"I sure was." Quinn grinned at me. "Have you ever seen a firestorm rage in the middle of Forlaith's most crowded square?" He laughed. "They all shit themselves."
I tried to imagine it. Forlaith, home of the Solhearts. But imagination had never been my strong suit.
The last line of Shatterblades passed. Quinn tugged the radiant cord, dragging me north. I yanked my bound wrists back, pulling him off balance.
He shot me an amused grin.
Heavy mounds of snow covered the roofs and piled up on the road. I could barely see the stone streets beneath the layers of ice.
"You met Paragon Tiernan?" I asked. "Does he know?"
"Know what?" He glanced back.
"That you helped murder the Emperor."
"Still on about that?" He stopped, leaning closer. "Nobody but you seems to think Solhearts were even there—save for the Brightspears that died at the Emperor's side."
I glowered at him. Perhaps I could escape if we found ourselves alone on a quiet street.
Turning on his heel, the Solheart marched away, dragging me along with him. I held my breath, listening to the bells tolling above the blustering wind.
Father had mobilized every man in the city to defend the southern forts.
Would they reach them in time?
Luck arrived; Quinn turned down a thin, dark alley between towering stone buildings. He moved to speak, but I didn't let him.
Even bound, I could still use magic.
I locked eyes with my sword, sheathed at the Solheart's belt. Frozen wind whirled around me. Twisting my wrist against the bonds, I grabbed a dagger of ice from the snowstorm and tackled Quinn.
His back struck stone, and a blade of jagged ice slammed against his neck. His yellow, cat-like eyes widened in alarm, before that irritating, amused smile appeared on his lips again.
"Tell me the damned truth," I hissed.
"I have," he said. "I didn't kill your Emperor. But you're right—Solhearts did."
"And they tried to murder Aenir's king, too. Why?" I paused, studying Quinn's fine black coat and doublet. Was he a noble?
Father would never believe me. I'd hardly get the chance to speak before he tossed me in my room and threw away the key.
But he would heed a Solheart whose name meant something.
"What are you here for?" I dug the knife deeper. A faint line of red appeared on his bronze neck. "Besides returning me?"
"A Paragon is dead," Quinn said. "I'm here to oversee Siotha's transition."
"Then you're important?"
His mouth twitched. "That's not what I expected you to ask."
"Answer the question."
"Yes, I'm important. Are you trying to stroke my ego?"
I leaned closer. "Tell my father the truth of what happened that day. Tell him Solhearts murdered the Emperor."
"Oh," Quinn breathed. "You don't care if vengeance comes by your own hand, do you? You just want someone to kill your assassin." He leaned away from my knife. "Of course I'll tell the general. The assassins have struck again, haven't they?"
