Chapter 21: On His Knees

Corwin's POV

The lodge hall of Kestrel Ridge was full when I walked in.

The elders sat along the high table, and under them every bench was packed to the wall.

A third of the faces were Quillon blood, and they had the look of men who had been told the ending already.

An old elder with the old Beta's heavy jaw got to his feet before I reached the dais.

"The Alpha sat eleven years under a traitor," he said.

"He rejected his Luna in this hall on her tenth anniversary."

"He lets a Moot do his work for him, and now he rides in from the Fen."

"I move that the Ridge find a better Alpha."

Voices rose on every bench.

I stood in the middle of the floor and let them.

I had planned what to say all the way down the north road.

I had planned a speech, and I put it away.

"I have three things to do in this hall," I said. "Then you may vote."

The noise dropped.

"First."

I held out my hand, and a young wolf of mine came forward with the iron-bound box from Oswin's tent.

I had sent for it from Black Water.

I set it on the hearth and put the second seal in the flames.

The brass sagged and ran.

"No Beta will keep a seal in a locked box again," I said.

"No order of this pack will carry the Alpha's mark unless an elder presses beside it."

"From today I cannot sign this pack away alone."

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