The keep had gone still.

The smoke had long since been burned away by dawn, but the smell of it persisted in the ripped flags, the scorched wood, and the crevices of the stone. With its ceiling half gone and its walls streaked with soot where the firelight had kissed it, the enormous council chamber was now exposed to the morning air.

With her hands clasped behind her back, Elaria stood amidst the debris, observing the gradual movement of sunlight across the floor. Each beam of light showed ...