This time she hit true, sending them both tumbling nearly a story to the floor. Raisa tried to land, rolling, but smashed her shoulder when she hit. The pain was blinding, but she rose to her feet and staggered over to where her staff leaned against the wall. She gripped it with her good arm and turned.

Nightwalker was on his feet also. Scooping up Raisa’s knife, he padded toward her like the predator he was, a knife in each hand. “Now,” he said. “Now you will pay for your disrespect of me. But I will make sure you are still recognizable when they find your body.”

Raisa tried to raise her staff, but it was difficult to do so with her left arm hanging uselessly at her side. She was basically defenseless.

“Nightwalker!” The voice came, strong and clear, from behind him. “Let her go. There has been enough bloodshed.”

Nightwalker stopped in his tracks and turned to look.

“Night Bird?” Nightwalker looked astounded. “What are you doing here?”

She stood atop a stack of pallets, feet braced apart, an arrow nocked and her longbow drawn back to her ear.

“I’m here to keep you from killing anyone else,” Night Bird said. “I’ve been watching you ever since Queen Raisa announced her betrothal.”

“Whatever you think you heard, I can explain,” Nightwalker said.

“More lies?” Night Bird snorted. “Save your breath. When I found the amulet in the queen’s garden, I guessed you had planted it there, since I had searched the area thoroughly the day before.” She shook her head. “I thought you’d done it to strengthen the case against the wizards for those who still doubted. I thought the Bayars were guilty, so the end justified the means.”

Nightwalker opened his mouth to speak, but Night Bird spoke over whatever he’d intended to say. “I never wanted anything more than to be Demonai. I never would have believed that a Demonai warrior would creep into a bedchamber and murder a weaponless woman. And then blame it on somebody else.”

“Night Bird,” Nightwalker said, keeping his eyes on Raisa. “Don’t be a fool. Leave us. I will come to you later, and we will talk.”

“I’m done talking,” Night Bird said. “And I’m done being a fool. I won’t wait for you to come murder me in my bed. I’m here to restore what’s left of Demonai honor. Elena and Averill betrayed Hunts Alone when they enlisted his help against the Wizard Council. And now this.” She paused, her voice faltering. “When I was named to the Demonai, I was not sure that I was good enough. Now I don’t think they are good enough for me.”

Raisa held the staff loosely in her right hand, balanced to leap to one side or another, near fainting from the pain in her shoulder.