She glanced at the trees.
The birds would normally be there, hopping along the branches the moment they sensed Ezer’s presence. They were always curious, often following her for a while before they got brave enough to soar down and introduce themselves with a clever little chirp.
But there were no birds here.
The forest had gone still.
And utterly silent.
So silent, the back of her neck prickled.
‘Ezer.’
The wind suddenly sighed her name.
Not now,she thought.
Because the wind only whispered when danger was near.
She glanced over her shoulder to see a prisoner stumble and fall from the exhaustion and cold.
‘Argh!’ One of the others grunted from his spot in line, as they tried to haul the fallen back to his feet. ‘Cut him loose. At this rate, we’ll never?—’
‘Silence,’Arawn hissed as he spun.
His eyes were wide.
And Ezer knew why when she saw the fresh trail of blood a few paces ahead.
It dripped down the hillside like red ribbons.
‘Ezer.’
The wind whistled past her ears as she followed its sound andvaguely catalogued the carnage of the Redguard Arawn had sent ahead to the Citadel, mere minutes ago.
They were all dead.
‘Avane save us,’ a prisoner breathed.
‘Come quickly, Odaeis,’ said another.
‘I saidsilence,’Arawn hissed.
He was the only Sacred. The only one with magic here, and …
A stick cracked.
Arawn winced.
And Ezer realized, with a fresh wave of terror, that the prince wasafraid.
‘Ezerrrr.’
The wind tickled her ears, sighed her name like a subtle breath.
It had come from her left.
She spun and looked at the trees, where the shadows had too swiftly gathered.
