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“What…what are you doing here?” She started to take in s, the dim tent interior, the cot she lay on She was covered in layers of blankets and it was then she realized she was very naked beneath the covers, except for bandages on her knees and elbows She blushed and it made her head pound all the more

“We came to rescue Lady Estora,” Willis said “We found you and Rider Spencer instead”

“Ian said

“He is under restraint,” Willis replied “He will be questioned”

“Tombs! Grandmother wanted the tombs beneath the castle emptied”

“Grandrandmothers here,” Ty said “And ould anyone ith all those corpses?”

“Not the corpses,” Karigan said “Emptied of Weapons”

Both azed at one another

“The to while the rest of us are here,” Willis said in a quiet voice “The toent”

“Why would this Grand?” Ty asked

“She’s Second Ean replied

Silence again

“Karigan,” Willis said, “you will have to tell us everything you know, both about Lady Estora and what Second Empire is up to”

“First,” Ty said, “let her have this Sit up carefully, Karigan”

The banging in her head intensified as she did so When she was securely propped up, Ty passed her a war of broth and a hunk of bread to dip in it The broth was heartening, and she hadn’t realized how faone Ty fetched her another , soht up to the side of her cot beside Willis His jaas covered with stubble and he wore a shabby cloak A lock of black hair fell over one of his eyes and through it he stared hard at her

“Who’s this?” Karigan asked Willis

“Lord Amberhill,” he replied “He was in Lady Estora’s party when it was attacked, and tracked her all this way He’s the one who found you and Beryl”

“Tripped over you,” the man said

“Oh” What else could Karigan say?

“How did you do it?” Lord A intensely at her “How did you assume Lady Estora’s place? I followed her all the way to the crossroads, but then she became you”

“Stand down, an was about to tell us everything, but she’s only just awakened”

“Tea?” Ty asked her