I run outside. Zivah stands in front by the stallion. The stablehands are nowhere to be seen. Cutting off Zivah’s escape are five soldiers, two of whom are archers with bows pointed at her. And leading them is General Arxa. As I come out, one of the archers shifts his aim to target me.

So much for sneaking up unnoticed. I raise my hands and move to stand next to Zivah. She has her blowgun pointed at the general, which is probably the only reason they haven’t captured her yet. He must not know that it would only put him to sleep.

Arxa’s face is a dark cloud, and he doesn’t look surprised to see me at all. “To think I trusted both of you. Will you still hide from me who you really are?”

The fire of the barn is catching now, and I hear the screams of fleeing horses in the distance. And I decide that I’m tired of all this deception. “I am Dineas, son of Youtab and Artabanos of the Shidadi, warrior under Gatha.” My voice gets stronger as I continue. “I spent months in an Amparan dungeon until I was stricken with rose plague and the guards threw me out to die.”

“Shidadi, of course,” says Arxa. “You’re cold-blooded, to fight your kin like that.” I shift my weight, and Arxa puts up his hand. “Don’t tempt me, Dineas. You know what our archers can do.” He turns to Zivah. “Dineas disappoints me, but it’s you who shocks me the most. It’s hard to believe that someone so seemingly selfless can foster such deception. That’s my daughter’s dress you’re wearing, isn’t it? Have you no shame?”

Zivah’s voice trembles, though her weapon remains steady. “I love my people. It pained me to deceive you, to steal Mehtap’s clothing and break your trust, but I had no other choice.”

The fires continue to crackle, and I can feel the sweat pouring down my skin. It’s only a matter of time before the soldiers take their chances with Zivah’s blowgun. I look again at the two archers with arrows pointed toward us. Does their aim have to be quite so steady?

“I met a minister named Utana in the rosemarked compound,” says Zivah. “He told me that Emperor Kiran betrayed you. He was the one who poisoned your troops.”

I see shadows flitting behind the soldiers, a flash of feathers. As Zivah continues to speak, I whistle low under my breath.

“Lies,” says Arxa. “You’ll tell me the truth in the dungeons. Don’t think your rosemarks will protect you.”