Chapter 19 · The Throne Under Snow

"You knew." I shoved the grain sack against Aldric's chest. "You knew what was under my camp the whole time."

He didn't flinch. Just looked at me with those cold gray eyes like I was a child who'd finally figured out the rules. "The council knows. Half the warlords know. The only one who didn't was you."

"Then why give me the grain?"

"Because I want to see what you do when you find it." He stepped back, his banner still in my hand. "And because if the council gets there first, we all lose."

I didn't wait for him to explain. I was already running.

Virrak was alone at the ruin entrance when I got back. He had his sword drawn, facing down into the dark like something was coming up. The old scar on his jaw looked white in the moonlight.

"How deep does it go?" I asked.

He didn't turn. "Deep enough that I sent the scouts back. You need to see this yourself."

The stairs were older than the clans. Older than the wars.