Chapter 16: The Iron Hall

Rhiannon's POV

I went down the wall because the gate would not move.

Behind me, I heard the border riders hitch two horses to its bars and pull.

The iron screamed and came off its hinges.

By the time my paws touched the dirt, the Iron Alpha was walking down the east stair with the old border wolf holding his arm.

I ran for the hall.

I shifted in the shadow of its doors, and my hands shook as I came back into my skin.

A heavy dark coat dropped over my shoulders.

Garrick stood there with a sleeping boy on his hip, another one holding his belt, and my uncle bound at his feet.

Half his left ear was gone, and blood ran down his neck.

I wanted to hit him, and I wanted to put my hands on his face.

"You were supposed to stay out," I said.

"I stayed out," he said. "I just went to the other side."

"You're bleeding."

"I know."

"We'll talk about it."

"I'm sure we will."

Then he looked at the doors, and his face shut.

I turned and walked into the Iron hall.

Five hundred wolves looked at me.

The big room smelled of smoke and iron.

On the dais at the far end stood my mother in her grey cloak, with Dorian at her shoulder.

She smiled when she saw me.

"My daughter has come to kneel," she told the hall, in her warm low voice. "Give her room."

"I've come for the oath," I said.

"The Alpha of Iron will give it to you when you have knelt."

"The Alpha of Iron is behind me."

The old man came through the doors on the border wolf's arm.

He looked smaller than before, and his grey livery was dusty.

The nine-year-old let go of Garrick's belt and ran.

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