Page 167 of Fortress of Ambrose
“Ancient Studies of Ascension.Only ancient Marked knew how to use ancient magic techniques. It’s been lost to modern magic.”
“It hasn’t if it’s being used by Ellery.” Nore’s mind raced ahead of her words, rumbling over questions. There was a world of things she didn’t understand. Like why the Dragunhead would help Ellery. What could Ellery have promised him? What would someone who can live forever want?
“How do I beat someone with a magic I don’t even understand?” Someone who’d changed personas like clothesfor centuries?
“Mmmm,” he muttered. “I suppose it’s understanding what this someonetrulywants. Have you pondered that?”
“I’ll take any books you have on Necrantomy.” This wasn’t helpful. She wanted him to answer her plainly, not in riddles, or give her more questions than she already had. “I should go.” She’d hoped he would be less cryptic. She stood to leave, but when she reached the door, Nore said, “Kendall Dorset. Do you know the name?”
“Your cleverness leaves no stone unturned.”
Nore let go of the door’s handle and faced her old friend, the shock of the last few hours fusing together in her mind impossible conclusions. “Who was he?”
“Kimper and I were told that your mother’s suitorhadto be Kendall Dorset. A fellow we didn’t even know. Our votes and review of him were perfunctory.”
“Whotold you that?”
“Priest Pizor. He said the Sovereign had appeared to him and gave him a divine revelation of the name of who should be chosen.”
Nore couldn’t sit still. The Dragunhead could appear asanyoneto Priest Pizor. And say whatever he wanted. The pieces fell together.
Kendall Dorset didn’t debut from House Ambrose.
He didn’t drop out.
Nor was he one of their esteemed dead.
Because Kendall Dorset was one of the Dragunhead’s aliases.
Her head hurt. She would bet everything she had to her name.
“Priest Pizor was fooled by a master trickster of many faces,” she said.
My father is immortal. And he is helping my brother plot to kill me.
She stormed out the door past a gaping Winkel.
Her mother was going to finally tell her thefull truth!
Nore found Islawandering the halls near her own quarters. When Isla spotted her, she rushed toward her.
“There you are!” Her mother was out of breath. “I’ve gotten a message from your brother.”
Inside Nore’s room, she snatched the letter from her mother and tore it open. It was addressed to Isla, not her.
It’s not too late.
Nore ripped it in half. “What does it mean?”
Isla scrambled for the confetti floating to the floor. “He wants me to support his claim for Headship, which I will never do. It’s you. It’s always been you.” Nore met her mother’s eyes and waited for the snippet of criticism, but it didn’t come.
“He is writing to you because you two were close, I assume? He thinks he can turn your loyalty.”
“He is my son, Nore. My firstborn.”
“And I am your daughter. So excuse my surprise that he’d think you suddenly have a conscience.”
Her mother flinched but held her tongue. Nore’s gut twisted. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” She wasn’t sure how to relate to hermother anymore. Dealing with her now, considering all the secrets and distance between them, only made matters more confusing.
