“Thank you, Your Grace.” Tristam was pleased with how the funeral had turned out. Because he’d needed it for the interrogation, the Palace had agreed to pay for the family’s expenses. But had the councilman asked to see him simply to congratulate him?

“Malikel has his…quirks,” said Willem. “But sometimes he proves effective. I hear he’s just left for Parna.”

“Yes, Your Grace. He’s gone for a fortnight.”

“A pity he’s not here. The Council has a pressing matter that cannot wait for his return. I’ve been discussing your prisoner with other members of the Council, and we’re all struck by how she evaded capture by climbing the walls and ledges. From all reports, she is quite remarkable.”

Why did it bother him that the councilman referred to her as his prisoner? By any definition, it was true. Kyra was under lock, and he had put her there. He saw her again, clutching her wounded arm, eyes feverish with poison. She’d crumpled against him when he’d picked her up.

“Her abilities are indeed something to see,” he said to Willem. “She can do things that I would not have thought possible.”

“It seems a waste to have such a tool and let it stay locked up, especially when we’re at war.”

He hid his distaste at Willem’s words. “Did you have something specific in mind, Your Grace?”

“We do,” said Willem. “I understand you made a few attempts to track the Demon Riders in the forest.”

“I’m afraid I have not been very successful, sir. The one time I encountered them, they almost killed me.”

“We think that the prisoner might have a better chance of spying on them successfully.”

Kyra, as their spy? Did the Council trust her? “It’s true that she’s very quiet, and fast,” Tristam said carefully.

“Say we asked her to do this, with the possibility of reducing her sentence if she’s successful. To the best of your knowledge, would she be willing?”

Tristam paused, suddenly unsure. “I understand her better than I did before, but still not well enough to predict her decisions. Judging from her past, she’s not averse to risk, and she may welcome the chance to go outside. But she’s almost regained all her strength. If we let her run free in the forest, the temptation to escape may prove too much.”

“We’ve anticipated that and have instructed the healer Ilona to withhold the last few doses of antidote.”

Tristam tensed. “Sir?” he asked.

“The small amount of poison left in her body shouldn’t interfere overly much with her health,” said Willem. “We believe that the need for her final dose should motivate her to return to the Palace.”

“I see.” So they were holding the poison over her as a threat. “Did Ilona agree?”

“Ilona knows her place. She will bow to the wishes of the Council.”