llowed were a wh

with silver cutlery, how to bow without stumbling. He was given his own ste

ne in the pala

ts. He was the forest boy who had risen too high, too fast. And worse - he was loved by the k

d Malric, the

ith the prince gone missing for years and no male heir in si

el had upse

ind closed doors. "He's not worthy to pol

or murmured. "He saved the pri

gainst the wall. "Then we

beginning to feel t

training under Sir Derren,

as Kael blocked, stumb

never flail. Control, K

his brow. "I was nev

rren replied, tos

ions of history, diplomacy, etiquette. How to bow to a duke, how

mon?" he had

d at him without bl

Kael's bond with Princ

lit arches. She told him stories of her childhood, of the secre

ght filtered through the trees, the sound of deer a

she whispered once

Eldoria never

n with

llway-throat slashed, blood pooling beneath him. On th

AIT

oned his cour

y house?" he thundered, his voic

among themselves. So

Commander Brynn. "Search every

alric step

Bring in the High Seer. Let her read the blood

hat kind of magic is f

der," Malr

, King Aldred nodded

the High S

torchlight, the Seer stepped into the Great Hall. Her eyes were blindfolded

blood with a pale finger, and whispered

she t

ed direct

illed t

rozen. "No..

e is blood on his path. B

m fell

mean?" the Que

s this one's feet is not from betrayal-but from d

reat?" the

ded eyes turned tow

m follo

nly as she had

, Kael cou

what storm the Seer had seen in him. Wondering if he'd

interrupted

as L

happened," s

smile. "Apparent

Maybe. But sometimes storms

prised. "You don't th

No. But someone wants

slowly.

d. "Or maybe som

dows moved in the corners of the palace. Plan

e same cave where Liora had been

ost their prize h

re coming b