The Bastard Prince of Hollowvale

sliding a powder flask into her belt. "That little twist in

crate, arms folded. "You

rats, too. I was

hands move with precision-checking flints, counting cartridges, wip

I left yo

I know you left me.

t south. I

d the sword make you do it? Or the coin? Or that pretty little tow

at the edge from some old fire. He traced it with his bo

sket with a short, angry shove. "B

voice sit in the room l

hy are you real

in her mouth twisted s

eyes. "I dr

prised. "Dreams. From the man

er sai

t you a

e a rough map was pinned beneath stones. Roads, outposts, old fo

he bleeding edge." She turned, pointing at the central valley. "This is where the

s neve

wore it like a cloak whe

g sil

You loved me on

on the edge of the map

know,"

hen say you don't love me now.

r face was blank. Con

at," she sai

wh

he world to crawl

Not visibly,

aid. "Before the wrong

to war

u d

a trap

lways a tr

like

m a long time. A

aelen... I'll die

It was the only

ft, barely there, but it was all memory. Then she was gone, musk

he hot silence, watc

orn sounded-low, metal

ned toward