ood smoke and the weight of

d ceiling, and a fire muttered in a hearth wide enough to roast an ox. Pale morning light fell through a t

mountains ne

neat and tight, and when she pressed it, it hurt less than it should. She was wearing

h an almost comfortable clar

s not tied. The door was a slab of black oak ten feet away. It was not locked. She knew it was not locked,

along walls hung with banners, black wolves on grey, and with weapons so old that t

d pressed herself against it, heart racing.

ck. P

you're awake. I c

h

tell you that you are quite safe. There's food on the table by the window, and a

nd cheese and a steaming mug. She had not eaten since yesterday's c

she said thr

he north. You were br

That's four hundred m

ly," said the voice. "But the w

ow

longer conversati

She thought of the leader of the wolves, with a man's jaw in a

y, of two eyes the p

you may,"

oor o