Page 42 of Winter Gods & Serpents

“Dark craft?” He answered unsurely, he had not the slightest idea either.

Our squadron turned round to Kirkwall, there were five captives, one pregnant woman amongst them. How such a big group was able to cross remained in my head the whole journey there. Maps? How had they maps for crossing this impenetrable looking wall, gods how many others had managed to cross just the same? How many of them had crossed for me? The last question settled rough on my head.

Cai and two soldiers went ahead towards the city to investigate, since he had been as curious as myself at the probability of a mole.

When I expressed my concerns toward the messenger, he had informed me that trespassing was extremely common in Kirkwall, and that only the past week four groups had been caught. When we approached city gates an unexpected figure waited for us. I found out how my father had alerted Kirkwall so quick of my presence nearby.

I jumped off Memphis and hugged Nia tightly. “He sent you?” I demanded half in anger.

She shook her head. “I volunteered. Barely convinced your father you would hate to miss this one.” She handed me an envelope with the king’s seal. “There is now order at first kill, no more trials. I am inclined to think it’s because of you. There is something strange about this batch, the soldiers mentioned something along the lines of a meeting tunnel through Zone of Peace with access only to one person.”

“Whom?”

She handed me a map of Highwall detailing a small exit by the far west of the wall. “I found this, well…stole it by the archive tower, I will put it back later.”

“Nia,” I threatened. “There is a crafter veil around the castle walls, if the crafter detects any magic inside it my father will begin to search, and guess where he will look first?”

“I believe you will want to hear this before you reprimand me any further.”

She handed me an order of use which she had stolen too.

One name. Esbern Kirkwall

Part II

Fever dream

Chapter 11

Obsidian and Gold

Kilian

This has been the fourth time in a week Isjord caught my people crossing Highwall towards Isjord. Both lands were not to cross each other’s, a rule that apparently had not done much to prevent that, despite the repercussions being many, one of which even death. Usually, Larg dealt with Highwall, but the old man demanded two days a week of rest claiming his old age had weakened him. The only thing that had weakened him was his lover who lived all the way across in Lyra.

“They have caught five of ours, one of them a woman.” Mal said, as we dismounted by the Highwall stables. “And pregnant.”

I took a deep breath shaking my head. “We will plead for her, whatever they ask, whatever it takes.”

I hoped to hide my disbelief to think that Isjord would even give us a chance to do so, had it not shown in my words and shadows.

“I trust you Kil, its them I don’t.”

The Zone of Peace was distinguishable from the flat large wall, established in a round tower in the middle of the Highwall. One general and two captains were responsible for maintaining the efficiency, preventing people to cross and from crossing. Clearly, they had room for improvement since a pregnant woman had easily slipped through it and three others with her.

“General,” one of the guards approached and saluted my team. “They are here, waiting for their captain,” he glanced uneasy towards the tower. “They are insisting our presence is unnecessary, our people were caught miles in their lands, therefore the law fully sides with them.”

“It is what they always say, yet how many have we saved.”

We reached the massive black metallic gates that separated our side of the Zone of Peace.

Mal was always uneasy during these trials, but I could tell this one had really gotten to him.

Nesrin and Grey, two of my captains and my most trusted soldiers, were a step behind us, both shifting nervously.

My brother shared some hard glances in my direction and finally managed to pull my attention. “If you insist on being obvious that you have something to say, just say it in the first place.”

“I though you and Nesrin ended things?”