of Valoria, a very different storm was brewing. The great council chamber was freezing, despite the massive oak logs blazing in the marble fireplace.Grand Regent Alden stood before the tall arched windows, his black velvet mantle dragging across the polished granite floor. His face was lined with furious shadows as he glared down at a stack of empty reports.Standing across the long table was Lady Eleanor, her iron breastplate gleaming beneath her scarlet cloak. Her eyes were full of impatient hunger, her gloved fingers tapping r