Chapter 7 · The Ash Ledger - Chapter 7: The Public Hunt

Soren had him.

Rowan Vale stood three paces away in the grain storage tunnel, blood still wet on his knuckles, no weapon, no exit behind him. Just stone and the iron grate Soren had locked ten minutes ago.

"Hands," Soren said.

Rowan didn't move. His wrist was wrapped in black cloth, but Soren had seen the mark underneath two days ago when they'd pulled him off the north wall. The same mark the Ledger put on every poor bastard it chose.

"I said hands."

Rowan raised them. Slow. His eyes stayed on Soren's crossbow, then flicked to the tunnel mouth behind him.

"Don't," Soren said.

Rowan's mouth twitched. Not quite a smile. "You know this is setup, right?"

"I know you were on the wall when the breach opened. I know twelve families lost sons that night."

"I didn't open it."

"Then who did?"

Rowan's jaw worked. He looked like he wanted to spit the answer, but something held him back. Finally he said, "You really want me to say that out loud? Here?"

Soren's finger stayed on the trigger, but his gut twisted. The tunnel wasn't private.