"No," I blurted out. "I already hailed a servant."
"Alright . . . " Mother reached out and squeezed my hand reassuringly. Lifting her long, trailing skirt, she softly padded down the hall.
Kicking the door shut, I dove back under the bed and grabbed my hidden satchel.
Father had made my marriage arrangements years ago. My brother had been the only one to protest them.
'Let her pick,' Akemi had insisted. Father never listened.
I couldn't stay here and disappear, buried beneath children and the expectation of obedient silence. Couldn't let the years fly by, allowing everyone to forget him.
If no one else would bring the murderer to justice, I would. My brother had given me everything, and I would not let him fade into a forgotten tombstone.
I shimmied into the tight white pants and pulled the ankle-length robes over my head. Fitting a cloak over my shoulders, I leaned down and laced on the black leather boots and bracers.
So long as my hood stayed up, everyone would think I was a man—an off-duty Shatterblade soldier.
I was only missing one thing.
Slipping outside, I looked around for Mother but found an empty hall. Holding my breath, I returned to the main foyer and passed the meeting chamber. The doors were sealed shut, and murmurs drifted from inside. Good, Father and the lords were still in there.
A lonely fire burned in the great room's mantle, casting faint light across the room. Checking over my shoulder, I climbed onto its stone ledge and eyed the display case resting above it.
Akemi's sword had been on display here for five years. Father would notice its absence. Gingerly touching the bottom of the blade, I lifted it off its stand.
All Shatterblades wove ice from Tsuyan's unique formations into the core of their folded blade. They were priceless masterworks.
A cord hung around the cross-hilt. My throat tightened as I slipped it off.
Every Shatterblade wore necklaces like these. They were expected to fill the cord with something that represented their journey as a warrior.
Akemi had never gotten to start his. Maybe I could finish it for him.
Fitting the blade onto my belt, I hurried to the window and pushed it open. Checking to make sure no guards were around, I jumped into the side yard and closed the window behind me, crouching low as I made my way to our stables. My boots crunched on the snow and the dead bushes buried beneath the white.
Our stables were small. Father's large brown horse dozed beside a stocky white gelding that had not seen much use in years.
Arrow. Akemi's horse, though I'd borrowed him so much he might as well have been mine, too.
The shaggy beast nuzzled me with his broad head as I entered the stables and strapped his saddle on. My hand shook, and I clasped it against my chest.
Women were expected to be silent and well-behaved. They did not leave their homes without the company of a male family member or their husband.
Running away like this, leaving my fiancé waiting for a woman who would not arrive . . . the punishment would be severe.
Steadying my breath, I led Arrow outside and fit my foot into the stirrup, and finally stopped to think.
Where, exactly, was I going? The assassin from five years ago could be anywhere, and I had no leads.
Swinging up on top of Arrow, I eyed the crystalline formations growing in abundance around the city—glimmers of icy silver in the night.
That diplomat, Finan, had come from Kentoro with a warning of danger.
I'd start there.
Chapter 7
Diar
