Lenore sat in the rooms that had been given to Finnal. He had assumed that they would go there, rather than to her rooms, so they had. She found herself sitting there, still in her wedding dress, while Finnal sat at a table with a ledger, hardly looking up at her as he made notes. This was hardly how she had expected her wedding night to go.

Lord Harmans gift of two horses will go to the country estate, Finnal said. They are not of the best stock, but they might be useful as an admixture in the bloodlines. We will need to send out riders to ensure that those on our new lands pay their taxes to us, rather than their old lords. Then theres the matter of

Do you even care if Im here? Lenore asked. She stood. I will be returning to my rooms.

And have people think that we are spending our first night apart? Finnal said, without looking up from the ledger. I think not.

Look at me, damn you! Lenore snapped.

Finnal looked up, shutting the book carefully. You are being petulant. I have told you how our marriage will be. You will accept that.

I will not, Lenore said. Before, shed only just come back from being in the hands of King Ravins people. Before, shed been too weak to say anything, but she could be strong. I am going to my rooms. I am changing out of this stupid dress, and in the morning, I will be informing Vars that I wish this marriage annulled.

The sword that Devin had made sang from the scabbard at Finnals side. He brought it to rest in the hollow of Lenores throat, and she froze in place.

You are my property now, Princess, he said menacingly, in a voice she barely recognized. Take one step, and I shall cut your throat.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

Greave hurried through Astare, Aurelle running to keep up in his wake. Around him, the city was a blur of leafy avenues and dark stone houses, but now each building there meant more. He could see now the way the buildings of the inner city fit together, parts of a whole, all a puzzle constructed on a massive scale.

You dont have to run so fast! Aurelle called behind him, but Greave didnt slow. He knew where the library was now, and he wasnt going to wait even one moment more to enter it.

How do you even know were going the right way? she called over, catching up to him now.

I memorized the map of the city, Greave said. They havent changed one stone of it since that map was built. Can you imagine the control of the city that must have taken?