Chapter 151

Simon POV Charlie didn’t waste breath on another question. The second I told him to get Aisha, he was already moving fast, a streak of motion swallowed by the shadows between swaying lanterns. His boots barely made a sound on the packed earth, but I could feel the urgency vibrating in his steps. That was good. Urgency meant instinct was doing the thinking. I turned from the gate before the rider could vanish entirely from my sight. The sentry was still watching me, his hand still resting on the hilt of his blade, posture locked in place. I gave him no explanation. Not yet. Not until I had spoken to her. The message was still in my hand, heavier than parchment should be. The seal had crumbled under my thumb when I broke it, but I could still feel the sharp imprint of the crest in my memory. Neutral territory or not, only one man used that crest when writing to me. And I hadn’t seen his mark in years. Not since the day he disappeared. The path to the council chamber was dim, lit only by