“Well, Kyra,” said Malikel. “You have our attention. What do you have to say?”

“James, the Head of the Assassins Guild, is my prisoner. He’s under guard in a safe place, and I’m willing to turn him over to the Palace.”

Malikel’s eyes widened slightly. “That’s not what I expected to hear. We will take him.”

“I’ll hand him over after the Council announces my pardon.”

There was a pause as her meaning became clear to them. Then Willem gave a disdainful laugh. “This is what happens when prisoners forget their place, Malikel.”

“Malikel already gave me his word that the Council would consider my case if I helped bring James down,” said Kyra. “I just want to be reassured of the Palace’s promise.”

“What happened after you were taken by the Demon Riders?” Malikel countered.

Kyra chose her words carefully. “They held me prisoner, but they released me as a reward for exposing a plan James had against them.”

Malikel was studying her again, and Kyra forced herself to return his gaze. Finally, the councilman looked at Willem, and there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. “It seems that councilmen are not the only ones who can play games. I’ll leave the final decision to you, Willem, since you’re already accustomed to making unilateral decisions with this prisoner.” Malikel voice was pointed as he said this, and Kyra saw Willem’s eyes flicker toward Malikel. For the briefest moment, rage flashed across Willem’s face, so quickly that Kyra almost thought she’d imagined it. The councilmen were not friends, she realized. Far from it.

“How will you deliver James to us?” Willem was focused on her again, as if Malikel had not spoken at all.

“The Council will write the conditions of my pardon. After it’s announced in the city square, I’ll lead your men to James.”

“Forge’s laws are not games, Kyra,” said Willem. “You step in dangerous territory.”

Kyra didn’t reply.

“I will grant your request under one condition. We will lift your death sentence. But you will serve the Council for a period of five years. You’ll live within the compound and report to the Minister of Defense.”

This was unexpected. She needed to be out of the compound and safely hidden in the city in case James exposed her.

“No. Absolutely not,” she said.

“Then we have no deal,” said Willem.

There was a tense silence, then Malikel spoke. “This could work in your favor, Kyra. Remember that your home is gone, as is your place in the Assassins Guild. You need to eat, and you need a roof over your head. And if I’m guessing correctly, you’d want a stake in our mission. With James as our prisoner, we could track down the rest of the Guild. Bring justice to the victims of the fire.”