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At the top of the stairs a bell rang somewhere in the castle's upper levels. She turned to him.

"Have you left your chambers at all before now?"

"No."

She frowned. "Now that you have shown you can walk," she said, "you will need to eat at the table tonight."

"That will not be necessary."

She turned to face him fully. "Your enemies could be anywhere. Even here in Morrath." She held his eyes. "How will you find them if you continue to hide?"

He looked at her and could not think of an answer that would be sufficient.

"Fine," he said. "Dinner it is."

She turned and walked back down the corridor toward her rooms, the books still tucked under her arm.

He watched her go.

Then he started the walk back to his chambers to dress for dinner. It was a short walk and his chest reminded him of that with every step.

He did not slow down.

CHAPTER 28

The End of the Tunnel

This time I was grateful for the lantern.

The tunnel somehow seemed darker than before, its winding passage swallowing the light until only the small circle around my feet remained.

The drums were quiet tonight. Just my own footsteps and the cold and the distant sound of water somewhere below.

At last, the opening appeared.

Beyond it lay only darkness.

It's the middle of the night, I reminded myself. Even if Colsar came... he has surely gone back to the palace.

Still...

I walked closer.

And closer.

Until I stood before the invisible barrier separating Morrath from Urasal.

To anyone else, the darkness beyond would have appeared empty.

To me...

I knew the rhythm of his breathing.

He was on the floor.

Sitting with his back against the wall directly across from where I stood, his knees drawn up, his head leaning back. His hair was loose. He had not shaved in days. There was a bed in the room and yet he was on the floor in the middle of the night.

His eyes were open and fixed on the ceiling.