Next was the foursome I had been bracing myself to face all along: Tamara, Savona, the newly met Lady Elenet, and the Marquis of Shevraeth. Very conscious of Olervec’s pale eyes following me, I forced...
My eyes burned with hot tears. Not for my own defeat, for that merely concerned myself. Not even for the unfairness. I wept in anger and grief for the terrible decision that Vidanric faced alone, with...
Love is one of the simplest of what we call the Mysteries, and yet the strongest, like air: the greatest treasure cannot buy it nor the smartest thief steal it nor the most powerful emperor command it...
Loss of prestige? In what way? I asked.He sat back, his eyes glinting with amusement. First there was the matter of a--very--public announcement of a pending execution, following which the intended vi...
It was a while before my mind was quiet enough for reading. The conversation with Shevraeth I was determined not to think about. What was the use? It was over, and it was clear it wasn’t going to be r...
If the threat was from the borders, it seemed unlikely that I’d find Renselaeus warriors roaming around the royal palace Athanarel. So, was there a threat at home?Like a rival for the kingship? My tho...
I promised myself that next time Shevraeth tried to talk to me, I’d listen, and even if he insulted me, my family, and my land, I’d keep my tongue between my teeth.
I hopped over a little flower border. The blooms--ghostly white in the soft glow from the lamps around the park’s circumference--ran up the brick walkway and gripped the stone lip of the fountain. I o...
I found Bran in the courtyard below. Two fresh, mettlesome horses awaited us, and Bran had a bag at his belt. Shevraeth himself was there to bid us farewell--a courtesy I could have done without. Impa...
I don’t know how long I had been sniffing and snorting there on my broken bunk (and I didn’t care who heard me) when I became aware of furtive little sounds from the corridor. Nothing loud--no more th...
I didn’t want that kiss to ever stop. He didn’t seem to, either.But after a time, I realized the drumming sound I heard was not my heart, it was hoofbeats, and they were getting louder.We broke apart,...
He caught it one-handed, set it gently back in its place.I clenched my teeth together to keep from screaming.The Marquis stepped to the door, opened it. Please bring Lord Branaric here.Then he sat dow...
Gossip, I have discovered, is seldom spread about people who find happiness or contentment.
Can you second-guess this Shevraeth? Branaric asked. He seems to be driving us back into our hills--to what purpose? Why hasn’t he taken over any of our villages? He knows where they lie--and he has t...
Branaric came in. Ready?Nearly, I said, my fingers quickly starting the braid. I suppose you don’t have extra gloves, or another hat? I eyed the battered object he held in his hand. No, obviously not....
Beyond the doors, the street and the gates were empty. The Hill Folk had vanished as mysteriously as they had come.A shuddering sigh of relief, not my own, brought my attention home and heartward. I s...
Before I left, I held my candle up, scanning that barren desk. Why would Shevraeth work there when he had what was rumored to be a fabulous suite of rooms in the Royal Wing--including at least one stu...
A faint movement distracted me as Oria elbow-crawled up to my side. Her profile was outlined by the light from those faraway torches as she looked down on the castle below.I’m sorry, Oria, I breathed....
The one that whupped Galdran Merindar?Unbidden, Shevraeth’s voice spoke inside my head: You have never lied to me… I thought desperately, And for a brief moment I envisioned myself snarling Except i...
I thought scornfully. I wished he were before me. I wished I could personally flout him and his busy searchers, and make him look like the fool he was. And watch the reaction, and walk away laughing.