Page 76 of Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

By order of the High King—

I froze mid-step causing someone to run into me.

A chill ran down my spine as the person cursed at me,questioned my sanity. Not Ket. Definitely not Ket.

You are hereby requested to make an appearance in front of the High Court at mid-morning. Do not be late.

Raphael Gerodia

My heart slammed, my jaw dropping. Oh, shit. This wasn’t good.

I had been caught.

My eyes lifted to the city before me as if they could see it. As if they could see the words written across my face. As if they knew.

They couldn’t have known, but in that moment, it felt like they did.

I had been caught and I had no time to prepare. I couldn’t go back and see Mark, I couldn’t contemplate what I would say, all I could do was go.

Gods, please let Mark find that letter.

I shoved the letter away and sprinted for the castle, mid-morning already coming up far too quickly.

By the time I got to the alley across from it, my heart was threatening to explode from my chest, my hands were shaking in fear. This would be it. The next time I walked through this city would be on the way to Condemnation, I was sure of it.

I could run, I supposed, but if this letter had come to me, that meant that he had to have already alerted the guards. I could evade when no one was putting any effort into finding me, but if every guard in the city was searching for me? If I went in now, maybe my death would be swift. Maybe I could die of a quick snap of the neck, not starvation.

I quickly took my satchel off, my veil, and pushed my hoodback. I unpinned my hair, shaking it out. My black eyes had healed to a dull yellow, my lips were healed. I had no visible bruises they would ask about. Perfect.

Everything was fine.

Maybe I could convince them that they got the wrong girl. I didn’tlooklike a thief. I just looked like a girl living in the poorest part of town. I was a good liar too. I had lied to one High King, I could do it to another.

Everything would be fine.

Sure.

I carefully placed my satchel and veil behind a nearby trash bin, praying no one would find it, and finally turned to the castle.

Okay, what could go wrong?

No, don’t ask that. Never ask that, you stupid, stupid girl.

It seemed endless, the walk across the town square. I could still picture the attack as clear as day. People screaming, blood pouring from every orifice.

It had been a true nightmare, but after that day, everything had gone on as normal. As if no one could remember that dozens of people had died.

Or maybe they were just too afraid to remember.

I felt like I was walking over souls. Cold death wafting around me like a friend who wouldn’t let go.

The pearl-blue steps reminded me of a winter castle, the double doors at the top had pictures carved into them. So intricate, I could spend all day staring at them if they hadn’t been the entrance to the most terrifying place in all of Terigard.

The knights at the top of thestairs straightened at the sight of me, tightening the grips on their spears as if I posed some sort of threat against anyone in the castle. “State your business,” the one on the right demanded.

I held out the letter as I approached them. “I received a letter from the High King.”

The knight took the letter, skimming it. He grunted once before opening the door for me.

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