Chapter 8: The Envoy's Letter

Shiori was still buttoning her collar when Nerei came running up the stair.

"Healer, forgive me. There's a rider at the gate in white and gold, with a trumpet."

"The Prince?"

"His envoy. He has a royal letter, and he'll read it in the great hall or at the bridge to an army."

Shiori looked at Bram.

Bram looked at her shoulder.

"Go," he said. "I'll tell the king what I saw. Don't let a trumpet scare you, girl."

The great hall was full when she walked in, every councillor in his seat and half the keep along the walls.

Kaedan sat at the head of the table.

He looked tired and very awake, and when his eyes found her across the room he did not look away.

Two rows of the Wolf Court noticed that, and she felt her face go warm.

Down the middle of the hall stood a thin man in white and gold, with a scroll and a pointed little beard.

He sniffed when he saw her.

"The apostate," he said. "Good. This concerns you, madam."

"I'm Healer Hanazono," Shiori said.

"You are the property of the Temple of the Dawn, madam, and you have been stolen by this court."

The old grey wolf at the table sat up.

"Read your letter," the king said.

The envoy unrolled it with a flourish.

"By order of the Crown Prince and the High Priest of the Dawn," he began.

He lifted his chin.

"The woman called Shiori, bearing the Temple's seal, is claimed as an ecclesiastical asset."

"An asset," Shiori repeated.

"A ward, madam."

"You said asset."

"She is to be surrendered at Greywater Bridge within three days, or the Crown shall treat her harboring as an act of war."

He rolled the scroll with a snap.

"That is all."

Nobody in the hall breathed.

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