a Vanc

my bedchamber and stood frozen

the drafts of this mountain fortr

dress-a Dragonless Queen, kept only as a political

of my bureau. Inside lay a worn leathe

nius, foolishly believing that a lifetime of domestic dev

oices of two chambermaids drif

pale when she returned," t

agonless have no warmth in their blood. Lady Lyra is the one who t

ed over to the scrying water mirror mounted on the stone wa

clarity. It was the private Sky Pavillion at the roost's highest p

son gown glowing. Elara sat between them on a raised cushion. Before them la

der piece and placed it onto Ela

o toast sweet mallows with flame sparks t

need to learn to use the right n

standing, and she still could

gure everything out when she grows

Elara picked a cherry t

len watched her, then lifted a crystal goblet. He touched his glass to Lyr

family. Whole. Co

link. The image die

alchemical hearth for three days straight, burning my hands to the bone to sy

n God. When the fever finally broke, Kaelen had kissed Lyra's pristine hands, p

y hand to prevent scale-chafing, and swallowing my pride to smile at his arrogant court. All of it,

fying calm settl

chment and dipped an iron quill into dark mana ink. I did not write a letter of

ving party stood as an irrevocable renunciation of status and protection. W

the seal of the Dragon Queen us

lia

a plain manila envelope, and looked out over