Page 133 (1/2)

Vernon took a s like we’re steadfast friends will get you what you want to know"

"Would you prefer the alternative?" She shtly "I certainly don’t"

"The methods may differ, but the end result will be the sa, Vernon, and e"

His eyes swept over her "Had I known you’d grow into such a queen, perhaps I would not have bothered to kneel for Adarlan" A sly smile "So different fronoring the taunt, Aelin drank, swishing the ale in her mouth, as if it could wash away the taint of this place "You tried and failed to win power for yourself First by stealing it fro to sell her to Erawan Morath has sacked Perranth, and no doubt " She drank again "One ht think Erawan’s favor had shifted elsewhere"

"Perhaps he stationed ic had already felt him out To make sure no heart of iron or Wyrdstone beat in his chest

"I think you were cast aside," she said, leaning back and crossing her arms "I think you outlived your usefulness, especially after you failed to recapture Elide, and Erawan didn’t feel like entirely ridding hi about So here you are" She waved a hand to the chamber, the mountain above them "The lovely Ferian Gap"

"It’s beautiful in the spring," Vernon said

Aelin s, and perhaps you’ll live to see it"

"Do you swear it? On your throne? That you shall not kill lance toward Fenrys and Gavriel, stone-faced behind her "Nor any of your coer before showing your hand" She drained the rest of her ale "But yes I swear that neither me nor any of my companions will kill you if you tell us what you know"

Fenrys started All the confirmation Vernon needed that she meant it--that they had not planned it

Vernon drank deeply from his ale Then said, "Maeve has co She kept her face bored, bland "To see Erawan?"

"To unite with hihtly Even the droplet of her ic couldn’t steady her

Worse Worse than anything Aelin had i her army?" Her cool, unruffled voice sounded far, far away

"She brought no one but herself"

"No arain "Not that I saw before Erawan packed ht Claimed I had asked too many questions and I was better suited to be stationed here"

Erawan or Maeve had to have known Somehow That they’d wind up here, and planted Vernon in their path To tell them this

"Did she say where her arone ahead to Terrasen …

"She did not, but I assumed her forces had been left near the coast, to await orders on where to sail"

Aelin shoved aside her rising nausea "Did you learn what Maeve and Erawan plan to do?"

"Face you, I’d wager"

She made herself lean back in her seat, her face bored, casual "Do you knohere Erawan keeps the third Wyrdkey?"

"What’s that?"

Not aquestion "A sliver of black stone--like the one planted in Kaltain Roift, too, you know I treht happen if Erawan put the stone within your arnored him "Well?"

Vernon finished his ale "I don’t know if he had another beyond as in Kaltain’s arm"

"He did He does"

"Then I don’t knohere it is, do I? I only knew of the one rinding her teeth Maeve and Erawan--united And not a whisper of where Dorian and Manon ith the two other keys