Chapter 6: The Headwoman

The Fair feast was held in the long hall at noon, and every Alpha brought his whole table.

I sat between Bram and an empty chair, in a clean dress from Ivar's housekeeper.

It was the first time in seven years I had eaten at a high table.

Ivar came in late.

He moved carefully on his left side.

Under his coat I could see the bandage I had tied.

He sat in the empty chair without a word.

His knee touched mine under the table.

He did not move it, and neither did I.

"Your side?" I asked quietly.

"Stiff. Whoever tied it knew what she was doing."

"She was in a hurry."

"She was very good," Ivar said, and picked up his cup.

Bram coughed into his sleeve.

"I've never heard two people discuss a bandage so loudly without saying a thing," he said. "Eat your bread."

At the far end of the hall, Father stood.

He tapped his goblet with a knife until the room went quiet.

Posy sat beside him in the blue cloak with her hands in her lap.

Mother sat on his other side, and she did not look at me.

"Alphas of the north," Father said. "I want to speak about last night."

"A village on my own land was attacked by the Dusk Court," he said.

"Eleven of those creatures were killed and not one villager was lost."

A murmur of approval ran down the tables.

"I will not hide that the attack came through a failing in our wards," Father went on.

"But the Rooke Moon Watcher rode out in the night and raised a barrier that saved forty families."

He put his hand on Posy's shoulder.

"My daughter Posy."

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