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Dammit. Fadey, my blood father, planned to take not merely my bones. He planned to take my head too.

Roark rapped his knuckles on one of the wooden posts. We do not have the breastbone, for the heart.

“We came here because Nivek hid something,” Auki said with a touch of hesitation.

“Yes.” Gammal’s knees cracked when she rose. “The firstborn prince left something you will find of value on your search. Come, I’ll show you.”

“Roark.” I tugged on his hand, pulling him free from the crowd.

Black blood seeped from his scar. His eyes burned like embers. I am not in control. I do not know who I will harm if I lose it.

I trapped his face between my palms. “Let me take some of the anger, then. Let me carry it with you. Gods, I am…so sorry for what Virki did to your whole house. Nivek saved everyone. He will be honored across the realms, Roark.”

I will honor him by slaughtering his killer.

I kissed him, hard and fast. “Then I will drop him at your feet and hand you the blade.”

Heat bloomed in my chest, followed promptly by a clawing rage. Palpable and bitter. Roark’s eyes closed. His hand went to my waist. More of the suffocating bloodlust swirled against my own stun, my hate, my sorrow.

Only when his breaths returned to a slower, steady pace did I open my eyes. “Better?”

He nodded, but in truth, now he simply seemed more broken. But the shadows had receded, and his skin was not so pallid.

Outside, Gammal and the others stood around a tall man. He was dressed simply, in a pale tunic and trousers, but around his neck was a fine mantle made of bone and jade.

“Elskan, come meet our Lawspeaker.”

The man’s beard was wiry and long; the end touched his belt when he dipped his chin in a greeting. “Gammal. I heard we had newcomers from across the ledges and came to invite them all to the great hall. We feast as a welcome to you.”

I had no desire to feast. I wanted to lash out and bite.

“Weren’t you going to show us something, seer?” Brynn asked. She held tightly to Kael’s bindings.

“Yes. I still plan to do so. Come, then. To the feast.”

“But—” Brynn tried again.

“You all look weary,” Gammal interrupted.

“Couldn’t possibly be because we’ve been told a mad melder wants to bleed us out and harvest our bones, now could it?” Thane mumbled to Emi.

Her eyes were red rimmed and tear filled, but she shot the prince a watery smile. As though there was nothing to do but laugh.

Gammal waved us forward. “Come to the feast. Where we shall eat, and perhaps find lost things.”

Roark did not speak; he did not look at anyone. His grip on my hand was unyielding. Kyrre plodded at his side and butted his large head under Roark’s palm. Absently, my husband stroked his fara, but his bitterness was trained on the road leading to the largest of the longhouses.

Already lanterns were lit, drums pounded in a boisterous beat, and chatter spilled from the doors.

One by one, Gammal, the Lawspeaker, and other Unfettered Folk guided us through the entryway. Gunter remained at our side, occasionally casting curious glances at his prince. My mind a fog, I did not notice the woman walking in through the doors at the same moment.

“Apologies,” I muttered when I slammed into her shoulder.

The woman from the farm. In her arms were woven baskets of baked bread. Dirt lined her fingernails, but she’d tied her long hair half off her face and her cheeks were pink from being freshly scrubbed.

It was like looking into a mirror of the past. Once I was the woman who saw to it that the tables were full and the drinking horns were filled.

The woman was half a head shorter than me, dainty freckles dusted her nose, and she had dark, somber eyes.