Chapter 10: The Test

I walked through the east gate with my hands open at my sides.

Guards closed in on both flanks and took the dagger from my belt.

Joss was waiting in the gatehouse, a stone room above the arch with narrow windows and a long table.

Sabine leaned on the wall beside him with a cut lip and her arms folded.

Tobin Merrick stood by the door.

And in the middle of the room, chained to the iron post that held up the roof, hung Corvin.

His coat had been taken.

His wrists were wrapped in black chain and his head hung forward.

Two crossbow bolts still stuck out of his shoulder and thigh.

Every vein in his neck stood out grey against his skin.

"Corvin."

His head came up.

His eyes were glazed.

They found me, and the mark on my wrist went still.

"Told you to run," he said, and coughed.

"I'm bad at orders."

"Very bad," Joss agreed.

He stood and took my chin in his hand.

I let him.

His thumb stroked my cheekbone, soft, familiar.

"You are exhausted," he said. "I can see it. I only wanted you home."

"You wanted me dead or obedient."

"I wanted to know which." He let go and smiled. "The poison would have proven obedience. Pouring it out told me something else. Sit down, Willa."

"No."

"Then stand."

He walked to the window with his hands behind his back.

"You think the test was cruel," he said. "It wasn't. It was the most honest thing I have ever done."

"Four hundred people."

"Four hundred traitors."

The word hit the room and stayed there.

I stared at him.

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