“This is incredible,” Tavin said, turning the ring over in his hand. It was simple, unadorned iron, but it was polished smooth. He met Valina’s eyes; she had been watching him intently in the moonlight as he marveled at the small piece of metal in his hands. It felt unreal to think that something like this belonged to him; he had never been able to afford something like this, even though he had never had the need to before.

“It’s not ornate, like most Bloodsold have,” she ...