Chapter 21: Kneel

Rhea's POV

I rode ahead of the Bloodwood party because I could not stand to ride behind it.

Bram sat in front of me on the horse with his hands knotted in the mane.

We reached the ridge at first light.

The tree stood alone and black on the snow.

Nothing moved.

I got down and lifted Bram after me.

I held up my right hand with the iron ring on my finger, so that anyone watching could see it.

"I'm here," I called. "Alone, as you asked. Where are my children?"

The wind took my voice off the ridge.

Then a rock moved on the north side, and Perrin stood up out of it.

He had a long rifle at his shoulder.

The barrel was on me.

"Take off the ring," Perrin said, and walked down toward us over the snow.

His lips were split with cold.

His coat was torn, and he had not shaved in three days.

"Put it on the ground," he said, "and walk to the tree."

"Where are they?"

"Safe. I'll tell you after you're chained."

"You'll tell me now."

"Rhea." His voice cracked, almost gently. "I have the key in my pocket. I have men in the next valley."

He smiled.

"I am the only person on this mountain who knows where your pups are."

"No," I said. "You're not."

I turned my head and looked down the south slope.

A line of dark wolves had come out of the firs, spread wide across the white.

At the front, a tall man in a dark coat walked up the hill.

A little girl rode on his shoulders, and a thin boy held his hand.

Perrin went rigid.

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