ina Ha

and the sour reek of cheap ale. After three years of Dragonflame and incense ins

wall. The public coach to Dragon's Rest r

ced as though she expected the Franks

nd. "They have spent their ange

est?" she asked in a low voice. "It is ter

gold coin my mother had left me. Enou

voice cut through

r sister-in-law, sitting among

ed to turn.

ine for a town this size, a small ornamental dagger at her waist, every inch of her straining to look like a lady of t

a," I

Franks." Her eyes swept over me, and a thin smile curled her lip. "Though I suppose it hardly matters now what you

r own bags, did she? I heard she handed

ed, raising her voice for the crowd. "Li

tation. Whispers began to move through the crowd. The cast-off wife of the new

e to step in front of me

a," I said, my voice level. "By the laws of Aeridor, I am s

ughter

er says you are only jealous of Lady Blanca! A merchant's

who paid for your riding habits, and your friends, and every l

rained from

ed a glance, the

signed its papers, moved its money, and paid its servants, and every soul under that roof had learned to bend to the lady who held the p

ow. I saw it move behind he

emanded, her voice thinning. "You

ings stand. Believe whatever you like about what I am worth. Before this week

he first time there was rea

ed, "Coach to Dragon's Rest, b

word, took Celeste's hand, and wal

ow I saw Lydia still standing where I had left her, pa

the whole town talk. I

Cloudrest. I watched the town where I had spent three y

was in Dra

her voice small. "My

eyes on the road ahead. "She is simply lo