Pearl woke before dawn and immediately blamed the bed.It was entirely too comfortable.Years spent in the Citadel had trained her to sleep wherever circumstances demanded—stone floors, cramped wagons, questionable inns, and once, memorably, a tree. The guest chambers of the North seemed determined to undo all that hard-earned resilience. The mattress was soft, the blankets warm, and the fire in the hearth still glowed faintly from the night before.It was difficult to remain suspicious of a kingdom that provided such excellent sleeping arrangements.Which only made Pearl more suspicious.She dressed quickly and crossed to the window. Beyond the glass, snow drifted lazily across rooftops and towers while the first pale light of morning touched the mountains. The fortress was only beginning to stir. Guards paced the walls. Servants crossed the courtyards below carrying baskets and supplies. Thin trails of smoke rose from chimneys as kitchens prepared for the day ahead.From this height
Last Updated : 2026-06-07 Read more