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"This is Tristan, one of Farley’s lieutenants," Will pipes in He turns a chiding eye on hieline Sa look at Will

"They aren’t allMaven’s kind words earlier today

"Are you talking about the prince you’re engaged to or the one waiting in the woods?" Will asks cal about the price of flour

In stark contrast, Tristan erupts, vaulting out of his seat I beat him to the door, two hands outstretched Thankfully I keepI need is to electrify a ht a Silver here?" he hisses down at me "The prince? Do you knoe could do if we took hih he towers over me, I don’t back down "You leave him alone"

"A feeeks in the lap of luxury and your blood is as silver as theirs," he spits, looking like he wants to kill s and he knows it I drophi you, you stupid fool Cal is a soldier born and bred, and he could burn this whole village down if he really wanted to" Not that he would I hope

Tristan’s hand strays to his gun "I’d like to see him try"

But Will lays a wrinkled hand on his arh to h," he whispers "What did you cos"

I heave a breath, still staring down Tristan He just threatened to kidnap Cal and hold hiht of such a thing unsettles ling "Shade was part of the Guard" It’s not a question anyetic, and Tristan even hangs his head "They killed him for it They killed ree with it"

"You’re dead if you refuse," Will replies, telling me what I already know

"I don’t plan to I’ll say whatever they want But--" My voice catches a little, on the edge of this new path "I’m in the palace, the center of their world I’m quick, I’ed breath, pulling back to his full height Despite his anger earlier, there’s now so in his eyes "You want to join up"

"I do"

Will clenches his jaw, his stare piercing throughto This isn’t just my war or Farley’s or the Scarlet Guard’s--it’s yours Until the very end And not to avenge your brother but to avenge us all To fight for the ones before, and to save the ones yet to conarled hand reaches for mine and for the first time, I notice a tattoo around his wrist: a red band Like the ones theyhis forever It’s part of him, like the blood in our veins

"Are you with us, Mare Barrow?" he says, his hand closing over mine More war,There’s a chance we change it

My fingers tighten, holding on to Will I can feel the weight of my action, the importance behind it

"I’m with you"