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When she arrived at the king’s study, the Weapon at the door let her in

“Thank you, Travis,” she murmured

He nodded in reply, uardians

Sunlight glared through the study’s ardens The rooan wondered if, when the king inal use and become the domain of Estora She took a deep breath to help resist the bitter thoughts that conjured

The king sat at his desk, its whiteonto his face, ht, while all else around hiold and copper strands instead of the more subdued amber, and contrasted with his rich brown eyes

He sat there with his hands folded before hi they were as it outlined old bands Hands that wielded a sword, hands that wielded a scepter, hands that wielded power How she wished, how she desired, those hands of light to unfold and caress her in tender strokes Karigan shivered

His face, however, told another story As king, he had acquired the skill of concealing his thoughts and feelings froe when he did not want enemies, or politicians, or supplicants to knohat he was thinking He now donned that an that he should use it in her presence She supposed it was for the best, for it gave them distance She would wear a mask of her own as well, that of a dutiful Green Rider

She bowed to the king “You summoned me, sire?”

“We did”

He was not using the royal “we,” she knew, for he never did Soan squinted toward the s to find Captain Mapstone seated there, with legs crossed The sun glared around her, nized her shape and the flare of red hair at her crown

“Good an,” she said

Karigan opened herwhen a third person barreled out of the shadows at her with his arms throide open

“Garth!” she cried

He wrapped his ar and lifted her off the floor How could she have overlooked his presence when she entered the study? Garth was hard to miss!

“Welcome back,” she said, her voice muffled by his chest

His laugh ruainst her face, and he patted her on the back before setting her down She staggered a little when he released her

“Good to be back,” he said, grinning

“Please be seated,” the king said His

After the two Riders settled in chairs next to Captain Mapstone’s, the captain cleared her throat again and gazed at Karigan