yah

s a constant, bone-jarring rhythm, but with every mile we put between ourselves

was alive-a chaotic, beautiful mess of sounds and smells: merchants hawking their wares, children laughing, the scent

the journey. Following the directions of a friendly stable hand, I drove our we

ied lavender-a world away from the dark, herb-scented room of

le Foster. He led us into a private examination room and gently began to check on Ell

test," he said, his voic

e wait was agonizing. I sat on the edge of my chair, my hands clasped so tightly my

r the low murmur of other patients

self, can you believe i

with awe and fear. "They say he's here on the Alph

rld I was desperately trying to escape. My world had shrunk to the

er in his hand. His face was grim.

eart

rely a whisper. "Please, just

his eyes-something deep and troubled, like a man wrestling with a choice a

aggressive form of lung fever, complicated by seve

tapping the paper. "But it is fast-acting.

rful it made me dizzy. It wasn

for my mother's pendant. I handed over the coins

und a room at a modest inn called The Oak & Hearth. As soon as we were

broth and bread. She returned with th

" she said, her eyes wide. "At The Gilded Griffin, the fan

I sat by his bedside, my hand on his forehead, pray

en, a

to subside. His breathing, which had been so shallow and fast, deepened and

into my arms, burying my face in his hair, and held him close. For the firs

re free. And Ellum

so w

Griffin, a prince was watching. And a much