“Why did you seek the Hunting Lodge, Boy Who Lies?”

Six took a deep breath and sighed it out before speaking. “My parents were killed too.” He glanced at Twelve and she startled at the desperation there. “I didn’t feel there was a place in my clan without them, so I left and came to the lodge.”

“Hmm.” Oakhammer nodded thoughtfully. “I see. Why were your parents killed?”

“Why?” Six cried, unable to keep the anger from his voice. “How should I know? They were good people!”

“Of course,” Oakhammer murmured. “Well, perhaps you are in the same boat as Twelve; perhaps your parents were murdered by the cave clan?”

“I . . . no,” Six muttered, his shoulders slumped.

“How can you be so sure?” Oakhammer asked silkily. “Starling’s whole village was wiped out. It sounds like they’re capable of anything. Were you there when they died?”

“No.”

“So how do you know it wasn’t the cave clan?”

The starlight was sparkling in Oakhammer’s eyes as he pinned Six with his gaze. Six said nothing, but the look he gave Twelve was full of fear and regret.

There was a little voice whispering in the back of Twelve’s mind: Six knew a lot about moonstones. The cave clan mined moonstones. And then there was that stupid, apologetic look he was giving her.

Blood roared in her ears as horror and disgust flooded her. Six who had saved her life. Six who had been good-humored even when she was at her worst. Six who she’d begun thinking of as a friend. Cold fingers of despair gripped her by the throat and her breath juddered as she met his eye.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “But . . .”

“Cave-creeper!” Twelve hissed and her heart twisted violently in her chest. Six said nothing.

“I’m not done with you, Boy Who Lies!” Oakhammer’s inhuman voice silenced them.

“I’m not answering any more of your questions!” Six cried, his face like chalk.

“Oh? But I thought we had an agreement?” Oakhammer cocked an eyebrow and the earth at Twelve’s feet shifted. Roots sprang up to coil around her legs and drag her to her knees. Before she could even swing once with her axes, they were wrapped around her wrists and neck as well, wrenching her back into an impossible position until she could barely breathe.

“Watch out, Starling,” Oakhammer chuckled, “the cave clan might yet kill another member of your family.”

Six squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “Stop it—leave her alone!”

“With pleasure,” Oakhammer smiled. “Once you have answered my last question.”

Six bowed his head in resignation.

“Who is the girl you seek?” Oakhammer asked.

“Seven,” Six said dully.

“And what is she to you?” Oakhammer’s eyes gleamed. “Why have you come after her?”

Six took a deep, shuddering breath and raised his gaze to meet Oakhammer’s. “She’s my sister,” he said.

Chapter

Thirty-Four