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Chapters (70)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. Map
  5. Epigraph
  6. BEGINNINGS
  7. PART I
  8. ONE
  9. TWO
  10. THREE
  11. FOUR
  12. FIVE
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. EIGHT
  16. NINE
  17. TEN
  18. ELEVEN
  19. TWELVE
  20. THIRTEEN
  21. FOURTEEN
  22. FIFTEEN
  23. SIXTEEN
  24. SEVENTEEN
  25. EIGHTEEN
  26. NINETEEN
  27. TWENTY
  28. TWENTY-ONE
  29. TWENTY-TWO
  30. TWENTY-THREE
  31. TWENTY-FOUR
  32. TWENTY-FIVE
  33. TWENTY-SIX
  34. TWENTY-SEVEN
  35. TWENTY-EIGHT
  36. TWENTY-NINE
  37. THIRTY
  38. THIRTY-ONE
  39. THIRTY-TWO
  40. THIRTY-THREE
  41. THIRTY-FOUR
  42. THIRTY-FIVE
  43. THIRTY-SIX
  44. PART II
  45. THIRTY-SEVEN
  46. THIRTY-EIGHT
  47. THIRTY-NINE
  48. FORTY
  49. FORTY-ONE
  50. FORTY-TWO
  51. FORTY-THREE
  52. FORTY-FOUR
  53. FORTY-FIVE
  54. FORTY-SIX
  55. FORTY-SEVEN
  56. FORTY-EIGHT
  57. FORTY-NINE
  58. FIFTY
  59. FIFTY-ONE
  60. FIFTY-TWO
  61. FIFTY-THREE
  62. FIFTY-FOUR
  63. FIFTY-FIVE
  64. FIFTY-SIX
  65. FIFTY-SEVEN
  66. TRICKSTER
  67. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  68. Also by Susan Dennard
  69. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  70. Newsletter Sign-up

“Mercy,” Aeduan said, “is not a weakness. You taught me that, Monk Evrane. And now I will teach it to you.” He squeezed more tightly with the forearm against her throat, waiting for her blood to stop its ascent. A careful, patient choke, for the careful, patient soul that he hoped still lived within.

Then she slipped into unconsciousness; her body slumped against his. And with the utmost care for a woman who had raised him, he eased her to the snow.

FIFTY

Safi made her move. She lunged for Henrick right as he lifted his sword. Except he didn’t attack. Instead he gave Iseult a single glance and turned away, bolting into the storm. As soon as his figure faded, Hell-Bards charged in.

“Go after him,” Iseult said. She spread her arms and splayed her fingers. Then she grinned at Safi, a vicious thing that Safi hadn’t seen in so long—hadn’t realized she’d missed so badly until right now. It made her heart rise and her own lips twist upward.

“I will handle the Hell-Bards.”

Safi believed her. She had no idea what Iseult had done in the Dreaming, but it didn’t matter. If her Threadsister said she could manage them, then she could.

She flung a look toward Caden, still veiled in shadow, but his eyes were closed, his breaths ragged. “Stay alive,” she hissed at him. Then she kicked into a run. Out of the tower, into the cloud-filtered dawn.

And though it made no sense with the snow now spraying around her and the Loom still fastened tight against her bones, a warmth was coursing through her. A strength that hadn’t been there moments before, like she could face a thousand Henricks and come out the victor every time.

“Arrest them!” he commanded as he sprinted past Hell-Bards. “Arrest them!”

“Lost control of your soldiers?” Safi called.

Henrick glanced back at the edge of the trees. A single glare to split the snow, then he bolted between a haggard ash and a broken oak. His footfalls were light and fast, and Safi could almost imagine how her magic would respond to this version of him. True, true, true.

She stalked after him. No soldiers advanced on her; none even glanced her way. They were dominated by a Weaverwitch. They were controlled by a Puppeteer.

Henrick left tracks, though snow slashed harder now and wind sheared. Safi pumped her arms and squinted through the storm, through waving, creaking trees. Henrick was healthier than she’d realized and adept at moving over such ground.

But it made no difference. She would catch him, and she would finally end this. This warmth in her gut told her it was true.