We sat on comfortable-looking bundles made from animal pelts. Our female guide and another girl stepped forward with bowls of fragrant-smelling liquid.

“My daughters,” Lord Agnarr murmured. “Solveiga and Eydís—Strength of the Sun and Celestial Fortune. We have added some kolscheya to your rose tea, to encourage the warmth back into your bones. It is essential, living in the heart of winter.” The man fixed a steely gaze on me. “Why have you come for shadowglass?”

“Before we discuss that, I have one request. My friend here, Likh—he’s been blighted. We were hoping perhaps you knew of some spell that could heal—”

Already the man was shaking his head. “Not even our ancestors knew of a true antidote.” Likh lowered his head. “But she is adequately shielded, and she will be safe. The effects of the Blight rune will pass in a few weeks, though Lady Likh must take the utmost care before then.”

The boy asha looked up. “Oh…I’m not—I’m not a girl.”

“My apologies,” Agnarr said gently. “Your heartsglass is not afraid to speak its honesty, and I only follow what it expresses. But if that troubles you…”

“No. No, it doesn’t. Th-thank you, milord,” the asha stuttered.

“There are other things you are afraid of, Lady Tea, that you do not say. You are afraid for your brother, estranged as you are.”

I started.

“I see it clearly in your heart. Your brother walks a thin line between the lands of life and death. To use shadowglass means to give up the Dark. But to give up the Dark means to give up your brother, and that you will never do.”

I nodded, speechless, trembling at how quickly Agnarr saw through me.

“Our people guard the secrets of Hollow Knife. It is to our benefit that the world knows little of shadowglass. You have no intention of taking its power for your own—I see that much.”

Khalad spoke up. “Why haven’t you completed the spell yourself?”

“None of our people draw the Dark. We can channel all runes but those. It was deliberate—our blood does not share in the curse of Little Tears. We can accomplish shadowglass without an outsider’s help no more than they can succeed without ours.”

“Lady Mykaela helped you?” I found myself asking.

“The zarich rarely makes its way this far north, but on one occasion it drew close to our territory, long before the Dark asha Sakmeet made Farsun her home. I promised to gift her the best of our horses at the zarich’s passing. But Lady Mykaela was not fit for our purpose without her heartsglass. Though she has reclaimed it, she has been greatly weakened.”

“So Mykaela knew about shadowglass?”