“General Klemath is a traitor,” Raisa said. “Besides, it’s Marin Karn in charge. We’ve met before. I have no desire to meet him again.”

“Well, they’re in the city already,” Missy said crossly. “It’s reasonable to think that any pillaging has already happened.”

Which was true. Fellsmarch was not a walled city. The mountains were the wall they’d always relied on. Raisa tried not to think what might be happening outside the castle. Which reminded her of the task at hand.

“Lady Hakkam, thank you for keeping my sister company. You are dismissed for the afternoon.”

“Really, I’m happy to stay, Your Majesty,” Missy stammered. “I don’t really have any—”

“Perhaps Mistress Barkleigh could use some help.” Raisa nodded toward the door.

Missy stood, fluffing out her skirts. “Frankly, I can’t wait for the siege to be over,” she said. “I’m tired of seeing the same old people day after day.” With a curtsy to Raisa, she flounced out.

There’s something we agree on, Raisa thought. There are some people I’m tired of, too.

“I picked some flowers for you, Raisa,” Mellony said. She crossed to the window and returned with a vase of wilting black stars and autumn lilies. “Lady Hakkam has a shade garden that’s still blooming even in this heat.”

“Thank you,” Raisa said. She brought the flowers to her nose, breathing in the scent of sweet decay. She set the vase on the table next to her.

Mellony sat down next to Raisa and lifted a thick leather-bound book onto her lap. “Would you like me to read to you? Speaker Jemson lent me another book of poetry. Or I could play the harpsichord. Lady Dubai showed me a new piece. I don’t quite have it down, but I could give it a try.” From the way the words tumbled out, it was almost as if Mellony anticipated bad news and didn’t want to hear it. Or maybe that was Raisa’s conscience pricking her.

“I need to talk to you about Micah,” Raisa said.

“I’ve been wondering where he is,” Mellony said, resting her hands on the book in her lap. “I haven’t seen him all day. Is he on duty, do you know?”

“Micah is gone.”

“Gone? Gone where?” Mellony looked stricken.

“He’s gone to the mountains,” Raisa said, raking both hands through her hair. “He’s going to try to organize a rescue.”

“Why would he leave?” Mellony whispered.

“I told him to go,” Raisa said. “It’s either that or surrender. He can’t beat two armies by himself.”

“He should have stayed here,” Mellony whispered, her blue eyes pooling with tears. “What if something happens to him?”

Sweet Lady in chains, Raisa thought. I wish I didn’t have to deal with this now, along with everything else.

“There’s more.” She extended her hand, the one on which she wore Micah’s ring.