“Parliament takes forever,” said Nev. “And no. With the exception of our own few reps, they don’t tend to understand anything about life in the north. They don’t understand anything about anything, really. Why are they talking about legalizing zilfium use, for one, when Torla’s running out of zilfium? Every time someone reminds them of that, they pretend not to hear. That’s how they are. Why should we need the permission of one of their committees to do something that’s common sense? We prefer to take care of ourselves without drawing their attention. None of which I would tell you if I thought you were unsympathetic, but you seem too interested in the silbercows’ recent stories for that.”

Giddon glanced at Hava. Hava considered him flatly, then said, “We think someone in Winterkeep drowned two Monsean diplomats because they learned a dangerous secret. We don’t know if it’s connected to the explosion in the silbercow stories, but we do know it connects to the Cavenda house in the north.”

“I see,” said Nev. “So you’ve come north to look at the Cavenda house?”

“Yes.”

“And then what?”

Hava shrugged. “That’ll depend on what we find.”

“Can silbercows testify in court in Winterkeep?” asked Giddon.

“No,” said Nev. “Their stories are too chaotic, and mixed with things they’ve imagined. Or anyway, that’s what Parliament’s decided.”

“Have—have the silbercows shown you the story of the drowning of our queen?” asked Giddon, trying, and failing, to sound casual.

“No,” said Nev. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s quite all right,” said Giddon, sinking into disappointment. Falling behind the others, he climbed the red-gold hills, higher and higher, colder and windier, looking out at another wrinkled glacier ahead, at the whitecapped sea. This place was so different from Ledra. The views stretched on forever, vast and open, and the wind felt like it was blowing uninterrupted from the other side of the earth.

I feel like I’ve been sprung from a trap, he told Bitterblue, aching for her to be able to see this and feel that way too.

—

It would not have been possible to find Nev’s house without her guidance, no matter if she’d given them the most detailed instructions. She continued to climb, fast and untiring, just as if she weren’t carrying a pack on her back. It was beginning to grow dark.

In a part of the forest that smelled like sulfur, they wound their way among small, steaming pools of water.