Chapter 4: The Application

Dag was standing in the hall with an envelope in his hand when Cass unlocked the door.

He is six foot four with a red-blond braid down his back.

He did not look at the rug or the papers on the floor.

He looked at the two of us, and then at my blouse buttoned wrong by one.

"Morning," said Dag.

"Morning," I said.

"Ledgers are on the floor."

"They fell."

"Good for them." He held out the envelope to Cass. "The Council's letter."

Cass read it standing in the doorway with his shirt on inside out.

Then he read it aloud, because I held out my hand and he gave it to me.

It was short.

It said that on the first Saturday of November the Alpha would seat his mate at the Founders' Supper.

The pack has done it that way for ninety years.

It said that if he seated no one, the Council would seat the Vang pack's daughter, in honor of the river-flat lease.

It said she would arrive Monday to meet the pack.

"Kjersti Vang," said Dag. "Her father's idea. Three elders signed."

"I didn't ask for her."

"No. But you haven't named anyone either. They're covering for you."

"I have named someone."

Dag raised one eyebrow.

Cass looked at me.

I put the letter down on the table, very carefully, because my hands were not steady.

"I'm not named, and I'm not staying," I said. "Don't put me on that table. I'm handing over the books in twelve days."

"I know," said Cass. "That's why I'm applying."

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