Chapter 9: The Serpent's Knife

The cord bit deeper into Marek's wrist, and blood beaded around it.

"Torvald!" Linnea shouted. "Somebody help him!"

The big bear shoved through the crowd and dropped beside the Lion, but he stopped with both hands in the air.

"I can't cut it. If I cut it, the cord on the child tightens all at once."

"Then do something else!"

"There is something."

The voice was slow and calm and came from behind her.

A pale man in a grey temple robe had stepped out of the crowd, silver-blond hair loose on his shoulders.

His eyes were the green of old glass.

"Idris Salt," he said. "Serpent. The seventh mark."

"I have read every oath-cord law in the temple archive, Majesty."

"I would have told you sooner, but I was ordered to keep silent."

"Told by whom?"

"By my ward's life."

He knelt on Marek's other side.

"A cord can be eased, not cut. It needs the Stone queen's blood, put on the cord under the Stone's light."

"Then use mine."

She was already holding out her palm.

Idris drew a small knife and looked at her.

"It hurts."

"Do it."

He nicked the heel of her hand.

Her blood fell onto the grey cord, and the Stone's light rolled over it.

The cord loosened.

Marek sagged against Torvald with a ragged sob, and the red line on his wrist began to fade.

"It's eased," said Idris. "Not cut."

"His sister will live. But I can ease only one a night, Majesty, and it costs you blood each time."

Linnea stared at the grey cord, then at Marek's wet gold eyes.

He looked at her as though she had cut off his hand.

"Why?" he whispered. "After what I said."

"Because she's twelve," said Linnea.

It came out rougher than she meant.

Bracken clapped his hands, slowly, twice.

"Touching," said the Chancellor.

"By Charter, anyone who plots against the Crown's life is tried for treason."

"Nine men have admitted it before three hundred witnesses."

"The Council convenes at dawn. The Nine will be arrested then, and the queen may explain how she came to sleep with them."

He bowed and walked out with his guards.

Kaelen took one step toward Linnea, and she held up a hand.

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