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PROLOGUE

NO VICTOR

333 AR AUTUMN

"No!" Inevera reached out, clutching empty air as the Par’chin pitched hi with them all the hope of the human race

On the opposite side of the circle of combat, Leesha Paper let out a siotten as witnesses froether to peer into the darkness that had sed the coht, Inevera could see as clearly in darkness as brightest day, the world defined by ic was drawn to life, and there was little below save barren rock and dirt The two o, had vanished into the dull glooic as it vented to the surface

Inevera twisted her earring, the hora stone within attuned to itsIt could be out of range, or broken in the fall

Or thereto hear She suppressed a shiver as a chill lanced at the others clustered at the edge, reading their expressions, searching for a hint of betrayal, a sign one of theic that emanated from them, as well The circlet of warded electrum coins she wore did not let her read spirits as fluidly as her husband did with the Crown of Kaji, but she was gettingeroup There were variations from one to another, but this was not the outco liar, always hiding so, stood horrified He and Inevera had been bitter rivals, each atte to undo the other, but he loved Ahmann as much as an honorless khaffit could, and stood to lose more than any, should he prove dead

I should have poisoned the Par’chin’s tea, Inevera thought, reht he appeared from the desert with the Spear of Kaji Pricked him with a venom-dipped needle Put an asp in his pillows as he dozed before alagai’sharak Even clai but leave it to Ahmann His heart was too true for murder and betrayal, even with the fate of Ala in the balance

Was Already she used the past tense, though he had been gone only seconds

"We h her eldest son stood right beside her

"Yes," Inevera agreed, thoughts still spinning, "though it will be difficult in the darkness" Already, the cries of wind de with the deep ruuide us"

"Core aitin’ on that," the Par’chin’s Jiwah Ka said, shouldering Rojer and Gared aside as she dropped to her belly and swung her legs over the edge of the cliff

"Renna!" Leesha grabbed for her wrist, but Renna was too fast, dropping quickly out of reach The young wohtly as the Par’chin, but brighter than any other she had ever seen Her fingers and toes drove into the cliff face like a de stone to create her holds

Inevera turned to Shanjat "Follow her Mark your trail"