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King Artos cleared his throat again. ‘I shall stay on in Thezmarr for another week. Due to the looming threat of these creatures from beyond the veil and the darkening days, your Guild Master, along with the rulers of the midrealms have agreed that we need more warriors in our midst… Which is why we have decided that the pending shieldbearer initiation test shall be moved up.’

There was an audible gasp from all around Thea, whereas Thea herself wasn’t actually sure the air was reaching her lungs.

Moved up?She twisted in her seat again.Where in the realms were Cal and Kipp?

‘The trial will take place in two days’ time.’

The hall erupted.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Two days.

Two days until the test that would determine if Thea and her friends were worthy of the Thezmarrian warrior title.

Thea used the pandemonium that had broken out across the hall to slip away from her table. Standing on the outskirts of the chaos, she scanned the sea of shieldbearers and fortress staff for Cal and Kipp. They should have all been together for the news, and they needed to be together now, to process it, to come up with some sort of plan of attack. Kipp would no doubt have a strategy. They had to be ready. They would leave no man – or woman – behind.

So where are they?

Then it hit her: they had thought the same thing and had snuck away to meet her. Relief surging through her, Thea ducked from the hall, glad to escape the chaos. She made for the dormitories, imagining Kipp and Cal waiting to dissect the news with her.

Together they had taken on the most demanding training programs in the midrealms, they had faced down the cruelty of Vernich the Bloodletter and they had braced their shieldsagainst the attack of arheguldreaper, a master – a king – of shadow wraiths…A trial would be easy, wouldn’t it?

Thea burst into the dormitories, her pep talk at the ready, determination gleaming in her eyes —

The room was empty.

There was no sign of Cal or Kipp.

Rubbing the back of her neck, Thea paced. Had she misjudged things? She checked the other rooms – also empty. Was there a place she’d forgotten about? Perhaps the armoury? She hadn’t considered it initially because in the middle of winter, the armoury was freezing. But if they weren’t here… She snatched up her thicker fur cloak and made for the door, a roiling sensation churning her stomach.

Dismissing the feeling as nerves for the impending trial, Thea hurried along the corridor, her sense of urgency growing with every step. But upon hearing voices around the next corner, she slowed to a halt just before the bend.

‘ — idea of a sick prank, apparently…’ It was Torj, his voice lowered. ‘But with what we’ve seen lately… We need to get them back. They’re our responsibility.’

‘We never asked for that responsibility,’ came Hawthorne’s harsh response.

Thea steadied herself against the cold stone wall, her heart racing as she crept forward.

‘It comes with the territory,’ Torj snapped back. ‘We are protectors of the midrealms,all of the midrealms, including Thezmarr. We cannot just leave —’

‘Have the offenders go find them.’

‘They’re denying all involvement.’

Thea’s skin was crawling, blood rushing to her ears as suspicion took hold. There was only one bastard that came to mind.

‘Of course they are. Throw them to Vernich. He’ll beat it out of them.’

‘You and I don’t work like that, Wilder. And Vernich has his favourites.’

‘You knownothingof how I work, Torj, besides that I work alone. And this is why. You cannot trust anyone. Nor can you rely on anyone.’

Torj’s next words were quieter, so much so that Thea had to creep even closer to the corner of the corridor to hear them.

When she did, she wished she hadn’t.

‘It’s Callahan Whitlock and Kristopher Snowden…’ Torj said.