I placed my hand against the surface of a wall and felt the dark stone’s smooth texture. How many walls separated me from freedom? Had they put us in a room without windows to keep us from escaping—or because in a dominion bound by perpetual winter, only a fool would ever build windows at all?

“So we’re in Yor,” I said.

“We’re in Yor,” Brother Qown agreed.

Senera entered, holding a tray. Unlike Brother Qown and me, she looked lovely and in her element, wearing a fur jerkin and a long, flowing gray tunic. “I’d ask how you’re both feeling this morning, but I already know the answer. I hope you’re comfortable. I asked them to put you in a warm room. Yorans sometimes forget not everyone tolerates cold as well as they do.”

Senera set down the tray. “I brought you lunch. We’re going to have a feast soon, but you should eat beforehand. The Yoran diet is almost exclusively meat. You’ll need time to adjust.”

I found myself wondering if she’d gone back to Jorat just to fetch us the meal. I saw several bowls of coconut-and-jasmine-scented rice, fragrant vegetable stew, fried duck eggs, a jar of chili sauce, and all the normal side vegetables and fermented snacks. She’d even brought tea.

I frowned. She was treating us like saelen. Not like prisoners, not like enemies—like new family members. As if it could be taken for granted we’d come around. The strays always did.

Then I realized this wasn’t generosity, trust, or a desire to bring us into the fold; this was a safety measure. Meat required knives. This meal did not.

“I don’t eat meat,” Brother Qown said.

“Bad luck, I’m afraid. You’re about to start.” Senera went over to a smaller door, which proved to be a closet. She pulled out a shirt, pants, and a long, dark red dress. “I brought clothing over while you slept so you have something to wear to meet the Hon.”

“Hon?”

“What you will call the duke.” She smiled. “The Yorans reject Quur’s titles.”

I narrowed my eyes. “The duke is Quuros.”

“I wouldn’t mention that in front of him.”

“Why not just kill me? Why bring me back here?”

She stopped smiling. “Relos Var thinks you’re more useful to him alive. At least for now. You should try to behave accordingly.”

She tossed the clothes on the bed and gestured to a dresser. “You’ll find jewelry and hair combs in there: enough to satisfy stallion pride. Eat lunch and make yourselves ready. I’ll be back in an hour to take you to the duke.”

“And if we say no?” I crossed my arms over my chest.