The Prince, the Rogue & the Reckoning

n was buried in the affairs of the kingdom, as always, receiving diplomats, reviewing petitions, and givin

The rogue hadn't arrived yet. Apparently, the chaos of palace life even for

with a sense of urgency Lyra didn't like. He left her a n

e, seemed to foll

en a soft cry echoed from the alley beside the palace kitchens. Curious, and never able to ignor

f silver-eyed rats, oddly large and unnervingly silent. He h

gasped. "Pl

d the rats. The creatures hissed, their eyes glowing faintly as they circled her. But Lyra had dealt with w

arely over when

t wasn't a smell. It

hairs on her arms rose. Lyra's pulse quickened-not in fear, exactly, but in recogni

ment appeared against the sunlit wall, bending light in unnatural ways, like heat waves above a desert. And t

he air itself, like strands of invisible silk snapping across her skin. The alley bent and rippled around the attack, an

Its hand waved, and the air shimmered again, forming a ripple that struck the ground, twisting the cobblestones

not ordin

om the old world, the same sort of subtle, precise, twisting energy that the Ardent Kings had used to

ed sharply, sending a warmth up her arm, as if encouraging her. Instinctiv

, rolling forward, then spun to slash the dagger through the nearest tendril. The ener

teasing her, gauging her reflexes. She realized that it wasn't trying to kill i

her. Lyra gritted her teeth, letting her training and instincts take over. With a swift roll a

ot just about surviving-it's about understan

her hand, letting a thin, golden shimmer of energy snake along the blade toward the shadow.

forward, dagger slicing through one of the energy tendrils. The figure's advance faltered. Then, with a sha

ed gasps. The medallion's hum slowed, and the war

oed. She didn't turn immediate

ark with concern-and something else. Surprise. Admiration. Pe

ice low, brushing past her to check the crates scatter

nst the wall. "Someone had to help the kid.

nd, the curling traces of twisted magic. "A problem?" His voice was sharper now, carryin

ed. "And I..

is eyes were still cautious. "Bar

ain-a soft, insistent warning. Lyra's stomach dropped. Whatever had attacked her was

, that the shadow had n

ancient was awakening. Something that would n

dagger tightened. T

, there would