Empress Constantina

per in t

wind-a low, humming vibration that came through the floor at dusk, when the setting sun hit the western mountain peak. But when she pressed her

ountain...the hear

evening, as she ran her fingers over the carvings on her fireplace-old, rough shapes of woven wolves and deer that were there before Raymond's

s blood re

tanding stones and ancient forts. He had called it the "Earth-Song," a gift from the first ruler

thought, placing her palm flat agains

tself. The large oak table in his study hummed with a slow, deep patience. The iron in his ring seemed to swallow the warmth from the air. And Raymond himself..

ger just stone and iron bars; it was something

was cleaning quickly and quietly when she knocked a small clay

he knelt to pick up the pieces. A sharp bit cut her thumb, and

Not into a voice, but into a direction. A pull, like the needle of a co

ed her hand in her apron and picked up the

oze. "The eastern woods. The young master of Croft goe

hen at Constantina, real fear replacing her usual worry. It wasn't fear of

ted, holding the woman's gaze.

say. The old ways are forbidden. The Duke... he hates what he cannot control.

arents' blood soaking into the earth of Aragona. She poured her memory of them-her father's booming laugh, her mother's s

own, through forgotten hallways behind the wine cellar; a cave lit by glowing moss; and

th-Song was gi

f burned cloth onto his desk. It was rough, but the symbol on it was clear-a rising sunbird, defiant. "They attacked a t

and dangerous, cut through her. The resi

Constantina," Raymond

t grows in the shadows of fear." She pointed to the cloth. "They need a symbo

ou tell?" he asked, his

nes with the Duke and advises him. Let people know that Constantina Aragon is not a prisoner in a t

n ever. But it would also make him less suspicious of her, and more imp

t she was giving in, was strong. "A tour," he thought out loud. "A visit to the southern towns. With

d. She would be a puppet on his stage. But a puppet could s

she said, low

jar across her palm. A few drops of her own blood fell onto the floorstone

ove, she would play the obedient princess on a tour, a symbol of peace. Below

dows between, the Phoeni