‘I’d be safe in the Great Forest,’ said Clariel desperately, seeing yet another prison looming in her future. The city had been one, albeit a relatively open prison, and then the pit … and now …

‘You most assuredly would not be,’ said Tyriel. ‘Have you considered that the Borderers get their orders from the Governor, or as he now styles himself, the Lord Protector?’

‘No … but I know the Borderers near Estwael,’ protested Clariel. ‘They wouldn’t …’

‘There is already a warrant out of the city calling for you to be found and “helped” to return to Belisaere,’ said Tyriel. ‘Apparently you took flight when the King was killed by rebels and did not know your mother had become Queen. Kilp is a glib hand with such stories.’

‘But if I told Sergeant Penreth the truth, she wouldn’t –’

‘Would she be able to ignore a properly sealed warrant from Belisaere, backed up by the gold that Kilp has spent widely to buy people in every city watch, among the Borderers, and in the Wall Garrison? No, you must be kept safe until we are ready to move against the traitors. You will go to our old house, and the sooner the better. I will take you there myself.’

‘But … how long will I be there?’ asked Clariel.

‘As long as is necessary,’ said Tyriel. ‘As I said, there are many matters to be considered. The King is secure in the Palace, there is no need for precipitate action. A few months, perhaps more –’

‘A few months!’ exclaimed Clariel. ‘No! I can’t be shut up again!’

She turned to run and found herself caught by the wrist. It hurt. The pain shot through to her elbow, and then to her chest, and it was as if a friction light had been applied to a line of resin and pitch, flames flaring all along the way, heading for that secret, internal place where her berserk fury was contained, but the bonds were weakening …

‘No!’ said Clariel. ‘No! Not now!’

She was talking not to Tyriel, but to herself. Frantically she tried to slow her breathing, to keep that breath inside, and not take another one too soon. Where was her calm place, the willow arches, the stream in the forest? She couldn’t see it, she could only feel the pain, and the fire inside and then –

The rage came, roaring up unstoppably inside her. It filled every muscle with sudden, furious energy that could not be gainsayed. Clariel jerked her arm and Tyriel’s grip came free. She howled and drew her small knife as everything turned red and she saw a shadow ahead of her, knowing it only as an enemy, not as a person.

An enemy who must be killed.