Chapters (73)
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- 1 ON ORDINARY LANES AND BEHIND UNPROTECTED WALLS
- 2 THE DEPUTY COURIER
- 3 A THIRD PRESENCE
- 4 THE HOLYSTONE PAVEMENT
- 5 THE HAUNT
- 6 THE MOON-BRIGHT MIRAGE
- 7 THE SOLE FRAGILE DEFENSE
- 8 THE SPORE
- 9 THREE WELL-SPRUNG CARRIAGES
- 10 A SWIRLING RIOT OF ACTIVITY
- 11 OF COURSE HE WAS HANDSOME
- 12 A GAMBIT TO RUIN HIM
- 13 A SLICE OF FESTIVAL CAKE
- 14 ORDER CREATES TRANQUILITY
- 15 THE THIRD ATONER
- 16 A FALSE AND ROTTEN HEART
- 17 BAIT
- 18 ALL WE HAD TO LOSE WAS OUR LIVES
- 19 THE OPENING
- 20 THERE IS ANOTHER WAY
- 21 AN EFFUSION OF UGLY SATISFACTION
- 22 BEST ADMIRED FROM A DISTANCE
- 23 SOMETHING HAD CAUGHT IN HIS THROAT
- 24 TO THIS DAY
- 25 THE THIEF
- 26 A PRAGMATIC SUGGESTION
- 27 DESTINED TO BE A CHARMING ADVENTURE AND NOT A TEDIOUS SLOG
- 28 SHOULD THEY LIVE THAT LONG
- 29 A PERILOUS DELIGHT
- 30 THAT UNEASY TIME
- 31 TEARS ARE A LUXURY
- 32 WISHFUL THINKING
- 33 EVEN IF THEY DO NOT LOOK IT
- 34 A SLOWLY HEAVING MOVEMENT
- 35 THE SOBER SEARCH FOR TRUTH
- 36 THE CONUNDRUM SHE WRESTLED WITH
- 37 FIVE BASKETS FULL!
- 38 SOMEWHERE AMONG THE ROCKS
- 39 THE MORNING OF THEIR DEATH
- 40 THE CLOUDBERRY BREW
- 41 THEIR PURSUERS
- 42 A SWALTER DELVING
- 43 THE ROPE BRIDGE
- 44 DON’T LOOK DOWN
- 45 THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY
- 46 A MORE COMPLICATED STORY
- 47 THE AFTERMATH
- 48 INTRUSIVE AND RUDE
- 49 A DOUSE OF ICY WATER
- 50 MORE LIKE A JOKE
- 51 AS THE EMPIRE DECREES
- 52 IF THAT IS YOUR PREFERENCE
- 53 THE VIGIL
- 54 NO ANSWER
- 55 A WILD AND ALLURING STORY
- 56 THE PULSE OF THE EMPIRE
- 57 HALF-TOLD LIES AND FRAGMENTS OF TRUTH
- 58 THE GREAT LINEAGES
- 59 A FUNNEL CLOUD
- 60 BATH
- 61 A PINCH OF JEALOUSY
- 62 TOO MANY BLANK SPOTS
- 63 THE LAST VIGIL
- 64 THE BEAT OF ITS HEART
- 65 THE DISTURBED VIPER
- 66 IMAGINE THERE IS A NAMELESS LAND
- 67 THE PERFECT WEAPON
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Also by Kate Elliott
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- Newsletter Sign-up
The Vigil captain continued. “Year Eighteen of the Reign of the Magnolia Emperor, Month of Copper, from His Exalted Highness Prince Gevulin, Prince-Warden and All-Seeing Eye in command of the Imperial Order of the Wardens, to Warden Captain Mekvo in command of Far Boundary Vigil, these words: Detain man as a prisoner. Keep him isolated, no contact with others. Do not speak of this to anyone. His Exalted Highness will depart immediately and travel via the Northern Road. Expect arrival at Far Boundary Vigil in eighteen days.”
The words pounded into Elen’s head. Keep him isolated. No contact with others. His Exalted Highness will depart immediately.
Was this truly the prince’s secret mission? It stunned her.
“Month of Copper, from His Exalted Highness Prince Gevulin, to Captain Mekvo, these words: Have arrived in Ilvewind Cross. Please confirm receipt, as have heard no further word.”
Cweles halted. At first, no one spoke, although Xilsi was shaking her head with a sort of resigned disgust at the folly of the world.
“What then?” the haunt asked.
“Your Highness, there came no reply from Captain Mekvo. On my own authority as Vigil captain, I sent a further message to Mekvo, who I happen to know well. He is a responsible and loyal man. To that query, no answer has been received.”
Only now did Xilsi’s expression shift from eye-rolling to concern. She clenched a hand and mouthed a word Elen couldn’t read from her lips.
“No answer from Captain Mekvo at all?” the haunt asked.
“None. Silence.”
Simo and Jirvy, too, became taut with interest at this news. Ipis and Kem simply looked confused. In Elen’s heart, the viper stirred, alert to signs of trouble.
“What then?” the haunt asked.
“I sent a message to you, Your Highness, informing you that Far Boundary Vigil had gone silent, and that I was sending one of my wardens to the Vigil to scout out the situation.”
“My answer to your message? Can you read that?”
“I cannot because you did not answer. That was ten days ago.”
“Of course. We had already departed Orledder Halt. What of your investigation into Captain Mekvo’s silence?”
She picked up the second-to-last scroll. “Month of Copper, Day Twenty-Three, from Warden Captain Cweles in command of South Flat Vigil to Warden Captain Mekvo, these words: I have sent Warden Enshi to confirm all is well at your Vigil. Please confirm Warden Enshi has arrived.”
“What answer did you receive?”
“I received no answer.”
At these calmly stated words, the skin at the back of Elen’s neck prickled. Here blew an ill wind.
The haunt stood. “I will personally investigate the situation at Far Boundary Vigil. What is your advice on carriages? Must I continue on in the Farledder carriages? I dislike being beholden to that woman.”
The words had an icy tone that made Cweles smile cynically.