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Back We Are Blood and Thunder
Chapters (32)
  1. PROLOGUE
  2. ONE
  3. TWO
  4. THREE
  5. FOUR
  6. FIVE
  7. SIX
  8. SEVEN
  9. EIGHT
  10. NINE
  11. TEN
  12. ELEVEN
  13. TWELVE
  14. THIRTEEN
  15. FOURTEEN
  16. FIFTEEN
  17. SIXTEEN
  18. SEVENTEEN
  19. EIGHTEEN
  20. NINETEEN
  21. TWENTY
  22. TWENTY-ONE
  23. TWENTY-TWO
  24. TWENTY-THREE
  25. TWENTY-FOUR
  26. TWENTY-FIVE
  27. TWENTY-SIX
  28. TWENTY-SEVEN
  29. TWENTY-EIGHT
  30. TWENTY-NINE
  31. EPILOGUE
  32. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Silence descended. Ten paces in front of Lena, behind the two tables, a long, pale wooden bench ranged across the hall. On it, eight people sat in a line, each dressed in a different color. She recognized the portly gray-clad figure as the First Huntsman, who was gazing at her appraisingly. One master for each of the temples, thought Lena, quickly running through them in her head. But there are nine temples. The empty place, she realized, belonged to the temple of Mythris.

In the middle of the bench, an older woman dressed in white robes fixed Lena with a fiery-eyed stare. The Grand Master. Lena felt herself catapulted to the castle in Duke’s Forest, her trial in front of the Wise Men, the Justice’s blue gaze boring into her soul.

Emris began to speak, his voice smooth and confident, easily carrying through the huge space. “My name is Emris Lochlade, Third Huntsman of Faul’s temple.” He bowed at the high table. “My companion, as you have heard, is the Rogue Lena Grey, a native of Duke’s Forest.”

Lena felt her courage shrivel under the scrutiny of the hundreds of eyes locked on her face. She really did wish for her hood now. She resisted the urge to cover her birthmark with her hand, to flee to the shadows and find some dark place to be the person she had once been—insignificant, ignored, and safe. But I am not that person anymore, she thought, clenching her fists. The figures at the table frowned and murmured.

Emris cleared his throat. “In my opinion, Lena has made incredible progress—”

“Thank you, huntsman, for your introduction. I did not ask for your opinion.” The Grand Master’s face remained impassive, despite the sharpness of her words. Lena glanced at Emris, who had fixed his eyes on the floor, his jaw tight. She had never seen him so anxious. The woman in white turned her attention to Lena. “Welcome to the Holy Council,” she said, her voice ringing out through the hall. “You stand before the highest magical court in the land. My name is Grand Master Auris—my seven colleagues here are the masters of their respective temples. Do not attempt to lie to me, for I can see untruth clear as black shadows in the sun. Do you understand?”

Lena nodded.