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Fennan rode up beside them, one hand on the reins, the other still held up by a sling. “Let’s just say the quaintness is a cover for what really goes on.”

Layala raised her eyebrows. “I’m intrigued.”

“Any gambling?” Aunt Evalyn asked.

“It’s a bad habit, Aunty,” Layala teased.

“Plenty of gambling.” Thane pointed out over the water. “It’s the narrowest part of the lake. If you look far enough, you can see the human lands of Vessache on the other side. Trade happens with them here. And since this is a trading town, there are lots of human men, as well as other creatures.”

Layala noted the many docked sailboats. “I’m surprised your father allows it since he hates humans.”

“He doesn’t allow it,” Thane answered. “He just ignores it because he’s busy with his obsession for more power.”

“Another reason why you make an infinitely better king than he does,” Layala said and patted his thigh.

Thane smiled and then swung his leg over Phantom’s back and hit the ground. “We need to change out of our armor. Since Ravens are wanted criminals now.”

Clinking metal and murmured talk among the group was quiet enough but Layala still kept watch from the back of Phantom. He grazed on the tall amber wheat, tail swishing at flies and ears twitching. She watched the forest behind them and the open fields as if the enemy might show up at any moment. The other group split off from them hours ago, hoping to draw Tenebris away from Thane and Layala.

“Where is everyone in Briar Hollow now? I heard it was burned down.” She paused, thinking of all the memories from that place. “Does that mean our home is gone?”

Aunt Evalyn shifted in her saddle. “It’s gone, Layala. All of it.” Her voice sounded thick and hoarse. “But we’re rebuilding with the help of neighboring towns. Svenarum’s royal investigators showed up, too. They don’t dare start a fight with Tenebris. I think it’s more fear of the pale ones than anything, but they gave us some supplies to rebuild.”

Layala chewed on her bottom lip. She couldn’t believe her childhood home was gone. “And the boys? And the new puppy?”

“The boys are fine, taking care of Dregous for me. He’s gotten big already and sheds that white fur like crazy. I left a note and tied him to Ren’s doorstep and snuck off in the night. Fortunately, Ren’s and Forrest’s homes didn’t burn. It was the town square and our house that took the brunt of the damage. Some wheat fields as well.”

“When things—go back to normal, I want them to come to see me at the castle. They’d love all the food and the pretty maidens.”

Aunt Evalyn scoffed. “As if they’d be welcome there unless it was for slave labor.”

“Any friend of Layala’s will be welcome there when I am king, no labor required,” Thane said, retying his wavy dark hair back. “It won’t be like when you lived in the valley.”

“You’d welcome humans as guests?” Aunt Evalyn sounded skeptical.

“Yes. And when there are no more pale ones, I expect many things to change.”

“You believe that’s a possibility?”

“I have to believe that.”

When they started off again down the slope to the town below, the Ravens simply looked like a group of travelers in cloaks and various colored tunics and leathers.

Layala turned to Fennan, who rode a few paces behind them. His eyes were up, and alert. They shaved off his once-beautiful black curls, leaving his hair only a few inches from his scalp. He had some bruising around his mouth and on his right temple, but he didn’t look as bad as Piper. It was her still-swollen eye, black, blue and yellowing against her light, freckled skin that looked incredibly painful. She sat behind Fennan, arms around his waist. Her unmarred cheek rested against his back, both eyes closed.

“What happened to your arm?” Layala asked.

He nudged his brown horse’s sides and caught up beside them. “One of the prison guards broke a bone in my forearm. He swung at me with a staff, and I threw up my arm to block my face.” His cinnamon eyes flicked down for a moment. “You know, it was shocking how quickly they turned on us. As if they never knew us at all. They’ve known Piper and me for years, and it meant nothing.”

“They’re scared,” Piper murmured and slowly lifted her cheek away from Fennan’s back. “You know Tenebris threatens any disloyalty with the execution of their families. Remember Devane and what happened to his wife and sisters?”

“How could I forget?” Fennan said.

Layala peeked back at Thane to see his face. His blank expression gave nothing away. The far-off look in his eyes as he stared ahead, seemingly oblivious that Layala watched him made her wonder. What was he thinking and feeling at this moment? He’d had so much regret when he thought he’d sent his father in to be eaten by the pale ones. Would he kill him if given the chance a second time? Perhaps he couldn’t and that was the real reason they wouldn’t go after him and Mathekis now. “What happened to Devane?”

Piper cleared her throat. “He was a castle guard who worked closely with the king. Devane came to me one night, frantic. He said for three days he heard strange voices in the king’s chambers. Whispers about the Black Mage and dark magic. He was terrified that Tenebris had seen him spying. I told him to go to Thane but before he could, he was dragged to the prison below the castle. His wife was hanged as were his two sisters the next morning, while he was forced to watch, and then he followed them. King Tenebris told the people in the square that they’d been traitors, feeding Calladira confidential information that would leave us exposed to an attack.”

“When was this?” Layala asked.