Chapter 3

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The rebellion dragged on for five long

months. In that time, I fought alongside Ceryane, the battle fever

high in my blood. Most nights I slept deeply, exhausted from

fighting. But sometimes I would lie awake, the soft crackling of a

dying fire the only sound, and think of Makena. I wondered where

she was, if she had found the Warrior within herself yet, if she

had joined the rebellion and waited for me in the next town, around

the next bend. I could see her auburn hair in the turning leaves of

autumn, and I had to stop whenever I thought I heard her laugh.

But she wasn’t in the next town, or the one

after that, and I almost forgot I looked for her when we finally

reached the palace gates. Rumors ran through the rebel camp, rumors

that the prince had poisoned the Marlean queen and only awaited our

combined forces before attempting to overthrow his father and

assume the throne. Layna’s death had been avenged many times over,