“Your Majesty,” Kip said, after a moment’s hesitation. “Don’t try to fool him. Karn, I mean. He has spies inside the keep. They are always on the watch. So, whatever you do—”

“All right,” Raisa said. “We will make the trade at the Market Temple. It’s in the center of the burned-over area, to the south of the keep. It’s easy to pick out—it’s the only building standing. But Karn has to withdraw his troops between the keep and the temple. He must clear the entire area, understand me? I will come under a flag of truce, and I will bring a guard.”

“A guard.” Kip furrowed his brow. “Commander Karn said for you to come alone.”

“Commander Karn seems to think I am a fool,” Raisa said. “Does he think I’d send my sister back to the keep on her own?”

“You’re not really in a position to bargain, Your Majesty,” Kip blustered.

“As long as Karn wants something from me, he’ll have to make a trade,” Raisa said. “The keep hasn’t fallen—not yet. Tell him I’ll have people on the watch. Tell him not to try to fool me, because I will know.” She gazed at him for a long moment, then turned away. “Good-bye, Lytling Klemath. I will give orders that you are to be released back to your southern allies.”

“Your Majesty!” Kip called after her.

She paused without turning around.

“Shall I bring his answer back to you?”

Raisa shook her head. “I don’t want to see you again. If he agrees, have him fly a banner from the top of that disgusting gibbet of his. If he doesn’t, no response is necessary.”

“Raisa,” Kip said, the bluster gone from his voice. “I’m sorry it had to turn out this way. I had hoped, once, that you and I—that we might marry.”

Raisa didn’t trust herself to respond to that, so she stalked to the door and out, brushing past Amon, who all but had his ear to the door.

“Give Klemath safe passage back,” she said, without stopping. “I’m done with him.”

“Your Majesty!” Amon said. And then, “Raisa! Wait!”

She kept moving, up the stairs, through the duty room, out into the bailey, with Amon hard on her heels.

“You aren’t considering surrender,” Amon called after her. “Tell me you aren’t thinking of that.”

Lowering her head like a charging bull, Raisa crossed the bailey and climbed the steps to the Queen’s Tower, Amon trailing after her like a bluejacketed shadow, his jaw set and his expression grim.

Although she felt a dull certainty that Kip was telling the truth, she had to make sure for herself.

An unfamiliar guard was stationed outside Mellony’s door. She came to attention when she spied Raisa heading her way.

“Is the Princess Mellony here?” Raisa asked, without greeting or ceremony.