tchtower. The city below lay quiet, soaked in gray and still

ching water run in trails across stone. Her

craped softly. She

walk," she

ill patched with the sigil of the old army, though the threads w

ing time with him," he

didn't

ow exhale. "He ki

her eyes.

a plan," Mark said. "Tell me

stopped. The truth was more c

on't. Routes his people used. Stockpiles we never

k he'll just

nk he wants something. And

tight. "You always played your cards

his eyes.

he way soldiers love in the middle of war briefly, fiercely, doomed from t

e same side,"

. "That never stopped anyon

, Raphael w

you hum at funerals. L

, arms folded, watching him

hat song?"

From the southern provinces. My mo

istant. "Mine too. Exc

e not

in

"If you're trying to ma

was nothing but honesty in his voice. "I'm tryi

ibly. But he saw it. S

the chain groaning. "She's

idn't

faintly. "Did

Ruth said. "But it's not a redemption a

. "Or maybe I leave a little

t withou

clenched the whol