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‘Absolutely not. He was sent to the Scarlet Tower as soon as we found him.’

Thea did stumble then, her whole body crumbling under the weight of her enemy’s words.

‘What do you know of the Scarlet Tower?’

‘Enough… Enough to know that I, too, would have chosen death.’

It had been one of the earlier conversations she’d shared with Wilder, where he’d been all thorns and arrogance. To think of him there —

‘Sire, might I suggest we allow Warsword Zoltaire to retire?’ Torj interjected, his stoic presence grounding Thea, reminding her to keep it together. ‘The Great Rite… It asks much of its contenders. She will need to recover —’

‘Of course, of course.’ King Artos waved him off before addressing Thea directly. ‘You have our deepest gratitude, Althea. The traitor is where he belongs, thanks to you.’

Thea tensed. ‘You have my word as a Warsword, sire: justice will be served.’

‘Oh, I have no doubt.’ King Artos beamed. ‘You will find appropriate accommodations —’

‘I’m afraid I cannot stay, Your Majesty,’ she cut him off, steeling herself from within.

The king blinked at her. ‘But you must rest! Elderbrock here —’

‘I was advised to make haste to Tver, sire, to capture a stallion. I will need one for the war to come.’

The king looked as though he wanted to argue, but something stopped him. ‘If that is the will of the Furies, then I cannot fault it.’

‘It is, Your Majesty.’ Thea bowed her head.

‘Very well, Althea. Take one of our finest geldings. I insist. Do send word once you have secured your warhorse. The midrealms will have need of you yet.’

‘Of course, sire. I am here to serve.’ Thea dipped her head a final time before leaving the dark king of the midrealms in her wake, silent promises of vengeance on her lips.

First, she found a gelding, saddled and ready. Then, Thea sought Torj.

‘Warsword Elderbrock, perhaps you might tell me the lay of the land for the Tverrian herds?’

Torj nodded, taking her lead and walking well away from the war camp, back to the side of the road, her gelding in tow.

‘What the fuck happened?’ she demanded as soon as they were out of earshot.

‘He was injured —’

‘Injured? He was whole when I left him.’

‘Arachne venom. Rendered him completely incapacitated by the end.’

Thea could hardly breathe. ‘But he’s alive?’

‘He’s alive…’ Torj replied slowly, but the pain on his face told her enough of the fate that awaited her Warsword. ‘By the time Dax came and got me, Artos already had him.’

‘Dax?’

‘He’s how we’ve been communicating between the different groups, and Terrence too. Dax brought me here. But as I said, it was already too late.’

‘That place is every imaginable horror incarnate,’Wilder had told her and the others aboardThe Furies’ Willin another lifetime. ‘A sane man would wish for death before he set foot on that island.’

‘Has anyone ever returned from there?’Kipp had asked.

‘No,’Wilder had answered.