If he finds you, he will kill you.
As I head for Mercy and pick up my gear, I try to figure out what magesmiths could have taken from the scravers when they fled Iishellasa. Something that they’d want back so badly that they’d fight for it now.
Iishellasan steel, maybe? I know it binds their magic.
The idea doesn’t sit right, however. Those scravers weren’t looking for steel. They were quite clearly looking for a magesmith.
But then another thought comes to me, as I consider what thoserings of Iishellasan steel did forme. As I remember what Nakiis once told me about magesmiths using rings like that to enhance their children’s abilities.
I consider why scravers might be willing to work with the Truth-bringers . . . ?and why the Truthbringers might be willing to work with them.
Maybe the scravers don’t want their steel.
Maybe they want to steal the king’s magic itself.
CHAPTER 21
TYCHO
We’re stopped at the palace gates. I used to know most of the guards just by virtue of my position, but after what happened in Briarlock, it’s clear that roles and duties have been changed. Tonight, both guards stationed there are new and unfamiliar.
Neither of them look happy to see us.
It doesn’t help that we’ve been riding along muddy roads in pitch darkness forhours, and we passed midnight a good long while ago. The horses and tack are flecked with dried mud, and our armor is stained with Malin’s blood. We’re both still in the gold-and-red livery of Emberfall’s army, and we likely look battle-worn and road weary. If it was unusual for two soldiers to be traveling across the border together, it’sdefinitelyunusual for them to be riding up to the palace gates in the wee hours of the night looking like . . . ?this.
The senior guard looks more annoyed than alarmed. From her uniform, I can tell she’s a captain. When I offer my name and title, she gives me a skeptical look before turning to Malin. “And who are you?” she says sarcastically in Syssalah. “The king himself?”
He inhales sharply, but I grab his arm before he can snap back. We’re not getting into a pissing match with a guard captain.
“Malin is a second lieutenant in the King’s Army in Emberfall,” I say. “He’s been assigned to my service by Prince Rhen.”
She looks between the two of us again, as if waiting for me to crack, but I stare back at her. Eventually, she says, “The King’s Courier was exiled to Emberfall, so you two will have to try another story.”
Exiled.Is that what they think?
Or is that what Grey said?
I draw a sharp breath myself. “Iwasin Emberfall, and Prince Rhen—”
“Look, I don’t care if you think you’re my mother.” She points toward the city. “Move along.”
Maybe we are going to have a pissing match.
“Wake General Solt,” I say. “He’ll verify my identity.”
“I’m not waking one ofourgenerals to verify a soldier from Emberfall.”
“I am not a soldier from Emberfall!”
She looks me up and down, unfazed by my anger. “Then what are those? Stolen uniforms? You need more than that to sneak into the palace.”
“Then wake the king,” I snap. “If you insist on delaying me, we are prepared to go through you both.”
The other guard appears in the doorway when she hears my threat, and her hand is on her weapon. At my side, Malin goes tense and alert.
But the guard captain puts up a hand. “I’ll wake the general.” She points. “You can wait there.” She turns away, muttering something under her breath.
As we move our horses away from the gatehouse, Malin looks at me and drops his voice. “Did she just call you a stupid man?” he asks in Emberish.
