uiet

ed with a heavy hi

r swung open, the wet, fish-heavy air of the Lower Ward was gone. In its plac

he Capta

om the ride. My wrists were still bound behind

y sky like ice. High stone walls shut out the rest of the world, and above them rose the pala

awking goods, and no dogs barking. The silenc

behind me muttered, shoving me to

nto the heart of the palace. Tapestries lined the walls, muffling

avy oak door reinforced with black iron

ins

y bed draped in dark green velvet. A fire crackled in a black brick hearth. In

chest. Roasted chicken, freshly ba

adn't eaten anything except wa

and sliced through the hemp ro

hands. I rubbed my raw wrists, then

last meal?

ace remained blank. "Someone will

p thud, and the brass key turned fir

, narrow windows were covered with th

oved near the c

the waistband where my gutting knife should

ed out of t

tunic beneath a dark leather brigandine.

th frost. His face was angular and expressionless

acking up until my calves st

ked toward me without a sound

oice was low and comp

d who y

tter who I am.

ally overc

table and grabbed a roasted ch

still, following

very movement of m

asuring me for a coffin," I sa

h twitched before the

he said

ead turned to a

, leaning forward until his shadow swallowed mine, "a

e silver goblet

re all in t