aCame and knocked on our suite this morning,a Collarn was saying with palpable excitement. aMy father thought theyad come to arrest me for something stupid Iad done. I thought head die of shock when they told him that the Emperor had decided that the Keeper of Music needed help and that the masters at the School of Music had recommended me for the position.a Tier smiled at him. aSo are you going to take the job?a Collarn grinned back. aAnd have to slave around after an old man for years, cleaning, tuning, and refinishing instruments? Absolutely. Do you know the kinds of things that are rabbited away in these rooms?a He gave a vague wave around to indicate the palace. aNeither do I. But Iave already gotten to play instruments that are worth more than all my familyas holdings combined.a Tier talked with him a bit more, and gradually turned the conversation over to Myrceria. When she had Collarnas attention fully engaged, Tier excused himself and began meandering through the auditorium because the unmistakable sounds of another fight were starting to rumble from somewhere near the stage.

He spoke casually to a few boys as he passed. By the time he made it to the fight, a crowd had gathered around to call encouragement to the combatants. They parted for Tier willingly enough. Once he had a clear view of the action, Tier folded his arms and watched.

The first boy was Toarsen, who was a hotheaded, bitter young man and, like most of his fellows, spoiled by too much money and nothing to do. But he was smart, which Tier liked, and he wasnat a coward.

His opponent was a little bit of a surprise, one of the twenty-year-olds who Tier had pegged as the worst kind of troublemaker, the ones who sat by and let other people do their dirty work. Nehret was not one of the boys who usually found themselves in duels.

Watching them closely, Tier could see signs that both of them had been trained to sword since birth, as many noblemen were, but they were trained as duelists, not as soldiers.

When head seen enough, Tier turned to the boy on his right, aMay I borrow your sword?a The boy flushed and fumbled, but handed the weapon over. When Tier asked the boy on his left for his sword also, that young man laughed, drew with a flourish and presented it to Tier on one knee. With a short sword in either hand, Tier walked into the makeshift combat floor.

He watched closely for a moment, staying out of both opponentsa immediate line of sight as he tested the swords he held for balance. They were lighter than the one head left in Redern and of a slightly different designa"made for letting blood rather than killing, he thought.

Finished with his preparations, he darted forward and attacked. Toarsen lost his sword altogether. Nehret kept his blade, but only at the cost of form and balance. He landed ignominiously on his rump.

aIf youare going to fight,a said Tier. aAt least do it right. Nehret, you lose power because your shoulders are stiffa"youare making your arms do all the work.a Tier turned his back to Nehret, knowing from the past few days of observation just how well the boy would take being criticized and what he would do about it.

aToarsen,a Tier said. aYou need to worry less about trying to scratch your opponent, and more about defending yourself. In a real fight youad have been dead a half dozen times.a He turned and caught the blade Nehret had aimed at his back.

aWatch this and see what I mean,a continued Tier as if he werenat fending off the angry boyas blows. It wasnat as easy as he made it look. aNehret is extending too mucha"ah, see? That attack is what I was talking about earlier. If youad had your body behind it instead of just your arm it might have accomplished something. Look, he wants to really hurt me, but heas been so trained to go for touches rather than hits that he doesnat stand a chance of hurting me beyond a scratch or two. Thatas the problem with too much dueling, you donat know what to do in a real fight.a Tier put his left hand behind his back to get that blade out of his way. Then he turned the blade in his right so that when he hit Nehret he didnat take off his arm, just numbed it so the boy lost his sword.

Tier tapped him on the cheek. aBy the way,a he said, anever go after an opponent when his back is turned unless there is more at stake than your pride.a Then he turned his back to Nehret again, knowing that head gone a fair way to reducing the amount of influence the boy had upon the other Passerines in the last few minutes. aToarsen, why donat you try a round against me?a After the council meeting, Phoran found that he was quite popular. People followed him wherever he wenta"to his bedchamber if he didnat get the door shut fast enough. Tradition would keep all the Septs at the palace until just before harvest; if they kept this up until then, head have the whole lot of them thrown out. Finally, having had enough of the fawning, resentful Septs, Phoran sent for Avar to go riding with him.

Head been avoiding Avar, since head put words to the fears head always had. It was poor payment for the Septas swift support during the council meeting, and Phoran had to do something to change it.

In the stable, he mounted without aid, but he had other things on his mind and took little note of it. For hours he dragged Avar from one merchant guild master to the next. It was not out of the ordinary for the Emperor to visit a guild masteras shopa"an emperor would hardly buy goods from a lesser man. If anyone was watching Phorana"and he thought there was at least one man following thema"they would see that Phoran purchased something at every shop.

Phoran knew all the guild masters of course, but this was the first time head set himself to be pleasant to them. After they left the Weaversa Guild, Avar gave in to the curiosity Phoran had seen building all morning.

aYou donat need a bed hanging,a said Avar. aYou could care less about silver candy dishes and tables with fluted legs. Just what are you doing?a Phoran had come to believe Avar innocent of anything other than being assigned to keep the Emperor company and told to keep him occupied. Even so, he didnat quite trust his own evaluation. He should not have had Avar come with him.

Blade tossed his head, and Phoran let his reins slide through his fingers then gradually shortened them again to keep a light hold on the stallion. aAfter my uncle died, who told you to befriend me?a Avar stilled.

aItas all right,a said Phoran, though he watched the crowded streets rather than Avar. aI just would like to know who it was.a aMy father,a said Avar. aBut it wasnata"a aI suspect it was,a said Phoran ruefully. aI was, what, twelve? And you seventeen. It would have been an unhappy chorea"and I thank you for it.a He took a deep breath and chose to trust. aIam trying to build some kind of a power base. The Septs will require a lot of work on my part before I know who will back me and why. But the city is as important to the stability of the Empire as the Septs. I thought it would be good to find backing here, where the Septs are too proud to look.a aI do like you,a said Avar quietly. aI always have.a aAh,a said Phoran, for lack of anything better to say. How could Avar have liked him when everyone, including Phoran himself, had despised him? What had there been to like? But Avar had done his best to forward Phoranas plans, and for that, and for so many years of duty, Phoran owed him the chance to keep his white lies.

They rode in silence to the shop of the master importer, who brought goods from all over the Empire and beyond.

aIs Guild Master Emtarig in?a asked Phoran of the boy who manned the shop.

aNot now, sir. May I help you?a He was new, this boy, and Phoran doubted that he knew even who it was who entered the shop. Phoran was dressed in riding clothes without imperial symbolsa"there was nothing to say who he was except his face.

aBoy,a said Avar, gently enough, atell your master that the Emperor awaits him in his shop.a The boyas eyes darted between Phoran and Avar, trying to decide who was the Emperor. At last he bowed low to Avar and scuttled through a curtained passage and, from the sound of his feet, up the stairs to the masteras private lodgings.

Phoran began sorting among the items on the laden shelves and hid his smile. Avar couldnat help that he looked more like an emperor than Phoran did.

By careful negotiations with the other guilds, the importeras guild members could sell items that were not made in the city. There were beautifully tanned skins of animals Phoran had never seena"and likely never would. Valuable blown-glass goblets stood on a high shelf where no one was likely to knock them off accidently. Phoran was fingering a handful of brightly colored beads that caught his attention when he heard the boy leap back down the stairs.

He didnat turn until the guild master said, aMost Gracious Emperor, you honor my shop.a aMaster Willon?a Phoran said with honest delight. He had to turn back to put the beads away. aI thought that you had retired to some godsa forsaken province, never to return to Taela?a aCareful, Phoran,a said Avar, who was grinning. aHe went to Redern, which is part of my Sept.a aAnd Leheigh is truly a godsa forsaken place,a agreed Phoran. aWhat business brings you back? I hope that there is nothing wrong with Master Emtarig.a aMy son is well,a said Willon. aBut I have not seen my grandchildren in too long. I thought it was time to visit. My son is out to the market to speak with the Music Guild about a drum I brought back with me. Also, I had some people to see here.a aGood,a said Phoran. He thought of asking Willon what he knew of a man named Tiera"but when he spoke, all he said was, aWhat would you take for three of these hangings?a He would ask Tier about Willon instead.

They bargained briskly until they reached a price both thought fair. Phoran let it drag on for longer than he might have, hoping to catch Emtarig. Willon was an old friend of his uncleas, but Emtarig was the master guildsman now, the man Phoran needed to impress. But Emtarig did not return, so Phoran paid for the hangings and asked Willon to send the goods to the palace at his leisure.

They went to three more guild masters and bought a cobalt blue glass jar, four copper birds that sang in the wind, and an eating knife inlaid with shell before Phoran headed back to his rooms for a private evening meal with Avar. They talked, but not about anything serious.

Soon, thought Phoran, head tell Avar all that head found out about the Patha"but not yet. Avar wouldnat believe him as easily as Tier had; he wasnat used to Phoran being anything except a jaded drunkard. Though to do him justice, Avar didnat have the motivation to believe in evil that Tier had.

Tier returned to his room tired, bruised, and ultimately satisfieda"a usual state these days. His daily sword lessons had become more of a favorite activity than the dueling had ever been.

The Passerines blossomed under his attention and some, especially Toarsen, had come around and grown more than head thought possible. Head always had a knack for turning boys into fighting men, which was why Gerant offered him a job in his personal guard when there were other men, born in the Sept, who were as good or better with weapons.

There were a few that werenat worth saving. Nehret was one, and there was one of the youngest batch who was, if Tier wasnat mistaken, one of those very few who seemed to be born without any morals or courage at all. Head toady to those more powerful and hurt anyone he saw as weaker. In a few years, if he wasnat already, head be a rapist and murderer, and never lose a nightas sleep over it. Tier had set Toarsen and his large friend Kissel to watch over that one and protect the younger Passerines.

The door to his room was open. Some of the boys would stop in at night, so nothing struck him as odd until he saw who it was.

aMyrceria?a Sitting on his bed, her legs folded neatly underneath her, she smiled at him brightly. aI hope that you donat mind that I came here this evening.a aNot at all,a he said.

She looked away. aPlay something for me, please,a she said. aSomething to make me laugh.a He closed the door and sat on the foot of his bed, taking the lute off the hooks head had installed in the wall. He played a bit of melody on the lute, tuning automatically until it was acceptable.

aHow do you do it?a she asked. aCollarn doesnat like anyonea"and they generally return his feeling with interest. The only thing he loves is music. He works so hard at it, and he is never good enough. He hated the thought that because of your magic you would play better than he, no matter what he did or how much he practiced. I saw you take his hatred and turn it to hero worship in less than an hour. Telleridge said that you canat use your magic on us.a aItas not magic,a Tier said. aCollarn loves music, and that is more important to him than all the hurts the world has dealt him. I just showed him that I loved music, too.a aWhat about the rest?a she asked. aThe Passerines follow you around like lost puppies.a aI like people,a said Tier with a shrug. aI donat think most of these boys are used to dealing with someone who likes them.a Unexpectedly she laughed, but it wasnat a happy sound. aThe Masters are very concerned with what you have done to their control of the Passerines. Be careful.a She turned her head and he saw that there was a bruise on her jaw.

aWho hit you?a he asked.

She picked up a pillow and began straightening the fringe. aOne of the Masters told Kissel that they were worried because Collarn was spending so much time away from the Eyrie. They told Kissel that he was to remind Collarn where his loyalties should liea"and Kissel refused them. He said that you would not approve of him picking on someone weaker than himself.a Tier stilled his strings. aI donat suppose it even crossed his mind to agree and then either fake ita"or tell me about it. Ellevanal save me from honest fools. Why couldnat they have gone to Toarsen?a Myrceria stared at him, her hands stilled. aYouave done it on purpose, havenat you? Youare taking control from the Masters on purpose. A month ago Kissel would have been happy to please the Masters, to win the fear of the other Passerines. How did you do it?a Tier played a few notes of a dirge Collarn had played for him on a violina"it sounded odd on a lute.

aThey are trying to ruin those boys,a he said at last, ato turn them into something much less than they could be.a Head been certain that she was a spy for Telleridge, and that might still be truea"but his instincts told him that it wouldnat take a lot to turn her against the Masters of the Path. He would just have to find the right words.

He played a few more measures. aWhat happens to the ones who donat play their little game, Myrceria? Boys like Collarn who would never agree to the kinds of real damage the Path metes out? Or ones like Kissel, who is discovering that protecting someone weaker than he is makes him feel better about himself than tormenting them ever did?a She didnat say anything.

aThere arenat as many Raptors as there should be,a he said gently. aNot for the numbers of Passerines they have.a aThatas how they progress in the Path,a she whispered. aThe boys who would be Raptors are given the other boysa namesa"the ones like Collarn. They have to bring back proof that they have killed the bearer of the name they were give before they are Raptors.a She set the pillow aside. aHow do you do that?a she said. aIf they knew what I told you, they would kill me.a aYou know it is wrong,a he told her. aYou know they must be stopped.a aBy whom?a she said, her incredulousness fueled by anger. aYou? Me? You are a prisoner in their power, Tier of Redern. You will die as they all do at the end of their year. And I am as much a prisoner as you.a aEvil must always be fought,a Tier said. aIf you donat fighta"then you are a part of it.a She rose to her feet and walked without haste to the door. aYou know nothing of what you face, or you would not be so arrogant, Bard.a She shut the door tightly behind her.

Well, thought Tier, that was unexpected. Whores learn early that survival means that they have to look out for themselves. Myrceria had been a whore for a long time, but she wasnat talking like a whore who cared for no one else.

She cared about those boys. She wasnat happy about it, but she cared.

Tier slapped one of the scrawny first-year Passerines on the shoulder after the boy finally executed the move Toarsen had been struggling to teach him for days.

aDrills,a Tier called. There were groans and half-hearted protests, but they formed up in three ragged lines, lines that straightened at his silent frown.

aBegin,a he called, and worked with them. Drills were the heart of swordplay. If a man had to think about his body and how to move his sword, head be too slow to save himself. Drills taught the body to respond to information from eyes and ears, leaving the mind to plan larger strategy than just how to meet the next thrust.

The sword he held wasnat the equal of the one head taken from some nobleman on the battlefield, but it was balanced. Myrceria had brought it to him when he requested it.

Tierad continued to work with his sword over the years, but the past weeks had sharpened him until head almost reached the speed and strength head held while he was a soldier. His left shoulder was always a bit stiff until he worked it out, but otherwise he hadnat lost much flexibility to age.

He drilled with the boys until sweat made his shirt cling uncomfortably to his shoulders, then he brought his sword around in a flashy stroke that ended with it in its sheath.

aPools!a shouted the boys in one voice, and they dashed, swords in hands, to the washroom to play in the cold pool.

Tier laughed and shook his head when Collarn stopped to invite him to the waterfight. aIave no wish to drown before my time,a he avowed. aIall wash up in my rooms.a Loyalty, he thought, watching the last of them disappear into the hall, was won by sweating with them.

aTheyave improved,a said Telleridge.

Tier hadnat noticed the Master, but head been concentrating on the boys. He took a glass of water from a servant.

aThey have,a he said, after taking a long drink. aSome of them had further to go than others.a aI knew that you were a soldier, but you were more than thata"Iave been looking into it,a Telleridge said. aRemarkable that a peasant boy, no offense, could be set to command soldiers. Are you one of the old Sept of Leheighas by-blows?a aDo you know where Iam from?a asked Tier with a lazy smile as he handed the empty glass off to one of the silent waiters.

aThe Sept of Leheigh,a replied Telleridge.

Tier shook his head. aIam from Redern, the first settlement the Army of Man created after the Fall of the Shadowed, named for the Hero of the Fall, Red Ernave. We are farmers, tanners, bakers . . .a He shrugged. aBut scratch a Rederni very deeply and youall find the blood of warriors. If youall excuse me, I need to wash up and change clothes.a When Tier reached his cell, he closed his door and washed quickly with water from the basin left there for that purpose. Once head changed into clean clothes he lay down on his bed.

The last time Phoran had visited, a few days ago, Gerant had sent word that he was on his way. It couldnat be too soon for Tieras comfort: the Masters werenat going to wait forever while Tier wrested control of the Passerines from them.

He woke for lunch and spent the rest of the day in his usual manner, talking and socializing in the Eyrie. In the evening he played for them, mostly raunchy army songsa"but he feathered in others, songs of glory in battle and the sweetness of home.

Looking over the faces of the men who listened to his music he knew triumph because, given a chance, most of them would grow into fine men. Men who would serve their emperor, a boy who was showing signs of being the kind of ruler a man could take pride in serving: shrewd and clever with a streak of kindness he tried hard to hide.

When he returned to his room for the night, Myrceria tucked her arm flirtatiously in his and accompanied him.

When they were inside his room, she dropped her flirtation and his arm and settled on his bed. Stroking the coverlet absently she said, aI swore I was done talking to you. I have survived here a long timea"and I did it by keeping my mouth shut. How dare you demand more of me?a She said it without heat. aI have no power to affect the men who rule here. I am just a whore.a Tier leaned against the wall opposite the bed, crossed his feet at the ankles and did his best to look neutral.

aI havenat seen the sun since I was fifteen,a she murmured, almost to herself. aSometimes I wonder if it still rises and sets.a aIt does,a said Tier. aIt does.a aTelleridge is planning a Disciplining.a She flattened her hand and stared at it as though shead never seen it before.

aWhat is a Disciplining?a asked Tier, not liking the sound of it at all.

aWhen a Passerine disobeys a Raptor, they hold a meeting to decide what his punishment will be. Then they are punished in the Eyrie with all the Passerines in attendance. They usually do one every year, just as a reminder.a aWho is being disciplined?a asked Tier. They wouldnat pick him, he thought; they were too smart for that. They didnat need a martyr, they needed an example.

aI donat know,a she said.

aCollarn,a he said. aOr maybe Kissel or Toarsen. But Collarn if theyare smart. If they hurt Toarsen, Kissel wonat stand for it. If they hurt Kissel, Toarsen will go to his brothera"and Avar has enough friends, including the Emperor, to hurt the Path. Collarn has no close friends except for me, and heas the kind of person that people expect bad things to happen to. When it does, it wonat disturb the Passerines much.a aThatas what I thought,a said Myrceria softly. aI like Collarn. He has a vicious tongue when he wants to, but heas always polite to the people who canat defend themselves.a Tier heard the grief in her voice. aThis is more than a caning or a beating,a he said.

aAll of the boys are forced to participate in the Disciplining in some waya"and the punishment can be anything,a she said. aTelleridge is very creative. Whipping is the most common, but some of the others are worse. One boy they forced to drink water . . . he passed out, and I think he died. They poured water on his face while he choked and gagged. And when he stopped, they just kept pouring.a aCan you make sure I know about it before it happens?a he asked.

She kept her eyes averted, but nodded quickly. aIf I know in advance. I donat always.a aCan you get word to Collarn?a If they could warn him . . .

aTomorrow,a she said after a moment. aI have to do it myselfa"I canat trust any of the girls with a message like that. And I canat leave the Pathas rooms anymore than you can. Tomorrow should be soon enough.a She spoke those words quickly, as if she could make it true just by saying so. aIt should take a day or two for them to arrange to get word to everyone anyway.a aRight,a he said. aTell him to find a reason to leave town for a week.a She nodded, started to get up to leave, but then settled back, wrapping her arms around her middle. aWould you play something for me? Something cheerful so I can sleep?a He was tired, but she was tired, too, and no more than she could he have slepta"not with the knowledge that the Masters had decreed that one of his boys was going to suffer for what Tier had done.

aIam not going to sleep anytime soon either,a he said. aMusic would be nice.a He sat on the other end of his bed and started to tune his lute again. Head just finished bringing the second course of strings in accord with the rest, when the door opened unexpectedly.

Tierad grown used to the respectful knocks of his captorsa"even Phoran knocked. It was too early for a visit from Phoran. Tier opened his mouth for a reproval but stopped, shocked dumb when Lehr entered the room wearing Tieras own sword.

Joy lit Lehras face, then dimmed a bit when he looked past Tier and saw Myrceria. He made a move to block the doora"perhaps Tier thought with a touch of amusement that threaded past his astonishment, to allow Tier to assume a less compromising position. Did Lehr actually think that his father would take a leman?

But the door popped open wider before Lehr could reach it, and Jes took two full strides into the room. The comfortable temperature of the room plummeted until Tier could see his own breath, and Myrceria let out an abortive squeak.

Tier got to his feet slowly, because it was never smart to move too quickly around Jes in this mode, and opened his arms. Jesas glance swept the room comprehensively. But he apparently didnat see anything too threatening in Myrceria because he took two steps forward and wrapped his arms around Tier.

aPapa,a he breathed as the room warmed. aOh, Papa, we thought wead never find you.a aOf course you did.a A womanas voice, deep, rich, and beloved filled the room like the sound of a cello. Tier looked over Jesas shoulder to see his wife enter. aEver since Hennea told us that head been taken alive. Are you well?a Seraph looked so much like the empress-child head first met that it made him smile. An ice princess, his sister had called her with contempt. Being a straightforward person herself, Alinath had never seen that the cool facade could hide all manner of emotions that Seraph chose not to share.

aIam fine,a Tier said, and seeing that she was not going to run into his arms immediately, he continued speaking, aand much happier than I was a few minutes ago. Lehr, come here.a Lehr had grown in the months since head seen him last, Tier thought, hugging him tightly. So had Jes for that matter; his oldest son was a little taller than Tier now.

aWe missed you,a said Lehr, returning his hug.

aI missed you, too.a He held him for a moment more.

aLehr killed some people,a said Jes. aHe saved Mother.a Lehr stiffened in his arms, but Tier merely hugged him tighter. aIam sorry, son,a he said. aKilling another man is not something that should rest easily on your shoulders.a When he stepped back at last, he looked at Seraph, whoad stayed by the open door. aIs Rinnie out there, too?a As was her habit with him, she answered the real question he asked. aSheas safe with your sister. Frost, it seems, was the only family casualty of this messa"though we were quite worried about you until just now.a aThey killed Frost?a She nodded, aTo make it look as if the both of you had walked into one of the Blighted Places. We might have believed it if a cousin of mine hadnat straightened us out.a She hadnat looked at Myrceria, but he knew that she didnat have any cousins. She must have met another Traveler.

aItas not safe for your cousins here,a he warned.

She smiled like a wolf scenting prey. aOh they know that,a she said. aI just hope these solsenti of the Secret Path choose to try their tricks again.a Her tongue lingered on aSecret Path,a making it sound childish and stupid, which, of course, it was.

aYou know about the Secret Path?a he said.

aWe know about the Secret Path,a said Lehr. aTheyare killing Travelers and stealing their Orders.a aWhat?a said Tier, looking at Seraph.

She nodded. aThey take them from the dying Traveler and place them in a stone that they wear on jewelry so that they can use them.a aHow did you find out so much?a he asked.

aHennea told us,a said Jes helpfully.

aMy cousin,a agreed Seraph.

aThey have someone in Redern who has been watching our whole family,a said Tier.

aNot anymore,a said his wife coolly.

aMother killed him.a Jes had found a perch on top of a small table and was playing with the vase that had occupied the table first.

Tier glanced back at Myrceria. aI told you theyad be sorry if they ever ran afoul of my wife. Myrceria, Iad like you to meet my family. My wife, Seraph; my eldest son, Jes; and my youngest son, Lehr. Seraph, Jes, Lehr, this is Myrceria, who has helped make my captivity bearable.a Jes nodded with the shy manner that characterized him in front of strangers, Lehr made a stiff bow, and Seraph turned on her heel and walked out the door.

Lehras smile died, so Tier took a moment to explain to him. aShe knows me too well to think Iave taken a mistress after all these yearsa"as you should. Myrceria is an ally, so be polite. I need to take a moment with your mother.a He followed Seraph and closed the door behind him softly. Seraph was studying the stone wall of the hall as if shead never seen stone laid upon stone before. They were safe enough, he thought. Anyone who walked down this hall was coming to see hima"and at this hour that meant one of the Passerines. There was time, so he waited for her to show him what she needed from him.

aThere is death magic in these stones,a she said. She didnat sound as if it bothered her.

aTheyave been killing people for a long time,a he said. aThereas a message awaiting you in Redern telling you that Iam still alive. It should have gotten there by now.a aHopefully someone will direct the messenger to Alinath,a said Seraph, without looking away from the wall. She set a palm against it and said, aOnce we convinced her you were alive when you left, she was most eager to hear if youad stayed that way.a She pushed away from the wall abruptly. When she turned toward him he thought shead look at him at last, but her eyes caught on the floor and stayed there.

aWe need to get you out of here,a she said in a low voice. aThis place is a labyrinth, but Lehr found you, which was the difficult part. Heall be able to backtrack on the way out.a aI canat leave, Seraph,a he said.

Her face came up at that.

aThereas a boy about Jesas age whoas going to be hurt because of me if I canat put a stop to ita"and theyave put some sort of hex on me anyway so I canat wander around at will.a She reached out to touch him for the first time since shead appeared at his door. Gripping his hands lightly, she turned his hands over to look at his wrists.

aI can break this,a she said positively after a moment. aBut it will take timea"and will do us no good, since as long as this boy of yours is in danger you wonat leave anyway.a He twisted his hands until he could grip hers. aSeraph,a he said. aItas all right, now.a Her hands shook in his but he could only see the top of her head. aI thought you were dead,a she said.

She looked up, and the empress was gone, lost in a face wild with emotion. Unexpectedly he felt the lick of her magic caress his palms.

aI canat do that again,a she told him. aI canat lose anyone I love again.a aYou love me?a He moved his hands to her shoulders and pulled her close. She leaned against him like a tired infant.

It was the first time shead said that to him, though he knew that she loved him with the same fierceness that she loved her children. She had been trained to maintain control, and he knew that she was uncomfortable with the strength of the emotions she felt. Because he understood her, head never pushed her to tell him something that head known full well.

He knew it would make her angry but he had to tease her. aI had to get myself kidnapped by a bunch of stupid wizards and dragged halfway across the Empire to hear that? If Iad known thatas what it would take, Iad have gotten myself kidnapped twenty years ago.a aItas not funny,a she said, stomping on his foot in her effort to get away from him.