The baron laughed and ordered her soldiers to shoot him.

It didn’t go the way the baron had planned, though, as every soldier’s bowstrings snapped, and not a single arrow fired.

Then the people hiding in the forest fired back. Their bowstrings didn’t snap. More volleys followed that first, softening up the baron’s defenses before raiders dispersed throughout the compound, gathering up Marakori.

Brother Qown lost track as the group retreated into the woods, but he hadn’t needed to see Dorna to know she’d been there. He knew how her mage-gift worked. He wasn’t sure what Dorna would do with the Marakori. But several freed people had demonstrated a skill with the same weaponless fighting style Ninavis practiced, helping in the skirmish.

Brother Qown took diligent notes, but it didn’t take long to realize the numbers didn’t make sense. He’d originally suspected Ninavis and Dorna had returned to crime, since they both had a predilection for such.

But these activities had involved far greater numbers than could be explained by Ninavis, Sir Baramon, Dorna, and their five or so companions. In the months he’d been observing, he’d already seen closer to several hundred different people, including multiple firebloods, operating across the entire dominion. They seemed … organized.

Brother Qown sat back in his chair, exhaling as reached for tea long since grown cold.

What he was witnessing wasn’t some ne’er-do-well bandits with hearts of gold, stealing metal from the rich of Quur to help the oppressed.

He was witnessing the beginning of an organized rebellion.

Following the Black Knight’s exploits wasn’t Brother Qown’s only research project. Several weeks after Sir Oreth had been executed and forty-plus women had ended up simultaneously divorced, a servant brought Brother Qown a box of his favorite chocolate biscuits and a note from Janel.

The note said, “Thank you for your help researching Quuros war curses. I’m sure it will be invaluable in the future. Also, thank Thurvishar for me as well.”

But of course, Qown hadn’t researched Quuros war curses.

So he started.

Which did require Thurvishar’s help.

“How would one go about researching the war magic the Quuros used when they invaded Yor?” he asked Thurvishar when Qown next visited Shadrag Gor.

The D’Lorus Lord Heir had thrown himself into teaching the Hon’s wives to read. He was scanning suitable materials when Brother Qown interrupted.

Thurvishar looked up. “Why in all the heavens would you want to know that?”