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Chapters (61)
  1. Dedication
  2. Prologue
  3. Ashyn: One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Eight
  11. Moria: Nine
  12. Ten
  13. Eleven
  14. Twelve
  15. Thirteen
  16. Ashyn: Fourteen
  17. Fifteen
  18. Sixteen
  19. Moria: Seventeen
  20. Eighteen
  21. Nineteen
  22. Twenty
  23. Twenty-one
  24. Twenty-two
  25. Ashyn: Twenty-three
  26. Twenty-four
  27. Twenty-five
  28. Twenty-six
  29. Twenty-seven
  30. Twenty-eight
  31. Twenty-nine
  32. Thirty
  33. Moria: Thirty-one
  34. Thirty-two
  35. Thirty-three
  36. Thirty-four
  37. Thirty-five
  38. Thirty-six
  39. Thirty-seven
  40. Ashyn: Thirty-eight
  41. Thirty-nine
  42. Forty
  43. Forty-one
  44. Forty-two
  45. Forty-three
  46. Forty-four
  47. Forty-five
  48. Forty-six
  49. Forty-seven
  50. Forty-eight
  51. Forty-nine
  52. Moria: Fifty
  53. Fifty-one
  54. Fifty-two
  55. Fifty-three
  56. Fifty-four
  57. Fifty-five
  58. About the Author
  59. Back Ad
  60. Credits
  61. About the Publisher

Gavril nodded, but Ashyn could tell he was waiting for a response from her sister. Moria grumbled about the wait, but she didn’t blame him or try to do better, which Gavril seemed to recognize as a sign he’d done well. He walked to Daigo and bent to examine the wildcat’s wounds.

“We should get water for these,” he said. “One is oozing a little.”

Ashyn retrieved a bowl of water and helped Moria clean Daigo’s wounds. She took a closer look, too. Gavril was right. One showed signs of infection. The surrounding flesh was hot to the touch. Yet the wounds were otherwise healing well. She’d keep an eye on it.

As they finished their work, Ashyn gestured to the bowl. “Daigo isn’t the only one who could use some cleaning. There’s a tub in back, and they’ll bring all the hot water you want.”

Her sister opened her mouth, but Ashyn cut her off. “Yes, I know you consider it a waste of time under the circumstances, but we have time to waste. You ought to spend it getting rested and fed.”

“And clean,” Gavril said. “You could use the bath, Keeper.”

“No more than you, Kitsune. Did you notice I’ve been sleeping upwind?”

He shot his fist at her. Moria only laughed. It was a good sound to hear. Ashyn went to ask the guard to bring water. When she returned, Gavril was following Moria into the bathing room.

“Um, there’s plenty of water,” Ronan said. “You don’t need to share.”

Gavril gave him a hard look. “As the water is not yet here, I’m clearly not taking any liberties. I simply wish to speak to Moria.”

“Then speak here.”

More of that expressionless stare. “I don’t know you, and I would prefer not to share my thoughts with you.” He turned to Ashyn. “No offense meant to the Seeker.”

“None taken,” she murmured. “Go on.”

Gavril closed the door behind them.

Forty-one

Forty-one

Guards came shortly after Moria and Gavril had bathed and changed into fresh clothing. Before they arrived, Ashyn and Moria finally had a chance to talk. Yet they discussed nothing important, nothing about all the things they ought to be talking about—Edgewood, their father . . . Ashyn had raised the subject of their father, but Moria had only asked how she was coping.

Gavril had spent the time prowling. Pacing the room, checking everything, trying to look through the battened windows. Which meant Ronan had to do the same, lest it seem as if he was content to wait for rescue while the warrior found it. Ashyn wanted to tell him to sit. Just sit. They already knew there was no way out, so leave Gavril to it. But she knew it would do no good.