I reach Bexcona just as the sun fully sinks below the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of red and purple, dousing the illusory flamesbeyond the trees. Dark clouds hang in the distance, promising rain tomorrow, but only bringing humidity now. I let the horse walk, and the animal’s head hangs low, its sides heaving from the effort. If I want to return home tonight, I’ll have to hire a carriage or pay to swap out for a fresh mount before I head back to the Crystal City.
The thought strikes me: maybe I should find a fresh horsenow. An exhausted horse won’t be the best means of escape if I need it.
I hate that I’m already thinking of escape.
But I shake it off. Karyl sent the summons, and I’m appearing as demanded. I’ve never given her a reason to think she can’t trust me.
Though . . . she did plot against the queen without me. Lia Mara was never meant to be bait for the king.
That nagging worry in the back of my mind begins to poke at me harder.
When I reach the banks of the Frozen River, a cool breeze whips off the water to dry my sweat. The horse pricks its ears and nickers at the sight of the flowing water, so I swing off the animal’s back, leading it to the edge. It’s so hot that I can’t help but crouch to pull a handful of water to my own lips. Then I take a handful and drizzle it over the back of my neck. When it trickles down my shoulders, sneaking under my armor, it’s such a relief from the heat of the day that I immediately want to do it again.
But when I lift another handful of water from the river, it crystalizes in my hand. The ice forms so quickly that my skin stings. Sudden panic grips my chest, and cloudy breath bursts from my lungs as I try to fling the ice away.
I’m shocked when it gives without effort, ripping free from my hand to shatter the layer of ice that’s suddenly formed along the riverbanks. The horse snorts in alarm, pawing at the swiftly forming crystals, trying to break through to the water below.
Rapid clouds of breath are blooming in front of my face, and Ishiver. This time I can’t tell if it’s the cold or if it’s the sudden burst of adrenaline. I whip around, my hand going for my sword. Grabbing the hilt feels like seizing an icicle, and I gasp, but I have the blade half drawn before I’m fully upright.
But there’s no scraver behind me. Just Lady Karyl.
My eyes skip to the sky anyway, then the trees. I’m still breathing hard, and it’s wild to watch my breath cloud in air that was nearly vibrating with heat a few minutes ago. But still— no scravers. Just an ordinary middle- aged woman I’ve seen a hundred times before. Fine clothes, elegant braids pinned to her head, noble stature. Her only unique feature is the mismatched color of her eyes: one brown, one blue.
Butshedoesn’t have magic, so there has to be a scraver here. I finish drawing my weapon, and ice crawls along the blade, forming a vivid snowflake pattern that might be enchanting in any other circumstance.
Karyltsks. “You look a bit panicked, Alek.”
Well . . . maybe. It’s been a long day.
But what’s more startling is thatshe’snot panicking. I remember the queen suggesting that the Truthbringers could’ve been working with the scravers, but I simply didn’t want to believe it. I don’t want to believe itnow. I set my jaw and look up and around again. “Where is it?” I say.
“Keeping out of sight,” she says. “Xovaar has grown tired of humans trying to kill him.”
Xovaar.My heart stutters, and I fight to keep any hint of emotion off my face. “You’re working with a scraver, Karyl?”
“I find it suits my needs,” she says. “As I said in my letter, we gathered our best silver, and I discovered it was a lot more useful than I expected.”
I swallow, my eyes continuing to search the trees. I don’t know whatthat means, and I can’t figure it out. But she’s using our code, so I do the same. I bite back a shiver and say, “Your letter said you had plans to send Mother away. Is this scraver helping you?”
“In a way. He wants to reclaim his magic from the magesmiths. I want the magic gone from Syhl Shallow. I’ve made him my ally . . . for now. It was much easier than I expected. Had I known, we could’ve killed the king months ago in Briarlock.”
My eyes flick to the trees again, wishing I could follow. “How?”
“By using the scravers, of course.” She pauses. “I’m surprised you came. I was beginning to wonder if you were having second thoughts about your loyalty to the cause.”
I need to play this very carefully, especially if Karyl has a scraver here and they’re working together. The ice on my sword melts in the shadows, then immediately re- forms. The hilt is so cold my palm stings.
I give a short laugh— then worry it sounds a bit strained. “I’ve always been loyal to the cause.”
“We were counting on your assistance when we took the queen, and you were nowhere to be found.”
“I was in Emberfall,” I say haughtily. “With theking. I had no idea you were making a move on the queen or I would’ve made myself available to you.”
I’m lying through my teeth, and I hope it’s not obvious.
She walks toward me. “Are you available to me now?”
I offer half a shrug, indifferent. “I can be.”
