What? Claire whirled around, expecting to find a cohort of Royalists standing right behind her. Instead, there was only a cluster of Tillers, each one eager and expectant as they kept their eyes forward. Claire turned back just in time to see Thorn Barley, golden circlet gleaming, emerge from the darkened side of the dais. One fist was held over his heart, but the other held the end of a chain.

Claire choked on a scream. Tears—hot and furious—stormed her eyes as she realized who was on the other end of the chain: Sophie.

Thorn tugged, and Sophie stumbled. A white strip of cloth had been tied over her mouth, but the glare she threw at Estelle was as clear as a shout. She loathed her. And something had been done to Sophie’s hair. Her ponytail no longer fell in an inky slick but poofed out, as though it had been curled to look like—

“This is Claire Martinson,” Estelle lied to the crowd as she gestured to Sophie. The blue sapphires of the queen’s dress caught the glow of the torchlight, giving each jewel an orange pupil that seemed to watch the courtyard hungrily.

“Don’t be fooled by her youthful appearance. This Gemmer apprentice is a friend to the dangerous exile Sena Steele. She helped take the Unicorn Harp from the Tillers, and then, just a few days ago, she attempted to steal the Love Knot Tine. And just tonight, she almost succeeded in snatching these.”

Estelle reached for the neckline of her dress and pulled out a chain. Four stones gleamed like stars caught on a hook: the moontears—the Great Unicorn Treasure, Arden’s hope—dangled helplessly in the queen’s ring-covered hands.

Murmurs broke out as the crowd realized what they were looking at. Some dropped to their knees, overcome, while others shouted angrily at Sophie, furious that she would attempt something so heinous.

“Fortunately for Arden,” Estelle said, tucking the moontears back under her neckline, “our beloved Prince Thorn caught her in the act and brought her to me!”

Claire told herself to breathe. Thorn had to be pretending to be on Estelle’s side … right?

Then Thorn stepped back … and bowed low to Estelle.

For the second time that night, Claire thought she was going to throw up. And for a second time since she’d come to Arden, she knew she’d been a fool to trust Thorn Barley.

“Claire Martinson is responsible for the attacks on non-Gemmers!” Estelle lied easily. “And though she is of my guild, I vow this very moment that I shall never put Gemmers above any others. Grandmaster Jasper?”

Estelle beckoned Jasper to come toward her. Before he did, though, he checked the chains on Sophie’s wrists. Claire expected Sophie to struggle, but instead she seemed to hardly notice him. All her attention was on the unicorn. The unicorn that stood still—and did nothing.