Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Duchess of Frostmane: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

Morning came grey and quiet. Churned snow still marked the courtyard where the fighting had taken place. Two of Kael's men were already working on the eastern section of the wall while Kael crouched near the base, running his hand along a gap between two timbers wide enough for a man to squeeze through.“This is probably how they got in.” Kael ran his fingers along the gap. “Someone widened it months ago and never reported it. It could've been rot, or someone did it deliberately. I won't know until I get a proper look at it.”“And the men who didn't make it?” I asked.“They're being searched now. Denner's helping with that, against my better judgment, given the state of his ankle.” Kael straightened and brushed the frost from his knees. “There's something else. One of the dead men had a rough map of the outpost on him. It showed the tents, including ours.”Evren had come up behind me without my noticing. “How detailed was it?”“Not very. Crude charcoal, but enough to show the layout.”

"The rope's frozen," Kael called, tugging at the line holding the last supply sledge. "Give me a minute.”"We don't have a minute," Elder Rowan said, watching the ridge. "That slope's been groaning since we started up.”I looked at the ridge. The snow appeared untouched, but underneath the wind was a low rumble I could feel as much as hear."What kind of groaning?""The kind that means we shouldn't stop.”The pass had narrowed since midmorning, the rock walls forcing us into single file. The horses picked their way across patches of ice that hid the ground beneath them. Petra, one of the younger escorts, kept glancing at the same ridge, her hand tight around the reins. She had barely spoken since we'd left the outpost, and I'd assumed she was still nervous after what had happened there."How much farther to the shelter point?" I asked."Half a mile, if the sledges can keep up." Kael kept working at the rope. "They won't at this rate.”"We could leave two sledges and send men back once

“Your Grace, this spiced wine is wonderful.” The wife of a minor lord lifted her glass. “Whoever chose it deserves a raise.”“I’ll tell Chef Magnus. He nearly started a fight over that recipe, so he’ll be pleased to hear you liked it.”She laughed and moved on. I took a breath before turning to the next guest.The great hall looked completely different from that morning. Evergreen garlands hung from the beams, and dozens of lanterns lit the room. The tables were crowded with roasted meats and Magnus’s citrus-glazed goose, already carved and ready to serve. Pale winter roses had been placed along the linens, grown early in the greenhouse. Music came from the gallery above, mixing with the voices and laughter of the guests. I hadn't heard the keep this lively since before the mountain pass.I moved through the hall as Astrid had taught me at the imperial court, keeping my posture straight and taking my time with each guest. Still, this was easier than court. These people weren't waiting

Three days later, Cedric joined us at breakfast, ledger in hand, snow melting from his boots onto the floor Nella had just scrubbed.“Nothing useful yet, Your Grace,” he said before Evren could ask. “No unfamiliar faces have come through the gate in the last week besides the three from Verenne. The guards don’t remember seeing a raven leave either. Whoever sent the letter either works inside the keep and covered their tracks, or found another way to get the message to that bird.”“So whoever sent it was willing to take a risk.”“Or someone wanted us looking inward instead of watching the road,” I said.“Could be both.” Evren turned his cup between his hands. “For the next few days, we act like we trust everyone. Until we know what we’re dealing with, we trust no one.”“That won’t be easy to maintain.”“It rarely is. We’ll manage.” He looked at Cedric. “Keep Ilsa and Perrin in the kitchens. Berta can keep an eye on them there. Put Doran somewhere Astrid can watch him without making it

“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