SECRET OF THE ASHES AND CROWN

sword is a whi

L

was the obed

ecame something

e Tower, Elira orchest

the cracks. Through coded letters, bribes, and loyalty bought with tru

overheard genera

ed secret messages

nsitive books with ink th

ap-not just of escap

Ka

er knife i

A

der wearing black

aner. Scarred. Beautiful

man with nothi

. Soldiers of nowhere. But loyal to the blood oath he'd

ontact was deep in the Hollowwood,

wn pin handed him a not

the old Moonbl

hed it in

e princess?

ore," the scout replied. "

QU

m, sipping honeyed wine and pret

he no

. Her daughter was silent-but too silent. The k

oned Lad

"If she so much as blinks wrong, cut

lotting somethi

n smiled

er rope. We'll h

TO

was

ar tactician disguised as a royal scribe. Three others from her chi

chambers beneath the Tower. Dus

of her father

message," she whispered. "No

e letter to t

: Your crown i

remembered wh

A

t mission c

ourier trail-guarded.

m ambushed it

. Just hu

Messages rewritt

a single black

er. She fou

dom woke

lse. Borders unsure

all from the c

was starti

L

from where he kisse

more than

was

hat night, smuggled out b

low Gala. I'll be

fire. You just

to me

e before eve

hamber, staring at a s

cushion. No guards saw who pla

r

is c

is not