Thorns of the crown

: The Lion

nk of smoke, fear, and something else-magic, old and unwelcome. He hated this place. No

hine

se Vale, and Alaric had learned not to ask. But he remembered the trial. He had only been sixteen

lead rebel cells. Dange

at he

search for signs of camps. "They've been here recently," he said

p, Your Highness?" a

hing about this felt wr

orward. They want us distr

clearing. A breeze stirred the leaves, and for a moment, he thought he heard foots

sharply.

e fel

was watc

-

whil

e trees above, her bow t

maybe both. She could end it now. A prince dead, a blow to the throne tha

curled aroun

n-he lo

. Into.

e's hear

for guards. He just stared. Not in f

k

from her fingers-not

ees, vanishing like

ding alone among the ru

aphi