“Then we make sure that doesn’t happen,” Raisa said, looking around the room.

“The Demonai will do our part,” Nightwalker said. “But it’s going to be more difficult for us to protect you in the city. Hunts Alone has no real stake in this. We do. We haven’t seen anything from the jinxflingers to suggest they’ll contribute at all.”

“Dancer and I will meet with you tomorrow, Your Highness,” Han said to Raisa, using the formal title on purpose. “Just the three of us. I’ll tell you what we have in mind, and you say yes or no. You’re the princess, so it’s your call. What you need is some firepower—enough to scare off the Wizard Council so they leave you alone, for a while, anyway. What you want is to make show. We can help with that.”

C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y

LUCIUS AND
ALGER

Han asked Dancer to walk back with him to the visitors’ lodge. When they emerged from the Matriarch Lodge, powdery snow swirled around their feet in little devil dances, and Han’s nose crackled in the icy air. Even in spring, it was still plenty cold at this altitude once the sun went down.

The visitors’ lodge was nestled in the pines a short distance from the rest of the camp. Han and Dancer were single-filing it on the path when Han heard a step behind them.

Whirling, he gripped his amulet and extended his hand, his fingers tingling with flash.

“It’s just me, Hunts Alone,” Bird said, raising her hands and backing away, eyes wide.

Han lowered his charmcasting hand. “You can’t ambush me like that anymore,” he said. “Not a good idea.”

“I can see that.” Bird attempted a smile. “You’ve never been easy to sneak up on, but now you’re jumpy as a fellshare.”

“That’s how I stay alive,” Han said. After an awkward pause, he said, “Did you want something?”

Bird glanced over her shoulder to verify that no one was within hearing distance. “I heard you were hurt, saving the queen’s life,” she said. “I wanted to see if you were all right.”

“I’ve been better,” Han said. “But I’m all right.”

“Good,” she said, glancing at Dancer, whose face offered no clues as to what he was thinking. “I’m glad to hear that.” She paused, scuffing at some leaves with her moccasin. When Han said nothing, she continued. “I’m off duty tonight. Could we—could I share your hearth? I would like to talk to both of you.”

“Did Nightwalker send you here?” Dancer asked. “Was there something he wanted you to tell us? Or something he wanted you to find out?”

Bird blinked at him. “No. I came on my own. Why would you—”

“We have plans,” Han said. “Jinxflinger business. Sorry.”