Chapters (95)
- Cover
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Map
- Dramatis Personae
- Fifteen Years Ago
- Endas, 25th day of Wellmarch
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Maladas, 26th day of Wellmarch
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Lumendas, 1st day of Radiance
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Astridas, 2nd day of Radiance
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Jeradas, 3rd day of Radiance
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Endas, 4th day of Radiance
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Maladas, 5th day of Radiance
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Tzadas, 6th day of Radiance
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Lunandas, 7th day of Radiance
- Forty-Four
- Jeradas, 10th day of Radiance
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Endas, 11th day of Radiance
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Maladas, 12th day of Radiance
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Tzadas, 13th day of Radiance
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Lunandas, 14th day of Radiance
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Lumendas, 15th day of Radiance
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Tzadas, 20th day of Radiance
- Sixty-Nine
- Acknowledgements
- Discover More
- Extras
- Meet the Author
Now that was a fine idea. A herald, riding light and changing horses along the way, could reach the Council. Plant the whole mess in Lord Akadra’s lap. “There are, but there’s no way out. Gate’s sealed up tight.”
Halvor nodded. “What about the wall?”
“And how do we get a horse over the wall?”
[[We don’t,]] said Anastacia. [[I can open the hallowgate. It can trot out through a tunnel of roots and boughs.]]
“Sounds lovely.” Kurkas decided against asking exactly what a hal-lowgate was. “But I had Dastarov make a circuit. We’re surrounded. Not as deep at the wall as at the gate, maybe, but enough that it’ll be a fight to get clear.”
Anastacia stared down at her feet, then straightened. [[Then I’ll hand myself over. I can be very distracting.]]
“No,” said Halvor. “You’re the only advantage we have.”
“Then what?” asked Kurkas. “How do we make this work?”
Halvor slid down the wall and sat in the dust. She stared at her hands, turning them over and over as if to memorise every crease. “There’s a way. You won’t like it, but there’s a way.”
Fifty-Three
Fifty-Three
The key turned in the lock. Marek hesitated. So easily everything turned to dust. Used to be, he basked in Lady Sevaka’s company. Now he couldn’t bear her to look upon him. But duty performed beneath the weight of a breaking heart was the pinnacle of service. He entered the room.
Lady Sevaka watched from the bed. “Mealtime again so soon? Come to spare the great Lady Kiradin the disappointment of a dead daughter by forcing her to eat?”
Marek told himself he wasn’t responsible for what his hands did at Lady Ebigail’s instruction. Only what he chose to do counted. He had to believe that, or what was he?
Lady Sevaka hung her head. “How long before it’s your turn, Marek? What mistake will see you dangling from the gibbet?”
He knelt beside the bed. She pulled away as his hand reached for hers. His was the quicker.
“Don’t touch me!” She kicked at him. “Don’t . . . !”
Protest fell silent as the key slipped the manacles’ lock. She pulled back, eyes hooded.
“The south gardens are lightly patrolled.” Marek’s speech came easier now the deed was done. He’d loosed more than one set of shackles. “Climb into the street from there.”
“Why?” She rubbed at a chafed wrist. “Why are you doing this?”
Marek glanced away. If she didn’t know by now, then what point in telling her? “Go. Be safe.”
He remained on his knees as she moved towards the door, unsteadily at first, but growing in confidence with every stride. For a heartbeat, Lady Sevaka was a silhouette frozen in the firestone glow of the corridor. Then she was gone.