Page 86

“The result was necessary.”

“You are avoiding what concerns me.”

“You have not named your concern.”

She knows I am concealing something. The nature of it remains hidden from her.

I take the cloth from her hand and clean the claw mark myself.

“We move in five minutes,” I tell Joran.

Fiona returns to the injured guards.

She leaves the matter alone, but her attention touches me each time I shift my weight.

The party reaches the stronghold after nightfall.

The gates close behind us. Stable servants take the equus while the injured guards are carried to the infirmary. Fiona follows them until I order the household healer summoned.

Her expression hardens.

“The Zagfer healer will treat Morwen’thir soldiers properly,” I say.

“Because they are dark elves.”

“Yes.”

The admission displeases her, but it is true.

“Check the human stable workers before you retire,” she tells Briar. “Several were outside in the squall.”

Briar bows. “Yes, my lady.”

Fiona turns back to me. “Your arm.”

“Has already stopped bleeding.”

“I was referring to whatever you are hiding.”

Joran stands close enough to hear.

“I am tired,” I say.

“That is not what I saw.”

“You saw the cost of chaos magic.”

“Does it always make you guard your left side?”

The scar throbs beneath my clothing.

“Go to your chambers, Fiona.”

She studies me, frustrated by an order she cannot force aside.

Then she leaves with Briar.

I remain angry after she disappears into the upper corridor.