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Chapters (63)
  1. Dedication
  2. Map
  3. A Note to the Reader
  4. PART ONE
  5. The Keeper
  6. Chapter One
  7. Chapter Two
  8. Chapter Three
  9. Chapter Four
  10. Chapter Five
  11. Chapter Six
  12. Chapter Seven
  13. Chapter Eight
  14. Chapter Nine
  15. PART TWO
  16. The Keeper
  17. Chapter Ten
  18. Chapter Eleven
  19. Chapter Twelve
  20. Chapter Thirteen
  21. Chapter Fourteen
  22. Chapter Fifteen
  23. Chapter Sixteen
  24. Chapter Seventeen
  25. Chapter Eighteen
  26. Chapter Nineteen
  27. Chapter Twenty
  28. Chapter Twenty-one
  29. PART THREE
  30. The Keeper
  31. Chapter Twenty-two
  32. Chapter Twenty-three
  33. Chapter Twenty-four
  34. Chapter Twenty-five
  35. Chapter Twenty-six
  36. Chapter Twenty-seven
  37. Chapter Twenty-eight
  38. Chapter Twenty-nine
  39. PART FOUR
  40. The Keeper
  41. Chapter Thirty
  42. Chapter Thirty-one
  43. Chapter Thirty-two
  44. Chapter Thirty-three
  45. Chapter Thirty-four
  46. Chapter Thirty-five
  47. Chapter Thirty-six
  48. Chapter Thirty-seven
  49. Chapter Thirty-eight
  50. Chapter Thirty-nine
  51. Chapter Forty
  52. Chapter Forty-one
  53. PART FIVE
  54. The Keeper
  55. Chapter Forty-two
  56. Chapter Forty-three
  57. Chapter Forty-four
  58. Chapter Forty-five
  59. Cast of Characters
  60. Acknowledgments
  61. About the Author
  62. Don’t miss any of THE GRACELING REALM novels
  63. What’s next onyour reading list?

“And I, you,” said Giddon, the grouchy lines of his face smoothing as he returned her kiss. “Did you see that woman who just left?”

“I did.”

“That’s Trina.”

“The Graceling who betrayed you?” said Bitterblue, surprised.

“And you,” he reminded her.

“What did she want?”

“Believe it or not,” said Giddon, “she claims she wants to know what it would mean to get involved with the Council.”

“Oh,” said Bitterblue, understanding. “Do you trust her?”

“That’s always the question, isn’t it?”

“Along those same lines,” said Bitterblue, “before you say anything more, I have someone to introduce to you.”

“Okay,” he said. “Wait, what?” he said suddenly, groping at her coat, his voice changing. “Bitterblue? Is there a fox in your hood?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Oh dear,” he said, in a voice like he knew what was coming.

“Yes,” she said. “Are you ready for the next big decision?”

Chapter Forty-four

Lovisa faced an awful choice.

Where was her father now? Suffering in a jail cell, with nothing to distract himself, nothing to read? Good, she kept telling herself. That’s where he belongs. And her mind knew it was true, but her heart was with him in his cell, wondering if he was cold. If his face had healed, if his mouth hurt when he ate. If he was scared.

And then her heart would jump to that boat trip, sick and confused, as he lied and made excuses that eventually turned to threats.

If she testified against him, she was probably signing his death warrant. Which is what he deserves, she kept telling herself, but that was a place her heart could not go.

If she decided not to testify against him, he might actually get away with it. Maybe do some prison time for smaller offenses, as an accessory to someone else’s crimes. Maybe lose a portion of his fortune. But then, be a free man. Be the father to her brothers. Raise them. Be her own father. Be part of Ledra society. Probably begin to rise, politically or commercially, again.

So then? Should she testify?

If she did, then it was as if they were standing together on the roof of the northern house again and she pushed him, her own father, off the edge.

—

When an academy messenger intercepted Lovisa on campus, handing her a sealed note that turned out to be an invitation to Saturday lunch with the Queen of Monsea, Lovisa was only half surprised.