The Dark Priest stood in the temple doors, hands clasped in front of his long black cloak. Even at this distance his white eyes shone in contrast to his dark clothing.

“Her life for yours, Chosen One,” the Dark Priest said with just enough power for his voice to carry through the still dawn.

Johnis jerked the reins hard, and the horse snorted in protest.

“Johnis!” Silvie cried. “Run!”

He glanced toward them and saw that both had stopped. “Go!” he shouted. “Silvie, take her out! Promise me!”

“Johnis? No, Johnis—”

“Go! Go, Silvie. I’ll be right behind! I promise!”

“Please . . .” Her voice was begging and desperate, and he knew then that she loved him.

“Go, go, go—or they’ll kill us all!”

“Johnis!” his mother cried. “Johnis, you come right this instant! I’m not going to lose you.”

“I’m coming, Mother. Just go. Ride, for the love of Elyon, ride!”

Silvie spun her horse, slapped its rump with her sword, and charged down the street with Rosa galloping behind.

Johnis would follow them, of course. Surely he would never jeopardize his mission to save Rosa by last-minute heroics. Leaving Rosa with a dead son would be worse than if she had never been rescued in the first place.

So he would go, now, as soon as he sorted this mess out in his mind: this absurdity of a father threatening to hang his sweet, nine-year-old daughter; never mind that she was a Scab whom the Forest Guard was sworn to kill in battle at every opportunity.

The sight of her in the window above him stopped his heart.

“If Qurong knew what was in his interest, he’d butcher you, Witch,” Johnis said, using the name he’d heard used for the priest. He said it in a soft voice laced with bitterness, but the words carried unmistakably across the courtyard.

“And if you run, I’ll butcher her,” Witch said.

“She’s your daughter!”

“And it seems you care for her more than I do,” Witch said. “I, on the other hand, care for the other four books. You’re going to tell me where to find them.”

The Books of History. Witch was looking for the other four. There were seven in all. Which had to mean he had three, not just the two Johnis had lost!

Johnis knew he had to leave now, before guards rushed out on all sides. The sound of Rosa and Silvie’s escape faded as they raced further on.

He gave his horse a slight nudge to turn. “You won’t do it. She’s your daughter.”

“Then run, Chosen One. And look behind your shoulder to see the doll fall.”