Book 4: Thicker Than Water

Finn

“What?” Luna Maris struggles up onto her elbow, sleep clouding her eyes and strands of her hair stuck to her cheek.

“Denidor, Mother,” Xandra says urgently. “And Corwyn. They are working against the entire kingdom to not only create this war but drag it out as long as possible.”

I stand by the window we climbed through, half-wishing this was happening in Dun’s Crossing. Kieran would already be up, on his feet. He would have men charging for Denidor already, scouts headed into Tansy Beach to alert King Alden, on the off chance that might make a difference. I would know what to say to convince him.

She blinks once, twice. Xandra seizes an empty cup on the barrel serving as a bedside table, fills it with water, and holds it to her mother’s lips. Luna Maris takes the cup and drinks slowly.

When she is done, she looks at each of us. “How sure are you?”

“Sure enough to wake you in the dead of night.” Xandra straightens. “We saw the