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Chapter 63: Victorious Return
publish date:
2026-10-08 08:37:24
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The Duchess of Frostmane Chapter 64: The Lighter Bow
The arrow sailed over the target and hay wall into the stable yard. A horse neighed in protest.“Fourth shot, and over the wall again,” a man called from the edge of the yard.Adrian walked a gray gelding along the wall, his coat open despite the cold. I lowered my bow. Evren had been asleep at his desk when I left the study before dawn, Cedric’s list still under his arm. I needed to move and hadn’t expected company.“I thought I’d have the yard to myself.”“Usually. I bring him through after my morning ride. I watched you miss three times and thought I should say something if the next one went over.”“Go on, then. Since you're watching anyway.”“You're relying on your arm. The bow's too heavy for you, and you're straining your shoulder to compensate. Keep going like that and you'll hit the stable roof before the target.” He tied the gelding to the rail. “You don’t have to explain why you’re out here so early. I’m curious, that’s all.”“Garrick explained the gaps in the wall watch, bu
The Duchess of Frostmane Chapter 63: Victorious Return
“They’re walking the horses,” the guard at the gatehouse window said. “That’s a good sign, Duchess. Men don’t walk their horses when they’re running from a fight.”I was beside him before I realized I’d moved. A line of torches wound along the east road toward the keep. I couldn’t count the riders yet, but they were coming at an easy pace. I’d spent most of the afternoon pretending to read the wall rosters, and the guard had wisely left me alone.“Tell Magnus they’ll be at the gate within the hour.”He took the stairs two at a time. Agnes followed with a cloak over her arm and settled it around my shoulders.“You haven’t eaten since morning. I’ll have something brought up.”“I’ll eat when they’re inside.”“You know you won’t.” Agnes kept her eyes on the torches. “Perrin asked today if he should pack his things. After Doran, Elysia, and that list you asked Cedric for, everyone thinks they’re next.”“I needed it quickly. I’ll speak to them tomorrow.”“Good. Tonight they’ll be too busy c
The Duchess of Frostmane Chapter 62: Border Offensive
“Two hundred mounted men within the hour,” Evren said, fastening the last buckle of his chest plate. “Aldric rides with me. Kael stays here.”“Kael stays here?”“You’ll need someone who knows these walls. Aldric has led border campaigns before. I haven’t.”Cedric stood in the doorway with a short list in hand. “The eastern outposts sent word just after dawn. Valdris forces crossed before daylight, closer to the garrison than they’ve ever dared. Three watchtowers burned before help could reach them.”“How many dead?”“We don’t know yet.” Evren looked at me. “That’s why we’re leaving now. We can’t wait for a full count.”“What about Denner and Pell?”“They went ahead at first light to confirm the size of the crossing before we sent the full force. They should have reported back by now.” Concern edged into Evren’s voice.Silence settled over the room.“They’re experienced men,” Kael said. He’d returned from the lower town two nights ago without explaining why he’d gone. “They’ll have tak
The Duchess of Frostmane Chapter 61: Divine Tension
"Stand here," Elder Wren said, pointing to the edge of the circle. "Beside the Grand Duke, as before.”The training yard had been cleared for the rite, the snow packed hard beneath our feet. Elysia stood across from us in pale ceremonial white, her attendants behind her. She had requested the blessing for the raided Morryn villages the morning after she arrived, and Evren had agreed before I could say anything.I spent the walk reminding myself that this was only a ceremony, one I had been through before. It did little to calm me. My hands stayed cold inside my gloves despite the warmth of my coat.Cedric had brought me Elder Wren’s note an hour earlier. I had asked twice if the rite could be postponed, but he reminded me that the villages had already been notified and grieving families were on their way. That settled it. Whatever this cost me, it was better than making those families wait another week to have their dead named.Now that I stood at the edge of the circle, I wished I ha
The Duchess of Frostmane Chapter 60: Kael's Impossible Schedule
“You’re up early,” Kael said without turning.I hadn't heard myself make a sound as I crossed the courtyard, yet he already knew I was there. He was checking a saddle by torchlight, the sky still more black than grey. “How did you know it was me?”“Nobody else tries that hard to be quiet.” He tightened the girth and moved to the next horse. “Shouldn’t you be asleep? Evren’s meeting with the Solaris envoy this morning. I thought you’d want to be there.”“He told me not to come. Something about not wanting Adrian to have two Frostmane faces to deal with.” I fell into step beside him. “So I’m free until midday, and I’ve decided to make that your problem.”“Your problem?”“I want to see what you actually do all day. Not just the part where you show up after something has already gone wrong.”Kael studied me for a moment, probably deciding whether it was worth arguing. In the end, he only shrugged, took a spare cloak from the hook beside the stable door, and handed it to me. “Suit yourself
The Duchess of Frostmane Chapter 59: Lord Adrian of Solaris
"She's gone. You can come out.”I stepped out of the alcove beside the east stair. "I wasn't hiding.”"You've been there for fifteen minutes.”"Fine. I was hiding." I leaned against the wall. "That's the third time she's asked me to go on a prayer walk in two days. I agreed the first time, made an excuse the second, and I'm running out of excuses. If I turn her down again, she'll probably pray for good weather and ask me tomorrow.”Evren looked up with a faint smile."I have something else for you. A rider from Solaris reached the gate last night after everyone had gone to bed. Their envoy is coming this afternoon. He wants to start the spring trade talks early, before Godric decides what happens to the southern grain routes. Solaris depends heavily on those roads for grain and cloth, so Verenne's claim affects them too. I'd rather hear where they stand from their envoy than from a letter.”"And they're arriving now, with Elysia here?”"I noticed the timing." He folded his arms. "Sola
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