Seren received and read an unexpected message written by Elowen in the council chamber, with the triplets gathered around her. The morning light was grey and cold, filtering through the high windows. Elowen's handwriting was sharp, urgent, nothing like the careful script she used for official documents. The ink had smeared in places—as if she had written in haste, or her hand had been trembling.
*Corvin of the eastern provinces has declared himself independent of the crown. He claims the southern treaty gave him the right. He has gathered an army. I need reinforcements.*
Aeron's jaw tightened. He set the message down and pressed his fingers to his temples. "Corvin. I've heard the name. Minor nobility. Landed family, old blood, but no real power until recently. Ambitious. Popular with the disaffected."
"Popular enough to raise an army," Kael said, crossing his arms. "That's not minor. That's a threat."
