had gathered over the mountains. The wind carried the smell of coming

harder than necessary, and he knew it. He always knew exactly how much force to use when he

cular talents: making cru

er

r eyes briefl

hurried. The warriors had dispersed, leaving t

e I need more training, sa

ou that your stance is

ked me down three tim

ult. You haven't cor

sking for

is going to

say that as if you aren't usu

slightly. "You keep turning every

sguising every i

ckhouse, where the windows glowed gold against the grey afternoon.

concern. Not an

uncil meeting hav

patrol records ar

ger sharpe

the border reports from t

reported ev

ords are

cords. Don't use his

threate

y that right b

cil asks you questions, answer them.

supposed t

ke, once you h

or the impatience she knew so well. Beneath it, she found som

n't you t

thi

on't mind i

't on the

still l

N

own like a gate

don't get to decide what

nters a closed

de whether

ressing against the restraint he kept around it. Seren felt the shift

di

ul," h

wh

how far I ca

erhaps you should find out what h

s movement beneath her ribs. She was not as powerful as he was, and the

oked awa

. "The healer shou

decide

towards th

pack still described as an unfortunate accident. She had been young, angry, and too overwhelmed by grief to question t

re not an answer. They

rds the packhous

abandoned after the northern boundary was moved, but her father used to keep sp

ld wait. The truth abou

d towards t

ew steps when a voice

re you're not

en two dark trunk

ened. "Do you plan to

you make it

d prepare for a

s him. He shifte

night,

him towards th

N

he shoulders of his shirt. Seren could have turned back. She c

"You can frighten the council. But you cannot k

d settled in

ur questions

he truth d

didn't

her more than sh