By then the girl had lost consciousness and lay across her companion's knees. As Shaul watched helplessly, her body stiffened, then relaxed into death.

"Lord Jorani's poison," the Kislovan soldier whispered.

Shaul looked from the girl's face with its blue lips and^open, reddened eyes to the man holding her. His body shook with grief, though he was incapable of tears.

"Were you in the rebellion?" Shaul asked.

The man nodded. He pulled back a corner of the girl's cloak and motioned for Shaul to reach into a pocket. Shaul did, drawing from it a small scrap of parchment. On it was scrawled a single word-Invade.

"Janosk?" Shaul asked.

The man nodded again.

Shaul reached down and grabbed the man's arm. "Ride with me," he said, pulling the man up behind him.

"One of you bring the soldier to the castle," Shaul ordered. "And one other the body of the girl, as well. Perhaps our healers can determine the nature of the poison that killed her."

"What about the other bodies?" someone asked.

"Leave them for the cats," Shaul said. "Hold on to me," he whispered to the man sitting behind him, then made off at a gallop for Shadow Castle in the center of the great forest of Sundell.

FOUR

Four days after Ilsabet had visited her father's camp, Baron Janosk summoned the family to an early breakfast. Marishka, never an early riser, wore a robe over her nightdress, and had her long auburn hair tied back with a scarf. Lady Lorena looked pale in her simple blue gown, but her eyes were, thankfully, clear, her expression stoic. As always she was perfectly groomed.

Ilsabet had also dressed with care. "I see that someone else gives your father the respect that is his due," Lorena said, not even glancing at Marishka, though her remark was certainly directed at the girl.