Even heroes must answer to those who hold power.

The council chamber felt colder than usual. Or maybe that was just the weight of eight pairs of eyes measuring my worth as I stood before them.

Three seats sat empty. Elder Thorne's. Lord Varen's. Elder Cassandra's body still fought poison in the infirmary but she wouldn't be joining us today. The vacant chairs loomed larger than the occupied ones.

"Miss Bennett." Katheris spoke from the center of the remaining council. "You understand why ...