Drawn by four black horses with eyes like molten silver, it glided over frost-hardened

he wear. Her arms were bare, but she refused to shiver. Across from them, Alex sat like

ead slightly. "W

idn't look

our h

ur ene

ed. "You do know h

m them," he said. "I

wh

something in his express

m not de

d more weight th

ers were twisted, angular things, built in the old style-before beauty

vants in grey robes bowed as the carriage passed. Somew

ere ex

ere wa

-

as carved from o

rave court sat on raised platforms, clothed in shadows and gems. A cluster of les

r end of the hall, ca

silver silks that clung like fog to her alabaster skin. Her

e feared you'd forgotten ho

nd wakes," he

hall, high and false. "And yet yo

turned

them h

er like a relic. "So this is the

in. "If he's shackl

om the court-and a sharp, app

isted. "Bold. P

han be quiet and dead

ghter s

You'll learn there's po

"And danger in undere

tension like a blade. "We came for wi

" she said sweetly. "Dr

-

east

nothing. They watched. They whispered. And Peach q

ement was

ile was

agrant, and untouched by her hosts.

is...

w. "They wouldn't poison you.

brow. "Not ve

alive," he sa

r

idn't

re masks-literally. Others let their fangs show wit

r in her eyes. A pale man whose arms were covered in blood-red tattoos

many players. T

alone in the m

for her hand be

re cold, and s

d at him-tr

bothered. He wasn't putting o

iting for

som

it

sic st

a s

voice echoing off the walls, "that we

blades-curved, ceremonial, ad

elin

" Nyra said, "and prov

y, refusing to le

s if I refus

en I'll assume y

if I

n perhaps... I'll start be

. "This is ben

tepping forward. "This is e

ok the

ll gre

sser noble with speed in his

ance

e set to rhythm. Peach dodged, parried, turned. Her opponent w

noble. She fought like

cheek, drawing the first blood

ce was un

hed the bla

old enough?

ice cut throug

he court. "And the next who d

-

back to Duskfall, Peach sat

ve let me fight,"

ou," he replied. "And you

oked a

didn't look l

had chosen his queen-and