Page 56

“PEACE!” Ruby yells again, and the word seems to be for Dawsyn, for the captain looks to her imploringly. “Dawsyn! Go easy. We do not come to fight!”

Nevrak crawls to his discarded blade and staggers to his feet. “Who are you?” He calls, his front bathed in blood. “What business have you here?”

Ruby looks to him, one hand on her reigns, the other holding her shield. “We are the royal guard of Terrsaw,” she tells him.

Dawsyn feels the turning before the first word of dismay is spoken. The realisation slithers through the crowd, weaving through their number. A shiver of comprehension, of confusion.

“You have come from Terrsaw?” Nevrak asks. Dawsyn watches the terrible knowledge dawn, watches it break over him.

“Nevrak–”

“We have,” Ruby calls. “And we’ve been looking for you.”

Dawsyn braces. They’ve been looking for them. Looking to capture them, imprison them. She raises her ax.

“We will ensure your safe journey to the valley,” Ruby says now, looking over them all, her eyes growing wider as she takes in their dwindled number, their sunken faces, their ragged attire. “We’ve brought horses, carts. Your wounded needn’t be made to walk further.”

“We’ve beenjourneyingto Terrsaw,” says a confused voice. “To the valley.”

Ruby frowns. She looks once more to Dawsyn, and it takes her moments to see it – Dawsyn’s deceit.

And only a moment longer to take advantage of it.

“You’re headed the wrong way. Our valley lies South,” Ruby calls for every hearing entity in the Chasm to bear witness. “I’m afraid,” she says, and here she swallows. The grim set of her lips turns apologetic. “You’ve been led astray.”

Nevrak’s jaw quivers. He turns to pierce Dawsyn with his glare, and with him, Dawsyn feels every single one of her people turn on her in kind. She feels their accusations, the heat of their rising fury.

“You swindled us,” Nevrak says simply, almost serenely, like the strength of his voice has been swallowed by rage.

Dawsyn’s breaths come shorter, faster, her heart sprinting. Her hands rise in a desperate attempt to subdue. “No–”

Ryon is moving to block her, to shield her. But it was not he who lied to them. Tricked them.

“You told us the water led to anocean!”Nevrak says, his words gaining impetus.

“Listen to me,”Dawsyn shouts loudly. “Please–”

“Just where were you taking us?” Nevrak juts his finger at her, his chest hitting Ryon’s hand. Ryon shoves him backward. “To your Glacian’s den? Some fresh circle of hell?”

“Terrsaw isn’tsafe,”Dawsyn shouts, turning in a wild circle, her back to the guard, so desperate is she to stop this thing from slipping between her fingers. “The Terrsaw Queen is the veryreasonwe were condemned to the Ledge in the first place–”

“On the contrary,” someone calls.

It slides over her skin like oil, this voice. Cloys in her ears. Spikes her blood. Dawsyn’s head snaps back to the guard.

“I am most eager to welcome our long-lost kin back to their rightful home.” And like a shadow collecting substance and forming some tangible nightmare, a black horse comes forward, and its rider pushes back their hood to reveal the silvery braid, the map-lined skin, the thinly pressed lips, the ever-calculating stare.

Queen Alvira’s gaze roams over the crowd, catching on the faces of the Ledge people. Her lips turn downward in something akin to compassion.

And then her eyes meet Dawsyn’s. The corner of her mouth quirks – a miniscule crack in the façade.

Dawsyn turns cold.

“Miss Sabar,” the Queen of Terrsaw says. “I’ve been looking for you.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

Ruby’s horse knickers nervously and retreats several paces, spooked by the sudden shout that rents the air.