He stopped in the doorway, looking at the other students in confusion—but the moment he looked at the students watching him, they quickly turned away. Some whispered to their friends behind their hands and turned back when they thought he might no longer be looking. He moved forward again, frowni...
Together they made their way through the halls towards the library, and wordlessly climbed the stairs to their nook on the third level. As they reached their armchairs, Ebon saw a note resting upon one of them—the one upon which he usually sat. It was only a brief scrawl: Come to Leven’s tavern t...
He saw nothing of the bodyguard as days became weeks, and summer at last surrendered to autumn upon the High King’s Seat. At home in Idris, the turning season meant relief from the unbearable heat; but on the Seat, Ebon had found summer pleasant, and now often felt chilled while passing through t...
He had taken to wandering listlessly about the palace, slouching in his stance and dragging his feet. When he and Xain would sit together and drink wine, Loren overheard him confide to the wizard that he was bored out of his skull and would much rather be on the road with his mother’s army than c...
Gem and Jordel watched from the alley’s mouth. Looking back over her shoulder, she saw their eyes glinting in torchlight and gave them a small smile of assurance, though she felt little for herself. Loren only hoped this scheme would work. Nothing felt more important than saving Annis from Xain’s...
There the path split again. One branch carried on straight, while the other rose into the mountains. Albern gave Jordel a pointed look. “Which road shall it be? The faster road has its risks as you have seen, but as ever the course is yours to choose.” “The faster,” said Jordel without hesitation...