“Does that include you?” snarled the rider. His concern for his own welfare was quickly dissipating as the reality of the situation dawned on him. Perhaps he should have run. They certainly would have found him, but surely he could have hidden one small babe somewhere, perhaps with a loving family, before he died. After securing the child’s future, he could have fallen on his own sword to prevent them from torturing him for information. He lightly squeezed the small bundle, eliciting a slight gurgling coo.

A cruel smile played across the man’s face as he replied, “I will live to serve my purpose, same as you. Neither of us can expect much more than that. Now, hand him over. He is no longer your concern.”

Chapter 1

Bone snapped and flesh parted as hot blood spewed from a jagged wound. A gut-clenching wail echoed off the stone walls and startled the ever-present black sentries into flight. As the alert subsided into moaning sobs, the sleek, black ravens resettled on their perches, the grey twigs of the sorry excuse for a tree that occupied the courtyard.

“Silence!” The command was followed by the crack of a whip and a slight, strangled cry. “You cannot afford to be heard even when you are injured—especially when you are injured. Silence! Always. Be. Silent.”

The deep sobs were slowly replaced by tiny, sniffling whimpers as young Rezkin pulled himself together. At six years old he knew full well he should not have shouted. He was stupid, so stupid. He had to think quickly. Any moment now, Master Jaiardun would begin to ask questions, and he needed answers, or he would suffer even greater punishment. How could he have fallen? He should have been more careful. If he had set his weight properly as he streamed across the battlements, he would not have slipped on the loose stone. Always, he was supposed to be prepared to compensate for uneven or treacherous footing. He had become careless in his mad dash to make up for time lost getting tangled in the rope. It was not the fall that doomed him, although that would have led to severe enough punishment as it was. No, it was the shout that sealed his fate.