I know. Zap. Im a frog prince. Croaker, you been up the hill since it got dark?

No. Why?

Something unusual over in the east. Looks like a comet.

My heart did a small flip. I calculated quickly. Youre probably right. Its due back. I rose. He did too. We walked uphill.

Every major event in the saga of the Lady and her husband has been presaged by a comet. Countless Rebel prophets have predicted that she will fall while a comet is in the sky. But their most dangerous prophecy concerns the child who will be a reincarnation of the White Rose. The Circle is spending a lot of energy trying to locate the kid.

Raven led me to a height from which we could see the stars lying low in the east. Sure enough, something like a faraway silver spearhead rode the sky there. I stared a long time before observing, It seems to be pointed at Charm.

I thought so too. He was silent for a while. Im not much on prophecies, Croaker. They sound too much like superstition. But this makes me nervous.

Youve heard those prophecies all your life. Id be surprised if they hadnt touched you.

He grunted, not satisfied. The Hanged Man brought news of the east. Whisper has taken Rust.

Good news, good news, I said, with considerable sarcasm.

Shes taken Rust and surrounded Trinkets army. We can have the whole east by next summer.

We faced the canyon. A few of Hardens advance units had reached the foot of the switchbacks. Stormbringer had broken off her long assault in order to prepare for Hardens attempt to break through here.

So it comes down to us, I whispered. We have to stop them here or the whole thing goes because of a sneak attack through the back way.

Maybe. But dont count the Lady out even if we fail. The Rebel hasnt yet faced Her. And they know it to a man. Each mile they move toward the Tower will fill them with greater dread. Terror itself will defeat them unless they find their prophesied child.

Maybe. We watched the comet. It was far, far away yet, just barely detectable. It would be up there a long time. Great battles would be fought before it departed.

I made a face. Maybe you shouldnt have shown me. Now Ill dream about the damned thing.

Raven flashed a rare grin. Dream us a victory, he suggested.

I did some dreaming aloud. Weve got the high ground. Harden has to bring his men up twelve hundred feet of switchback. Theyll be easy meat when they get here.

Whistling in the dark, Croaker. Im going to turn in. Good luck tomorrow.

Same to you, I replied. He would be in the thick of it. The Captain had chosen him to command a battalion of veteran regulars. They would be holding one flank, sweeping the road with arrow flights.