ked on any map-not the one Cael carried tucked in his cloak, nor the one etched into the minds of o

carriage. No banners, no livery. Only the crunch of ho

m a pewter cup, fingers stained with ink. She'd spent the previous night redrafting an old House Trelling lineage scroll, tightening language, insert

returned," Nyla had said, "but as a con

owed glens. His sword rested loosely across his lap, eyes ever-watchfu

n two outcroppings of moss-slick stone. No fire. Only sal

nally spoke as they

studied the houses. But

p. "Enough to know

notice you. Not at first. It's

ing it can't ignore," Ser

t. "You'll have to. Velgrave is a feast of old blood and

of hooves. Through woods too quiet for spring. Past crossroads where

er passed them going west-young, h

g, "troop patrols, twenty stron

der her breath.

back the curtai

d like royal sanction. Someone do

ugh for the carriage. Tree limbs clawed at the canv

now a graveyard of ivy and stone. Thorne stood watch with B

st their ears," Nyla said. "They see befor

own had held its shape despite travel. The pendant gleamed faintly with each movement. He

the palace after the coup-but the stare of someone who

down the

s for power

at her for a

ftly. "You'll pas

sky. The city loomed vast and uneven-half of it built on ancient hills, the other half spread lik

colors," Br

blood," C

ster than titles. Bram and Thorne handled the gatekeeper. Cael w

ies and soot-streaked alleys. Perfumed nobles drifting past fi

ed them throu

ou see

e-no, it c

ng ghost,

e in the Lavender Quarters, its once-white stone gone gray with

their base.

ct. Tapestries moth-eaten. Staircases cre

ht no fires at the windows. An

den. The scent of honeysuckle clung to the air. Below, she saw C

t the sound

r

ms crossed, leaning

re in the city. With allies,

id. "But it'

u should know, there's been word. The cor

a's brea

so

Bram said. "Someone

lights flickering like a nest of

Old Line. Rumors spread like spilled ink. A noblewoman from the North. A

ng. The trem

ery rumor c

record of treaty law, a dagger embedded

fr

scanning the shadows. Bram burst through

ent was tied to

st. Or we'll b

"We need tigh

d handed it to Cael. "Let them send

Thorne brought word that a bounty had been posted under the na

they

the last Queen had prayed during the war of succession. She lit cand

e were no

e city was begin

coronation, they rec

il. Hosted by House Elvarre-neutral in nam

e parchment, the calli

Cael said. "And they w

them," s

ck velvet laced with sapphire, stitched with the old sigils in thre

. Bram arranged for diversio

he ball, they

ss and onyx, all angles and flame-lit grandeur. Courtiers g

epped onto the marble

ned. Whispers

hin lifted, steps echoing against a

e grand stair, t

. Sm

de him..

ng sa

raphina

t her side. "

la said flatly. "Bu

. A puppet

at rise to her throat

forward, v

she said to the girl

oom g

t's smile

-the war had moved from

would no