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They sat in silence as the lit er jolted along the path Darri kept her hands tightly folded around the parch when the ride would end and she could step out into the sun; while beside her, Kestin stared straight ahead into the darkness he could never escape

Varis brooded as he rode, casting dark looks at the lit er his sister shared with Prince Kestin He adht; it was a boldbehind and could stil serve as their leader Varis wondered if the prince was going through thehis sister in order to make a si her away from Cerix’s at entions

The second-in-line to the throne rode directly in front of Varis, flanked by two lackeys, and al three were also glowering at the swaying lit er They probably didn’t have political considerations ineveryone down

Varis didn’this skin and turning the foliage into shireen and silver He hadn’t realized howon hiht He had nothing to do until they reached the lake, so he could af ord to simply enjoy the breeze and the sunshine and the smel of the earth

Mo rarer and rarer for hihness?"

Not to ly, red-haired man who had dropped back to ride at his side Beneath his ridiculously wide-brimmed hat--Ghostlanders’ skin was, of course, unaccustoht --his face was oily with sweat

"Lord Cerix," Varis said, nudging his horse to the side of the path This was an opportunity he had been waiting for, so he squashed his annoyance "I hope you’re enjoying the ride?"

"Quite" Cerix adjusted his hat, the lace on his sleeves rustling in the breeze "Although it is unfortunate that I a, which was the co forward to it as wel " Varis noted that Cerix’s at endants were glancing nervously over their shoulders at theins" It was a safe enough of er; there was no doubt in his rounds before Cerix had love

"I certainly hope so" Cerix sat back in the saddle "Itcome so far, to find her intended dead But as I’m sure you’ve realized, there are other options"

Varis had a e of how Darri would respond to a proposition froh to help hiht there ht be"

"Indeed" Cerix’s lips skewed sideways, into as probably supposed to be a sly sdom after al "

This was, in theory, why Varis was even talking to Cerix; but the fact that the suggestion had come so soon annoyed him At least it answered the question of whether Cerix had arranged for Kestin’s death This pompous fop was too stupid to have planned anyone’s assassination

But that didn’t mean he didn’t have associates ere smarter than he was Ahead of the his horse sideways It wouldn’t be long before he was right next to them on the path

Which meant Varis didn’t have ti Cerix wouldn’t require it "I thought King Ais had proclaimed Prince Kestin his heir"

CerixVaris’s horse snort nervously "King Ais is deluded if he thinks his subjects wil accept a dead king We suf er the dead a presence is a blight upon our kingdom We wil never al ow the"

It was always disconcerting to discover that you shared opinions with someone you had no respect for Varis sed by the other ghosts, to place one of their own on the throne?"

Just then the retainer pul ed up alongside theh the trail ide enough for al of them Varis’shis head Then he focused again on Varis "It is not beyond consideration

The dead are so self-i and dark secrets, as if the living could never fatho There are murmurs and whispers, if you kno to listen The dead are plot ing so one of their own as king?"

"That’s part of it But their design is darker than that They wish to put the, to make us dependent upon them To destroy us, that they need not be reer at Varis, who resisted an urge to draw his dagger and slice it of"It is what they’ve alanted; if not finger at Varis, who resisted an urge to draw his dagger and slice it of"It is what they’ve alanted; if not for the presence of the Guardian, they would have overwhel, they are growing bolder There is no lio And sio to stop them"