a P

d into a bustling war-ro

re-pheasant, bowls of crystalline winter-berries, and flasks of r

he edge of the mattress and blowing gently on each mouthful before feedin

fuls, I laid

cruelty, the forged signature,

ng my own spirit into Jake Ellis's shattered core, only for Candida to wa

rature in the room dr

ac

the enchanted stone into three jagged pieces. Behind his silve

his broadsword. "A peasant house of third-tier weavers. They dared use our sister as an

laced by the lethal glint of an imperial executioner. "Ten minutes. I won't even use stee

l of you!" E

ped their mouths shut, straightening

ze. "Elia. Tell me what you want. Do you want their heads on pikes at the city gates? Do yo

n, my fingers lacing toget

t. "Jake Ellis lives for his pride. He worships his warlord rank, his noble status, and the lie that he i

father dea

before the Great Council. I want Jake to realize that the salvation he thr

weathered face. "A slow flaying of the soul.

w celestial star-iron, bearing the deep, master-cut seal of the Crown's treas

southern reserves," my father commanded, hi

s sacred timber mines and seventy-two high-tier Silverdew wells. W

t. "Father, thi

it five years ago," Barbara interrupted

r private vault every solstice of your absence, my love. It is overf

f absolute immunity, stamped by the High Inquisitor's bench. You may strike down any noble below th

pile. "My personal vanguard iron-guard. Five hundre

he table. "Blow this, little sister, and the sky turns

rity piled on my bedside table, a faint

rrow, I would walk into the storm wearing armo

oking toward his brother. "H

e contract as 'Alaina the Ringless.' If we descend with the full court, Ellis will ru

She looked down at her emerald traveling gown. "Find me the coarsest linen gown in

glasses. "May the World Tree have mercy on that