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I settled into the tent while Bria war a small lantern, I pulled out the book on war symbols that I had borrowed from Valek After we had deciphered the name of the new successor, I hadn’t had a spare e on s etched into the wooden handle I began with the top and worked reider with each translation Janco could be so annoying, but underneath he could be so sweet

When Bria entered the tent s of wood s drearay fuzz of dawn With the amount of time the procession took to eat and reasseht, I estimated the excursion to Brazell’s ht of the trip, I found a note inwhile the soldiers set up camp, I was to follow a small, northbound trail that intersected the ned Janco, in a lavish hand I exa to re

Genuine note or a trap? Should I go or should I stay in camp where it would be safe? I worried the question in h the third day on the road What would Valek do in this particular situation? The answer helped ht sounded, I waited until everyone was occupied before leaving the clearing Once out of sight, I swept offthe castle I had procured gray cloth fro of my cloak just in case I needed to hide in the winter landscape I hoped the isite

I strapped , then grabbedhook from my backpack I found the northern trail Rather than walk down the narrow path, though, I sought a suitable tree and tossed my hook up into its branches My first concern was the potential noise of h the treetops, but I soon discovered that trees without leaves only creaked underclose to theat the prearranged location He seeht Then thehere? I circled the clearing Discovering no threat lurking in the bushes, I cli from the branch I tucked my backpack behind the tree’s trunk

"Da to show" His haggard face had dark sht Janco was supposed to be here"

"I wanted to explain, but there’s no time, Yelena" Rand’s haunted eyes bored into mine "It’s a trap! Run!"

"Howthe bow frooons Close Leading you here was supposed to pay off my debt" Tears streaked Rand’s face

I spun on hi through on this assignment" I spat the words at him

"No," he cried "I can’t do it Run, dao, Rand’s eyes widened with fright

"No!" He shoved round Rand dropped besidehis white uniform shirt

"Run," he whispered "Run"

"No, Rand," I said, brushing the dirt froive me, please" He clutched h tears of pain

"You’re forgiven"

He sighed once, then stopped breathing The shine in his brown eyes dulled I pulled his hood over his head

"Get up," a erous end of a loaded crossbow Leaning on ht balanced on the balls ofmy zone of concentration

"The area is secured, Captain," the man called out to the woods "Don’this weapon at my chest

Footsteps approached The man took his eyes off me to look for his companions I moved

My first bow strike landed across his forear into the woods My second strike went to the back of his knees I knocked his feet out fro flat on his back, he blinked at me with a stunned expression

Before he could draw breath, I sla his windpipe

A quick glance overinto the clearing Star shouted and pointed Her goon drew his sword I raced down the trail, his heavy footsteps thundering after me When I reachedup into the tree The s Cloth ripped as his sword cut through h spurredfast, I swung through the treetops When the sound of his crashing through the underbrush was far enough behindmyself in my cloak, I hunkered down on a low branch and waited