“I know about him. He arrived back in Medford not long before I set out. The next day, Melengar’s army crossed the Galewyr. Alric has enlisted every able-bodied man and even a good deal of the boys. He’s put Count Pickering, Sir Ecton, and Marquis Lanaklin in command. They broke through the little imperial force and at last report were sweeping south, causing a great deal of havoc. Another obstacle I had to travel around. Getting back to the university will take a month, I expect.”

The wizard sighed and a look of concern passed over his face. “Two things still trouble me. First, Aquesta is threatened by an enemy army resting in Ratibor, and they aren’t negotiating or evacuating. Second, there’s Marius.”

“Who?”

“Merrick Marius, also known as Cutter.”

“Isn’t he the one who put Royce in Manzant?”

“Yes, and now he’s working for the New Empire. He’s a wild card I hadn’t expected.” The old man paused. “You’re certain that Hadrian believed everything you said?”

“Absolutely. His eyes nearly fell out of his head when I told him Degan was the heir.” She sighed. “Are you sure we—”

“I’m sure, Miranda. Make no mistake. We’re doing what’s absolutely right and necessary. It’s imperative that Royce and Hadrian never find out the truth.”

BOOK IV

THE EMERALD STORM

CHAPTER 1

ASSASSIN

Merrick Marius fitted a bolt into the small crossbow before slipping the weapon beneath the folds of his cloak. Smoke-thin clouds drifted across the sliver of moon, leaving him and Central Square shrouded in darkness. Looking for movement, he searched the filthy streets lined with ramshackle buildings, but found none. At this hour, the city was deserted.

Ratibor may be a pit, he thought, but at least it’s easy to work in.

Conditions had improved since the Nationalists’ recent victory. The imperial guards were gone, and without them the regular patrols had stopped. The town lacked even an experienced sheriff, as the new mayor refused to hire seasoned men or members of the military to administer so-called law and order. Instead, she had opted to make do with grocery clerks, shoemakers, and dairy farmers. Merrick thought her choices were ill-advised, but he expected such mistakes from an inexperienced noble. Not that he was complaining—he appreciated the help.

Despite this shortcoming, he admired Arista Essendon’s accomplishments. In Melengar, her brother, King Alric, reigned, and as an unwed princess, she possessed no real power. Then she had come here and masterminded a revolt, and the surviving peasants had rewarded her with the keys to the city. She was a foreigner and a royal, yet they thanked her for taking rule over them. Brilliant. He could not have done better himself.