What he hadn’t expected: Janel Danorak lay on the floor next to Relos Var, unconscious. Her arms had been forced behind her back and were held together by a giant metal band, molded around her hands. And before Duke Kaen, beaten and bloody, stood someone Brother Qown hadn’t seen in years but remembered well.

Ninavis.

She was bound with rope. Ninavis also sported a bruise on one cheek, and blood trickled from her split lip.

“Ah, good, everyone’s here now,” Relos Var said.

Brother Qown nearly threw up, right on the spot. Relos Var had warned Qown that one day the wizard would have to choose whether to continue supporting Duke Kaen or turn instead to Janel. It looked like Relos Var had finally made his choice.

He studied Relos Var’s face for any clue that this was somehow not what it seemed, that Var had found some way to keep Janel and Qown—and possibly Ninavis—alive. Var’s face was carved from stone.

“You realize she’s coming back, right?” Brother Qown said.

A guard stepped forward to hit him, and Qown fixed his gaze on the man. The guard hesitated.

Relos Var turned around. “Who’s coming back?”

“Tya. Did you think Janel killed Aeyan’arric by herself?”

Duke Kaen gave Relos Var a look. “I’m beginning to think killing a dragon isn’t as difficult as you’ve led me to believe.”

Relos Var shook his head. “Aeyan’arric isn’t dead, Your Grace.”

“She killed her,” Brother Qown volunteered. “I saw it.”

Relos Var sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes, you did. But such a death isn’t permanent. She’ll return.” He smiled at Qown. “Janel missed a step.”

Brother Qown folded his hands over his arms. “What do you mean?”

“You see, what you failed to take into account—” Relos Var stopped. “Why don’t we save the class lecture for another day? Much as you know I love to enlighten the uneducated, you’re right. I’m not sure this palace would survive a reunion between myself and my favorite student.”

Qown blinked for a moment, confused as to why Relos Var would reference Senera when she stood right there. Then he realized Var meant something else entirely.

The goddess Tya had been his “favorite student.”

“So what are our options?” Duke Kaen asked. “Kill Janel Danorak? Send her to Shadrag Gor? And what about our Black Knight?” He gestured toward Ninavis. “Are you seriously expecting me to believe you couldn’t track down one middle-aged woman responsible for all the trouble we’ve had in Jorat? When this is the Black Knight?”

Kaen didn’t notice the glare Xivan gave him.

Ninavis raised her head and grinned as she licked blood from her lips. “And I have to say, you lot sure did make it easy. But your man is wrong; I’m not the Black Knight.”