“Victory?” Elder Silver was an imposing figure, tall and lean. Every movement held a fluid grace that belied her age. Her hair stuck up in downy white tufts that barely softened the features beneath. Her nose was sharp and slightly beaky, her lips thin, and her eyes unnervingly pale, the blue of a frozen lake. Those eyes ran over the group before her and settled on Twelve. “Oh dear.”

The disappointment in the older woman’s voice was obvious. Twelve bit her lip and pushed away a wave of shame. Widge tucked himself back into her furs, safely out of sight.

“Yes,” Victory said, her irritation obvious. “Problems with these two again. Can I come in?”

Silver nodded and stepped aside.

“Wait out here,” Victory growled over her shoulder before closing the door.

Five leaned against the wall on one side of the door and Twelve on the other. Both elaborately ignored one another while straining to hear the murmur of voices inside.

“Come!” Silver called eventually. Five shouldered in front of Twelve and she resisted the urge to shove him as hard as she could.

The study was large and sparse, the stone walls almost bare. An arched trio of windows looked down onto the training ground while a fire burned merrily in the hearth. Over the mantelpiece was the mounted head of an enormous Ygrex, its cruel horns and needle-thin fangs gleaming. Two leather armchairs were turned toward the flames, but Silver sat in the uncomfortable, upright chair behind her enormous desk. Twelve knew the Elder well enough to recognize this was a bad sign.

“Quite a story Victory brings me,” Silver said shortly, her fingers steepled as Five and Twelve moved to stand opposite her. “You’re very lucky no one was hurt, but Victory tells me there’s significant damage in the armory.”

“Hours of repairs.” Victory scowled.

“That was Twelve,” Five said quickly. “Honestly, I didn’t do anything.”

Twelve resisted the urge to laugh. There was nothing Silver hated more than people trying to shift responsibility away from themselves. Five never seemed to learn that.

Silver turned a wintry gaze on him and his defiant pose wilted. “You didn’t do anything?” she asked, her voice dangerously quiet. “Victory tells me you openly insulted the cave clan.”

Five gulped, his face the color of milk. “Yes,” he croaked, “but there were, um . . . reasons.”

“Which were?” She sat perfectly still, staring at Five.

“Twelve . . . uh . . . she . . .”

Twelve allowed the corner of her mouth to twitch. She was enjoying this more than she’d expected.

“Look at her!” Five cried, color flooding back into his face. “She’s smirking! She sneers at everything, obviously thinks she’s better than everyone else! She’s intolerable and—”

“Silence.” Silver didn’t raise her voice, but the hairs stood up on the back of Twelve’s neck nonetheless. Five made a gagging sound, half choked by his own words.