Leah looked up and spotted a lone rider silhouetted against the horizon. The steed's hooves clopped loudly against the basalt. The front line of soldiers parted to make way. The strip of cloth tied over the rider's forehead held back his long, dark hair, even longer than Leah's now, and covered the scarred brand of his past life. His calculating eyes darted furtively around the crowd-alliance or not, Sergeant Hook Bard was still uncomfortable around so many people.

Leah demanded no ...