Frozen air struck my face as we emerged into the pitch-black. A rough stone road led from the dungeons into the city, pure shadow save for the occasional flickering torch.
Light flared to my south. Sparks pierced the night, and smoke spiraled into the firmament. A second fire erupted to my east, and then my west.
Columns of flame disturbed the peaceful slumber of Kentoro, drawing eyes away from the central part of town, away fromthe governor's manor.
And when it too went up in smoke, it would be too late.
The assassins would have already claimed their target.
Five years ago, Tsuyan's skies had turned red as fires broke out across the city. Fires that drew our men away from the Emperor. From the assassins targeting him.
It was happening again.My throat tightened, and smoke filled my lungs, though we were nowhere near the fires.
A pounding headache revived memories of that terrible day. Sweat pooled on my trembling hands, and I fought to remain in the present.
Ferris emerged beside me. He pulled his hood up, eyes darting between the columns of flame, before landing on me.
"Hey." He stepped in front of me and took my wrist, avoiding touching my skin. "What's wrong?"
I'd never spoken of these episodes to anyone, and I didn't intend to tell this rogue.
A single thought dispelled the nightmare trying to bind my limbs.
If this attack was orchestrated by the same people who'd killed the Emperor . . .
The Solheart assassin might be here.
"Ferris," I choked. "If someone was going to be assassinated, who would it be?"
"The king," he said. "Aenir's king."
"Where is he?"
"Winter's Tide. The Governor's manor."
An impressive building rose behind us, a simple but elegant manor of dark wood. Our cell had been buried beneath it.
And I'd missed the Solhearts by a breath when they'd murdered the guard and fled up the secret hatch.
So they could arrive unseen to slip a blade through the king's heart.
Gripping my sword hilt, I raced toward the manor—and the man who'd gone unpunished for five long years.
Chapter 9
Diar
Iflew toward the governor's manor, surrounded by the screaming ghosts of the past. The snow and stone blurred, twinned visions of Tsuyan and Kentoro.
All but one guard had abandoned the gates, and he reached for me as I tore through them.
"Hey!" His hand swatted through the air, missing.
Ahead, the manor's double doors slammed open, and knights spilled out: those in the silver and green of Aenir, and the deep blue and black of Muirashi.
Darting out of their way, I threaded through the crowds of alarmed civilians and ascended the steps two at a time. Ferris shot past me into the foyer, effortlessly outpacing me.
The ground beneath our feet quaked. Clinking glass drew my attention up to the shaking chandelier, a sharp noise against the primal roar from outside.
