Chapter 20: The Ring Comes Off

Nobody in the hall moved after Linnet spoke.

Ronan stood with the knife in his hand and his face gone empty.

Then the Alpha of Highgate struck his cup against the table, once, so that the sound rang off the beams.

"Lucian," he said.

His son came forward, smiling, with his hands open.

"Father. It's a trick. The Ferrow girl has hated Linnet since they were children, and Vaughn would say anything to keep a road."

"The raider named a man with a silver ring," Torin said. "Flat on top."

"Half the Marches wear a ring."

"Show the hall your right hand," I said.

His smile did not move.

His hand did, a little, behind his back.

"Bronwyn. Come on. You know me."

"I do," I said. "That's why I'm sure."

The hall had gone quiet.

"Show me your hand, boy," the old Alpha said.

Lucian brought it out slowly.

The ring was heavy silver, carved with the black wolf of Highgate.

It was the heir's ring.

It had been on his hand since he was fifteen, and the finger had grown around it.

"It proves nothing." His voice had gone higher. "I was at Coldwater, Father, as a guest. I was nowhere near any ford."

"You're the only heir of Highgate," the old man said. "Yours has no twin."

For a long moment I thought Lucian would bluff it out.

Then he looked round the hall and saw his own captains.

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