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He cupped soold necklace The shape was tarnished and circular, like interweaving leaves or flower petals, or the coil of a snail’s shell He tucked it back into his shirt, the firelight revealing a tattoo mark on his chest, which was blocked as he fastened his collar

"There you are," he said, rising to his full height The glow in his eyes began to dim as he approached

"You are not…" She could barely talk, and sed to clear her voice "…Allowed To be here The Alderrandmother’s famed beauty The slope of you nose, your cheeks It must be hers The sons were handsome, to be sure Your father was indeed a handsome man Did he ever know about you, I wonder?"

Lia could not stop tre was an effort "I do not believe you"

He stopped at the bottoave her a look, a look that made her stomach sick, her head swi

"Go," she whispered She wanted to screa eyes Solearandfather and uncle died I fought in that battle That glorious battle when so many accursed men of your Family fell I would never have dreamed it possible that one of them would leave a wretched behind So sanctimonious! So full of pride and their oorth Youat me past the brink of death Child, you are special"

He put a hand on the ladder and started up

"Do you wish to know the name? Are you not curious why you were abandoned? The shalorious shame they must have felt" Each step of his boots shook the ladder, doubling her fear "How theyover"

"Go," Lia whispered huskily again, her voice too dry to speak loud – or screa theh Lia’s heart as his face crested the loft floor

"I can tell you all I knohere your father died I knohen he died The blood of your Family is still on my sword The moans have never rubbed clean But I will tell you of them Of their traitorous hearts Of their punishrandfather Your uncle Their heads spitted on spikes Hoe played with their corpses Oh, child, hoe avenged you!"