A tense pause followed.

Then, the gate captain's voice rang back, sharper now.

"Lady Ariya is under Somberwoke's protection! You will not see her. Return to your Alpha King and tell him that Somberwoke does not entertain foreign inquiries."

A few riders chuckled lowly. The spokesman tilted his head, his smile almost polite.

"Protection?" he repeated. "From scrutiny, or from the truth?"

That earned a ripple of movement from the guards above.

"She doesn't have ...