Anji walked on. The knowledge that the Hawk had reason to keep her alive was like a weight off her chest, but the woman at her back was no ordinary captor. Anji shuddered, picturing what an experienced member of the Menagerie could do with a blade in hand and murder in mind. The cool, casual way she’d beaten Anji, so unlike the street brawls of her youth, so—refined.

“So, the Menagerie,” she said, more a statement than a question. “I’ve heard stories about you since I was a girl. Legendary bounty hunters. Is it true the Senate hired you into service after you captured the Ghost of Linura? I heard you were all barely into your twenties.”

The Hawk coughed, but said nothing.

“Must pay a lot, that sort of job. Why did you leave?”

The Hawk said nothing.

“We used to play ‘Menagerie’ when I was little. Five of us as each animal, and the others got to be our bounties.” She looked over her shoulder. “Have you heard the song?”

The Hawk said nothing.

Anji cleared her throat and began to sing:

How many animals does it take,

To catch the wicked and make us safe,

“Stop it, girl, I’m not in the—”

Anji spun around despite the lead and danced along backward. She continued,

Ox is strongest, loyal and true,

Goat is cleverest, valor anew,

“Quiet! There’s—”

“Come on, I’m not even to your line yet!”

The Hawk sprang off the horse and strode toward Anji.

“Nine, I’m sorry, okay?” said Anji, staggering back as the Hawk advanced. “I said I’m—”

“Shut up,” the Hawk hissed. Anji swallowed a curse as the woman grasped her shoulder and spun her back to the trail.

Over the rise ahead, a covered wagon jostled toward them, wheels squeaking on the washboard terrain. Two horses pulled it along, one a dappled gray, the other a roan stallion. Burnished gold tack and harness glittered in the sunlight as the wagon came closer. The cart’s canvas covering fluttered on the breeze, spotless white with gold embroidery stitched in a deft hand at its edges. Two figures sat atop the horses with a third hulking in the cart at their armored backs. All three wore longswords, grave faces, and colors matching the purple and gold of the Linura City Constabulary.

Anji knew those colors. She’d seen them every day of her life while working in Linura Castle.

Rolandrian’s colors.

No, no, no, no. Her heart skipped. She cast around for some place to hide. Not now, not so soon, it can’t be over now, it can’t—

The Hawk leaned close to Anji, one hand still tight to her shoulder, and whispered, “Keep your mouth shut.”